Off-grid buildings in warm climates could cut their carbon emissions by more than half and reduce energy costs to just $0.15 per kilowatt-hour through a combination of rooftop solar panel shading and thin layers of heat-absorbing material in the roof, according to new research from the University of Surrey. The research team tested 30 different roof configurations for a standalone building and they found that where you place phase change material (PCM) in a roof would matter more than how much you use—a finding that could change the cost-benefit analysis of making remote buildings more sustainable.
Off-grid buildings cut emissions with solar roof innovation
