Comment by bragr
2 days ago
It's worth factoring in that solar panels also provide solar insulation to the roof by effectively shading it, ie the sun shines on the panels and there is an air gap between the panels and your roof.
2 days ago
It's worth factoring in that solar panels also provide solar insulation to the roof by effectively shading it, ie the sun shines on the panels and there is an air gap between the panels and your roof.
In cooler climates, you are now taking a hit on heating costs. That now blocked Winter sun would have provided some amount of free warmth.
If it's that cold, you probably have a fair amount of roof insulation anyway that's preventing heat absorbed by your roof from being conducted to the conditioned space.
Sure, but the physics still cuts both ways. Either sun hitting the roof causes measurable heating or it does not. The temperature gradient must flow.
Sun heating in Winter = awesome. Sun heating in Summer != awesome.
I am not arguing the strength of the effect, only that you must account for all seasons.