About 100 square feet of roof space is needed for every kilowatt of electricity a solar panel produces. The 16-room inn needed more than nine kilowatts. To achieve the necessary coverage, 54 photovoltaic panels were placed on the porch roof and also on the main roof above and below the dormers.
The solar panels are called photovoltaic (PV) because they turn light (photo) into electrical current (voltage). This process is made possible by wafer-thin cells composed of crystalline silicon. Tiny amounts of phosphorous and boron in the cells turn the silicone into a semi-conductor. When sunlight hits the cells, an electrical charge is created.
You might think that installing 54 of these high-tech panels would dominate the façade and give the old inn the look of a sci-fi spaceship. Fortunately, however, the photovoltaic panels are only a few inches thick. And, because their color is similar to the dark roofing shingles, the panels are unobtrusive.
Next: Mounting the Solar Panels >
