The Singularity is Near
Posted by Damien Cabral on Wed, Mar 03, 2010
Blog Author: Matt Weiner
For you Artificial Intelligence fans, no, I'm not talking about the date when machines become more intelligent than humans, but instead referring to the convergence of traditional home improvement products with renewable energy systems.
Traditionally, we've regarded our home's major weather protection systems; roofing, siding, windows and gutters as completely separate from our home's energy systems; heating, cooling and electricity. But this is beginning to change. Improvements in technology, especially around solar energy, are encouraging manufacturers of building products to begin to include renewable energy features in their product offerings.
An interesting product targeted for release in 2010 comes from Dow. The PowerhouseTM Solar Shingle integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into the roofing shingle itself. With this innovative new product, a homeowner who wishes to go solar can simply install this one product rather than a traditional asphalt roof along with an array of solar photvoltaic panels.
Englert Environmental is another manufurer who is offering building products which 
are integrated with renewable energy systems. Their SunNetTM BIPV Systems integrates thin film solar photovoltaic cells with a standing seam metal roof to both protect the home and provide electricity for it's appliances. Englert also offers a solar thermal application installed under the metal roof which is used to provide hot water for the home. This too eliminates the need for separate solar thermal panels for hot water generation.
Repower Home's mission is to identify innovative and maintence free products to homeowners in New England. As these products become available, we will be in the forefront bringing these products to market.
Currently, we offer Schuco's 3rd generation solar hot water system which we believe is the finest solar system on the market. We also install solar pool systems made by Heliocol, the #1 solar pool manufacturer in the world.