Feb 23 2010
Johns Manville (JM), a leading global manufacturer of an extensive line of energy-efficient building products, today announced it has reached an agreement with SolarFrameWorks, a premier photovoltaic solutions company, for SolarFrameWorks to supply its proprietary Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) CoolPly™ solar roofing components to JM. Johns Manville will market these products through its business entity, the JM E3 Company, more informally known as JM E3co.
“SolarFrameWorks CoolPly™ product provides a solution that requires no penetration of a roofing membrane to attach crystalline solar panels to a roofing system. Avoiding roof penetrations maintains the integrity of the roof system, which reduces the risk of leaks,” said Fred Stephan, vice president and general manager of the Roofing Systems business for Johns Manville. “This partnership further strengthens JM’s leadership in sustainable roofing. We are excited to partner with SolarFrameWorks to incorporate their lightweight, flexible and durable components into our single ply, built-up and modified bitumen roofing membrane systems.”
SolarFrameWorks BIPV CoolPly™ versatility allows maximum kilowatt power density with crystalline photovoltaic modules when installed as large arrays and around HVAC units and vents while maintaining high wind ratings. Additionally, the tilt and proprietary air cooling chamber maximize the per kilowatt-hour energy output of the solar panels by keeping photovoltaic (PV) panels cooler to obtain the best possible efficiency. CoolPly™ is available in both thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for compatibility with these roofing membranes.
“Supported by JM’s 150 years of commercial roofing experience and SolarFrameWorks’s expertise in photovoltaics, this agreement is our next step in offering a range of new solar-energy producing roofing products to our customer base,” said Tim Swales, vice president of research and development for JM.
According to Patrina Eiffert, CEO of SolarFrameWorks, “Johns Manville not only brings leadership, integrity and quality to the solar industry, it brings deep relationships with its customers that have withstood the test of time. When JM is on the roof they will be there and take great care of their customers for decades to come. BIPV CoolPly™ unifies the solar and roofing industries with an optimal solution that best serves the building owner. JM has the vision to bring that value to its customers.”