Solar panels on the roofs of houses and office buildings can do more than produce electricity, researchers say–they can reduce cooling and heating costs.

A professor of environmental engineering at the University of California, San Diego, says he found using thermal imaging that a building’s ceiling could be 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler during the day under solar panels that under an exposed roof.

At night, the panels help hold heat in, reducing heating costs in the winter.

“Talk about positive side-effects,” Professor Jan Kleissl said.

Kleissl said his study found the amount saved on cooling the building amounted to getting a 5 percent discount on the solar panels’ price over the panels’ lifetime, a UCSD release reported.

The panels essentially act as roof shades, researchers said.

Rather than the sun beating down onto the roof and pushing heat through the roof and inside the ceiling, photovoltaic panels take the solar beating and shade the roof.

In a test of a building on the UCSD campus, panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by about 38 percent, the researchers said.

“There are more efficient ways to passively cool buildings, such as reflective roof membranes,” Kleissl said. “But, if you are considering installing solar photovoltaic, depending on your roof thermal properties, you can expect a large reduction in the amount of energy you use to cool your residence or business.”

This article was originally posted on EcoHome Online.

After all, style tastes don’t stop shifting during a recession. “Lighting is a fashion industry,” Dross said. “We’re not wearing the same clothes we were 10 years ago, and we’re not going to be putting the same lighting in our homes we were 10 years ago.”

While the company retains some models and styles for years, others come and go as with any architectural trend. For example, natural tones tend to stick around while definitive or bold colors, such as verdigris, may die out more quickly since they often dictate the design of the entire room.

Contemporary styles, such as Kichler's Stella wall sconce, continue to gain in popularity.

Although many builders, particularly production firms, have a reputation for giving little thought to lighting fixtures, often specing  basic options, more and more are starting to see the benefits of moving beyond a single, simple ceiling fixture in the center of the room. In fact, there are about three times as many light fixtures in the home now compared to 10 to 12 years ago, Dross said, with the single-box concept being replaced with a thought-out approach incorporating multiple pendants, under-cabinet lights, and other accents that work  with a central fixture and recessed options.

Helping them along is the availability of style families that coordinate looks within a room and throughout the house. But it also means builders need to put more thought into lighting during the design process because once the wiring is in, it’s too late for changes.

As for what types of lighting should be considered, Dross offered a range of tips and trends:

–Lighting can make or break the impact of other products in the room. For example, a home buyer may spend extra money on a granite countertop, only to have its luster lost because of poor illumination.

–If a homeowner can’t afford higher-end options, consider upgrading to a special fixture in one prominent spot in the house, then coordinate the finishes of the remaining lights with that focal point.

–Houses are getting smaller, yet ceilings remain high, which means traditional chandeliers are shifting in proportion from wider styles to longer, narrower forms.

Taller fixtures like Kichler's Brinbourne 3-foot-4.5-inch, 12-light chandelier can accommodate the silo effect created by shrinking rooms with tall ceilings.

–The formal dining room is shrinking, so chandeliers need to be smaller, yet still elegant. Also, consider a long fixture that covers more of the traditional rectangular table shape.

–Contemporary styles still reign, a trend that is likely to continue as Gen X buyers reject the traditional styles popular with their parents.

–Don’t neglect the lighting in the bonus spaces, such as larger walk-in closets and well-appointed garages/workrooms, that are growing in popularity. A single light won’t cut it, so plan ahead to ensure proper wiring is specified for multiple fixtures. For a closet, consider installing both incandescent and fluorescent fixtures, as outfits look different in warmer tones than in the cooler, harsher light of the office.

–For a layering effect in the kitchen,  turn to “hidden” options, including undercounter, over-cabinet, and toekick lighting. LEDs, which project from tiny diodes, will significantly change the way we light kitchens as manufacturers find ways to incorporate them into small fixtures and light strings, and, eventually, into the cabinetry or countertops themselves.

–In the bathroom, install lights on either side of the vanity instead of over the top.

–Tiles and making-a-comeback wallpaper is emerging in bolder, textured looks. When “aggressive” walls such as these dominate, go with a more understated lighting style. –Katy Tomasulo

In addition, the company is testing a new standby model designed specifically for off-grid homes. Unlike emergency systems, which sit idle until a natural disaster knocks out power, generators for off-grid homes may be called upon more frequently due to the occasional unreliability of wind or solar power. As such, the generators must be more durable, longer lasting, and quieter. For more information on this 6-kW offering, check out this case study from the Propane Education & Research Council.

Clement Feng, Generac’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said about 2 percent of single-family homes have backup generators, while more than 10 percent have portable models. He noted that the biggest change over the past few years has been a significant drop in price across the industry. The company’s 8-kW model, for example, can be found for as little as $2,000, compared to roughly 10 times that a decade ago. –Katy Tomasulo

The six generators in the XG Series offer a compact size for easy transport. High-performance engineering, a three- to four-times longer life, an oversized full-wrap frame tubing, impact-resistant corners, and heavy-duty wheels help the units stand up to the rigors of the jobsite.

Note of disclosure: Generac is owned by Hanley Wood’s parent company, JP Morgan Partners. ebuild.com and Building Products magazine are produced by Hanley Wood.