For fifteen years now, since 2000, photovoltaics have been the fastest-growing renewable-energy technology. According to the International Energy Agency, photovoltaic solar tiles are likely to provide 16 percent of the world’s energy by 2050, up from only one percent at present. In the United States alone, according to figures from the U.S. Energy Administration, solar energy production has been more than doubling annually for over a decade. What does this astonishing trend mean in employment?

It means good news. In the United States, employment in the solar-energy sector is increasing 20 times faster than in the job market overall. One in every 78 new jobs last year was in the solar-energy field, the largest single category being solar roofing installations.

As to the quality of the jobs in this field, wages and working conditions are better than average. One indication of this is that over 90 percent of those working in solar energy work exclusively in solar energy. Nationally, the median wage for a solar photovoltaic installer is $19 an hour.

Solar energy currently employs upwards of 174,000 workers in installation, manufacturing, selling, and distribution. By a strange coincidence, 174,000 is the same as the total number of full-time workers involved in coal, counting miners, power-plant workers, and people employed in transport. This is, quite literally, a tipping point, the moment when the falling number of coal workers meets the rising number of solar-energy workers. For fifty years, changes in mining technology have been reducing employment in coal. The number of miners fell by ten percent last year. Across the solar industry, employment rose by nearly 22 percent during that time, with a similar increase projected for the coming year, according to an employer survey by The Solar Foundation. The number of solar roofing installers has doubled since 2010.

In California alone, 1672 solar companies employ 47,000 workers, up 3,500 from last year. Century Roof and Solar is proud to be part of this growing, sustainable, and valuable industry.

Contact a Solar Company You Can Trust

Contact Bay Area solar company Century Roof and Solar today at (510) 780-9489 to learn more about how a sun-powered system can improve your life.

Are you on the prowl for a Bay Area solar company to install a cost-effective, environmentally friendly energy solution? Even if you are, you’re likely are unfamiliar with all the benefits that solar tiles confer. Here are three ultra cool and dynamic benefits:

1. Thin film solar cells can do everything a traditional asphalt shingles can.

Solar shingles offer flexibility, durability, protection against the elements, and they are aesthetically identical to traditional shingles. They can blend in with your current roof construction. That’s a big advantage for people who don’t want to be “garish” about their switch to solar. (While some Northern Californians don’t mind being associated with “green energy,” others balk at the idea of sprouting a Keck telescope like solar system from their rooftops.)

2. Installation is relatively cheap and efficient, and tiles are lightweight.

When solar tiles replace roofing materials underneath, the installation is priced competitively. Tiles are also lightweight, so you won’t overburden the roof or structure with a heavy PV system.

3. You can stay connected to the grid – and save money doing so.

Many Northern California homeowners like the idea of being at least partially “on the grid.” When you go the solar tile route, you can save up to 60% on your monthly energy bills while exuding no noise or pollution … AND you get to sell back excess energy to the power company to lower your bill and help the community meet its energy needs.

On those blasting hot days in mid-August, you can feel proud not only that you’re collecting and using energy from the sun, but also that you’re “giving back” to the community.

Is a solar tile system solution right for you? Look to the Bay Area roofing team here at Century Roof & Solar. We can give you a free estimate and talk to you about the pros and cons of setting up this or any other solar scheme to power your home or small business. Invest a few minutes on the phone with us to enjoy massive long term savings and peace of mind. Connect today.

It’s a simple question with (potentially) a not so simple answer.

Your needs depend on: your budget, the state of roof repair (or disrepair) of your home; your maintenance schedule; and your concerns (or lack thereof) about environmental stewardship.

Here are 5 benefits of these coatings.

1. Lengthen the life of your roof

If the roof is in moderately bad shape–or even if it has leaked a bit–Bay Area roofing experts can help restore it to usable condition. A reflective recoating can also limit the amount of UV induced damage done to the roof by reducing temperature.

2. Limit waste and debris on the site

Ripping off a dilapidated or warped roof membrane or leaky/junky installation not only costs time but also creates tremendous waste. If you strategically apply coating at the right time during the lifecycle of your roof, you will reduce these expensive “scrap and rebuild” projects.

3. Improve the local “climate” of your roof to reduce the likelihood of leaks

You might not think that your roof has its own “mini climate system,” but it does!

Certain areas of any roof will be more prone to ponding and leaking than others. No engineer can 100% predict where those problems areas might be. When you recoat, you reduce the risk of these surprise climate-induced problems and thus avoid damage.

4. Improve energy use

A worn coating or compromised roof can lead to unnecessary heat wastage (or A/C wastage during the summer). By improving the roof, you reduce energy drain.

5. Increase value of the building and improve its insurability

When you fix a roof to make it look sharper, the entire building benefits aesthetically. The people who live, work, or do business in it will enjoy the property more and take better care of it.

Which roof coatings are right for your Bay Area building? To find out, get in touch with the team here at Century Roof & Solar today for a free estimate. We can answer all your questions regarding strategy, timeframe, cost, and materials. Call or email us now to get your free estimate.

Most homeowners know that they need to “take care of” the home’s core structural elements — the roof, the foundation, the windows, the electrical, the HVAC system, etc. But you also must be mindful of your gutters.Even though our climate is not as severe as, say New England’s; the Bay Area gets its fair share of blustery, wet, and wooly weather. You need reliable rain gutters to prevent water from pooling, leaking, and creating the conditions for mold and structural damage.

When gutters break down or overflow due to clogging or mechanical problems, the water can cascade in surprising, yet devastating pathways. For instance, let’s say a clog forms in a gutter above your rec room. Water spillage driven by this constraint, over time, could saturate the wood underneath, giving rise to mold. The decayed, desiccated wood then becomes a target for termites or other pests.

Depending on where this “break down” occurs, you might not even notice the tell-tale signs, such peeling paint, musty odor, missing shingles or wall panels, discoloration, etc., until the structure actually fails or an electrical fire goes off and burns down your house.

That sounds like an extreme scenario, and it’s unlikely. But we want to illustrate vividly why you need to mind your gutter system and to do the installation and maintenance the right way.

Even if you are a hardcore “do it yourselfer,” consult with licensed, experienced experts before installing your gutters. The last thing you want is to spend days of hard labor, only to screw up the installation in some subtle but pivotal way.

For top-caliber assistance with your Bay Area roofing repair needs, get in touch with the team here at Century Roof and Solar for a free estimate. Our reputable professionals are standing by to help make your job simpler.

No one craves to do roof repair.

However, you’ve seen serious warning signs of a need for roof repair, and you need to protect your home and family from a collapse or other problems, such as mold, air quality issues, and unbelievably expensive repairs “after the fact.” In some ways, you feel caught in the middle. You’re afraid to act to fix the roof or get a new roof, but you don’t want to put off the job any longer. Rather than make an emotional decision that could cost you, educate yourself.

Here are clear danger signs that you need a new roof — or at least massive repairs — ASAP.

• Paint is peeling and blistering inside or outside your home;
• Large stains or fungal/mildew growths are creeping up your walls or ceilings;
• You spy leaks, missing shingles, degradation, and other obvious warning signs.

Unfortunately, identifying roof problems is not necessarily a linear proposition!

In other words, your roof might be severely damaged, but you may only notice one or two leaky spots or places where the paint is peeling. Conversely, the internal damage may look “pretty bad,” but the roof itself may be relatively intact.

So should you:

1. Do nothing?
2. Do-it-yourself?
3. Hire a roof repair company?
4. Get the roof replaced entirely?

In general, err on the side of being “too cautious.” If you hire a great roofing company, and you had no problem — or just a minor problem — you might overspend by a few hundred dollars. On the flip side, if you fail to react effectively, and the roof collapses or leads to mold infestation, the cost of that under-reaction could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, when you extrapolate over the long term — not to mention the indirect costs and inconvenience.

Make the smart choice. If you have any questions about your Bay Area roofing needs, give the Century Roof & Solar team a call today, or email us through our website. Get clarity on the job and figure out a strategic plan to put your mind at ease.

Emergency roofing repair tip #1: When in doubt, get out of there!

If your roof or home’s structure has been seriously compromised, do not stay inside. Get out of your home as quickly as possible and arrange temporary housing. Grab emergency supplies, and go. Don’t worry about overreacting. The worst that will happen is that the water damage will get slightly worse while you’re gone, and you’ll be out a few hundred dollars for lodging. The worst that will happen if you under-react is… well, literally the worst that can happen!

Emergency roofing repair tip #2: Document, by any means possible.

For insurance purposes – and for repair purposes – strive to document what’s gone wrong, if you could do so safely. Take videos of the damage or snap pictures: pictorial/video evidence contains more information. But even if you just run around your property with a notebook and sketch out where you see the damage, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Emergency roofing repair tip #3: Staunch the immediate damage, if you can do so safely.

For instance: You might lay down towels, buckets, and other materials to absorb/collect leak water. Likewise, you might want to shutdown your electrical systems, so that they don’t short circuit and cause a fire. Avoid doing this work at night or during the heart of the storm, if possible, and make sure you have an assistant working with you, so you don’t get trapped alone in the building.

Emergency roofing repair tip #4: Get help with the project: this is not the time or place to exercise your “do-it-yourself” skills.

If you’re dealing with a subtle, contained issue, like a small leak consider the DIY approach. But if your structure has been compromised in a serious way – or if you have a large area of problematic shingles letting in too much water for your bucket. Odds are, you lack the training, knowledge, tools, and products to get the job done safely and effectively. Call the team at Century Roof & Solar now for help with your Bay Area emergency roofing repair. Our team is licensed, bonded, and well-versed in how to deal with an array of scary and complex roof-related disasters. Call us (510) 780-9489 for a free evaluation to get help now.

1. CA’s daytime energy needs met?!

If all of California’s commercial and industrial facilities had solar power panels, we could instantly meet all of the Golden State’s daytime energy needs… without a single other source of energy.

2. Silicon packs a punch!

We all know that solar power is “more efficient” over the long-term than fossil fuel burning. But did you know that a single ton’s worth of silicon (processed into solar panels) can generate as much electricity as half a million tons of coal? Pretty amazing.

3. Storied legacy.

John Herschel, a British astronomer who traveled to Africa two centuries ago, cooked his food using solar power. And none other than Albert Einstein himself won a noble peace prize in 1921 for his solar power experiments.

NobelPrize.org

4. Best Solar on Earth?

Guess what country makes the best use out of solar power, objectively speaking? The US? Some place in the Sahara or Caribbean? Not quite. The answer is… Germany! That’s right:even though Germany is covered with forest — and the country gets savaged by debilitating winters – it beats all other countries when it comes to extracting good energy through solar.

5. Massive long term savings?

If you replace your electric water heater with a solar model, you could slice your water bills by perhaps 50% annually. Let’s break down those numbers. Let’s say $400 every year to heat your water. By this logic, you could save $200 a year just on water heating. Over a decade, that adds up to $2,000 of savings. Not insubstantial!

6. (Near) instant gratification.

When solar energy leaves the sun, it takes just eight minutes to travel from the surface of the sun to hit your panel. Physicists would say it takes “eight light minutes” for the energy to get to you. Curiously, it can take the same energy literally millions of years to travel from the sun’s core to the sun’s surface. So it’s a million year journey from the center of the sun to the surface of the sun… and then just an eight minute journey from the sun to your stove!

7. Easy peas-y.

Going solar is far, far, far, far easier (and far more cost-effective) than it used to be, even a few years ago.

Connect with the team here at Century Roof and Solar to discover your solar solution – not just to protect the environment but to generate real, tangible benefits for your pocketbook and your home.

Call our Diamond Certified Company today at 510-780-9489, or learn more about our premium Bay Area business at www.centuryroofandsolar.com.

Unless you live in a dwarf house or you are a giant, you are likely going to need a ladder.

Adhere to the many (and many crucial) rules of ladder safety. Avoid wearing inappropriate footwear (e.g. flip flops, sandals, easy slipping shoes, et cetera) follow all safety instructions on the ladder itself. Avoid putting too much weight on ladder, standing too high (creates an imbalance), placing the ladder on a dirty surface, or getting up on a ladder in the middle of a rainstorm – particularly a thunder and lightning storm.

Hidden Risks, Surprising Resources  

Your gutters might just be full of fluffy leaves or pine needles or other soft materials. But you never know. The edges of gutters can be sharp, and they could cut your hands. Nails and other sharp debris blown onto the roof can accumulate in gutters and pose other hazards. You could even discover – horror of horrors – a dead bird or animal in the gutters. So wear gloves and use tools, like garden shovels, to scoop out the debris.

To avoid the whole “risking your neck on a ladder and combing through gunky mulch with your bare hands” thing – what we just talked about – you can utilize homemade ad-hoc tools or even purchase special gutter cleaning solutions at your local hardware store.

One intrepid blogger described a contraption that he built that turns a leaf blower into a gutter cleaner by attaching vacuum tubing to the blower to blast air through the gutter and knock out the leaves and debris. This is a nice fix to reduce ladder work or possibly eliminate it completely.

Watch That Back!

Lastly, pay attention to your own physical needs. Avoid straining your back (particularly the lower back); maintaining an awkward posture for an extended amount of time; working in extreme weather conditions (very hot, rainy, cold, etcetera); and doing extensive ladder work without a spotter nearby to help you if you get into trouble.

To avoid the hassle of cleaning your own gutters, connect with the Bay Area roofing professionals at Century Roof and Solar. For over 15 years, our team has won a reputation as the most trusted name in roofing, and we are proud to be the Bay Area’s leader in lightweight roof systems and gutters.

Call our team at 888-233-748 to get a free roofing quote – we serve the entire East Bay Area –

Whether you expect monsoon-like thunderstorms to drench your home, condominium, or business, or you expect relatively light rainfall but worry because you live in an older home, you want a systematic way to check your roof for leaks before all the action begins.

The biggest challenge is finding the spot or spots that are leaking.

This is because the information you get from the leak itself (where the water is dripping) may tell you very little about where the actual problem spot is. For instance, water might penetrate through your roof at one location, run down for several feet or longer, and “leak” through a second location. Where you spot the damage – where the insulation is wet, shingles are rotting, etc. – is the distall (far) problem. You want to find the proximal problem (the root cause).

Grab a flashlight and a helper, and let’s get going.

You might want to do this leak hunting during a rainy day, since that’s when the leaks will be most active. If not, you can actually jerry-rig “fake rain” by spraying a hose on your roof. Head up into your attic (or the room right below the roof) and scour the sealing and other areas for water, damp spots, spots that “don’t look right,” or spots where the paint is blistering. Places where moisture can accumulate include gutters, shingles, gaskets, flashing, rubber seals around vents and pipes, and ridge caps.

Once you identify all the leaks (or possible leaks), wait until the rain stops (or turn off the water). Once things have dried off, go up on the roof while a helper stays in the room below. Turn on the water and use trial and error (communicating with your helper via a cell phone or a walky-talky) to identify the proximal location based on when the distill areas activate, when you spray water on the roof. Don’t flood potentially problematic areas, or you will have a harder time locating the proximal problem area.

If this all sounds too complicated, convoluted, or time consuming, you might be right. It might be a lot easier to connect with the Bay Area’s leader in lightweight roof systems, Century Roof and Solar.

For over a decade and a half, our Bay Area roofing contractors have helped East Bay residents and business owners solve their roofing problems permanently and affordably. Learn more about the solutions we can provide for you at www.centuryrooftile.com, or schedule a consultation with our Diamond-certified company by calling us at 888-233-7548.

“Solar power is key to San Francisco’s future…”

San Francisco, with a 72% recycling rate and a goal of zero waste to landfill by 2020, is being called one of the ‘greenest cities’ in the U.S. Jared Blumenfeld, director of the department of the environment talks about some of the projects, including an interactive map that helps users understand their carbon footprint and a solar mashup that enables citizens to price out the cost of installing solar on building rooftops.

San Francisco Solar Facts:

PV systems installed: 2,043
Total CEC-AC capacity: 9.2 MW
Estimated Energy produced: 13,437 MWh/yr
Estimated Annual savings: $2,213,611
Estimated Annual CO2 reduction: 4,036 tonnes

Would you like to save money on your energy bill and erase your carbon foot print?

Talk to the SF Bay Area’s leading PV solar system contractors Century Roof and Solar. 888-233-7548

Original post/video from: http://www.smartplanet.com

Facts from: http://sf.solarmap.org