Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels are the latest innovation to hit the solar market, increasing the design and installation options for residential and commercial solar consumers seeking to achieve their energy goals. Unlike “traditional” solar installations, in which panels are mounted on frames on top of or nearby the building they provide power to, building-integrated panels blend seamlessly with other construction materials as part of the structure itself. Whether you are building a new home or commercial facility or retrofitting an existing structure, BIPV offers several exciting design possibilities.

As the need for serious progress towards meeting renewable energy goals and sustainability practices becomes more and more urgent, the solar industry is responding by making it easier than ever before for consumers to adopt technology that mitigates our impact on our environment. Solar technology companies continue to grow and innovate their product offerings in order to provide consumers with more efficient, less expensive, and more aesthetically-pleasing options.

Most of us have already encountered the landmark report authored by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which revealed that global temperatures are continuing to rise towards unsustainable levels as a result of man-made emissions and deforestation.

We’ve written a lot recently about the possibilities unleashed by interconnected technologies (broadly referred to as the Internet of Things or IoT). From smart homes that prioritize comfort and ease-of-use for homeowners to smart buildings (commercial, residential, or industrial) that integrate systems to achieve massive energy savings, the growing combination of IoT technology and solar energy is very promising.

The consumer-led push to create “smart home” systems, which prioritize energy efficiency and savings alongside increased convenience for home or building owners, is opening up new possibilities in energy management. As technology developers build home and office solutions for energy-savvy consumers, they continue to create better models for reducing the energy that our buildings consume. Both consumers and the environment benefit.

As we discussed in a recent blog, when the Internet of Things (IoT) meets solar power it enables efficient, effective energy consumption in the buildings where we live and work. The interconnection of devices that we use to facilitate our daily lives provides the opportunity to better understand and control our power use. Through networked capabilities and shared data, IoT solutions show us the future of holistic energy generation and implementation.