America’s rooftops are one of its largest untapped energy resources. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates U.S. rooftops could host 1,118 GW of solar, enough to generate the equivalent of 39% of the country’s electricity sales, with medium and large buildings accounting for about 386 GW of that potential. PV Tech
But potential isn’t the same as ready. Commercial roofs come with HVAC units, vents, access paths, height limits and roofs that will need replacing someday.
Before you ask anyone for a solar quote, answer these six questions.
1. How old is the roof? If a replacement is coming, plan the solar and the roof together. At Locke Hall and Randolph Towers, the roof was replaced after the canopy went in, without removing the array.
2. What is it built from? Cement slab, bar joist, wood truss: the structure drives the design. We’ve built on all of them.
3. What equipment is up there? HVAC, vents and ductwork don’t rule solar out. Elevated canopies go over them, routinely increasing a roof’s capacity by 50% to more than 500%.
4. Are there height limits? Zoning, penthouses and historic districts decide which system fits, from a 1–2 ft Flush Mount to a High Tilt array up to 20 ft.
5. How will it be maintained? Technicians need to reach the equipment below for years. Clearance and access belong in the design from day one.
6. Who engineers it? Ask for location-specific stamped drawings covering local codes, wind loading and the roof’s structure.
Across our 20+ MW of projects, these six questions are where every successful rooftop starts.
Quick answers
Can solar go on a roof crowded with HVAC? Yes. Elevated racking carries panels over rooftop equipment, subject to structural, clearance, ventilation and maintenance requirements.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar? If it’s near the end of its life, plan both together, or choose a canopy designed for roof replacement underneath.
The rooftops are already there.
The question is whether yours is ready.
At Universal Renewables, we help answer it—one rooftop at a time.
We go where nobody goes.