Solar Technology- Tiles and Ivy

I grew up in Southern California, where I was surrounded by the Spanish Colonial Revival style, terracotta roofs as far as the eye can see. When I chose to use a local historic landmark for the site of my senior thesis I was mindful of the materials I used. This led to the discovery of product I find really cool.
Solar terracotta roof tiles.

Italian company Tegolasolare is creating these amazing roof tiles. the tiles use BIPVs (Building Intergrated Photovoltaics) and 45 meters produces about 3 kWs.

I shared this cool product with a friend of mine whose senior thesis project was also in a Spanish Colonial Revival style. She in turn showed me a product she found during her research. Solar Ivy.

Solar Ivy is a product of SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology) and it combines photovoltaic technology and piezolelectrics to create these beautiful solar panels that hang from the wall and move in the wind as real ivy would.

These unique products are the type of things that excite me about sustainability and alternative energy in design and will further the development of sustainability minded building.

For more information on Tegolasolare tiles:
http://www.archiexpo.com/prod/area-industrie-ceramiche/product-67611-494305.html


For more information on Solar Ivy:
http://solarivy.com/the_idea#mission_target