Earlier this month, we reported on Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and their new, innovative solar technology.
Their solar shingles are stylish, efficient, and can be installed in the construction of the home.
And on October 13, the shingles were debuted in a limited market in Colorado.
The product launch was co-hosted by D.R. Horton, a homebuilding company that plans to work with Dow Solar in offering the shingles with new homes.
D.R. Horton will use the shingles on 50 newly constructed homes in Spring Mesa, Colorado.
The packages being marketed in Colorado include three parts: the shingles themselves, an inverter, and an energy monitoring system.
The inverter, Appliance Magazine reports, will convert the solar direct current into alternating current that can be used in the home. Excess power will be sent back to the grid.
The energy monitoring system, then, monitors the amount of energy used in the home and the amount sent back to the grid, allowing the homeowner access to the information.
In the coming months, Dow will announce the next states in which the shingles will be marketed.
For now, Colorado is a great starting place.
“Colorado is a national leader in solar energy innovation and job creation,” said Neal Lurie, Executive Director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. “We have the right combination of public sector support, private sector commitment, homeowner interest and an enthusiastic community of builders and installers.”
In fact, this state is also the location chosen by GE (NYSE: GE) for its solar manufacturing plant.
Dow’s shingles are manufactured near their headquarters in Midland, MI. The company is in the process of building a larger facility very near that location.
The new facility, Appliance Magazine reports, will create around 1,275 new jobs by 2015.
Dow has already received seven performance and safety certifications for their new product.
That’s all for now,
Brianna
