What's New
Since 1968, Kelly Energy Systems (KES) focus was to install solar hot water
roof systems and highly insulated low slope roof systems on commercial buildings.
As a manufacturing company, KES was one of the first to place EPDM (rubber)
membranes on roofs. Prior to putting EPDM on roofs, the material was primarily
used as a waterproofing barrier or lining for pollution ponds in the early
1970’s. Beginning in 2006, Kelly Energy Systems have used their many
years of experience in roofing and solar systems and changed its focus to
providing the design integration and support for combining low slope roofing
systems with solar photovoltaic (PV) electric panels.
Since its adoption as an energy consulting and solar roofing integration company
in 2006, Kelly Energy Systems has been preparing a great deal of literature
which discusses the features and benefits of solar photovoltaic roofing as
a means of reducing a building’s electric energy demands. Also, the
company has produced research which indicates that through specific insulation
application techniques, a building can achieve a 50-80% increase in the thermal
performance of the roof system and overall energy efficiency. Other company
research includes the use of reflective roofing membranes, solar roofing systems,
recycled and re-useable materials.
The company utilizes a patent pending solar installation method to install
both glass crystalline rigid framed and flexible amorphous thin film, adhesive
roll applied solar PV panels, as shown in Figures 21a) and 21b), respectively,
over existing roofs as well as on newly constructed roofs.
This unique method is based on developments made by the 2001 Company’s
Sustainable Roofing Group, of applying solar panels using the company’s
patented wind vented and energy efficient roofing technology. The modular
design and installation of the wind vented solar panels ensures that the roof
below the solar system will remain secured throughout the life of the panels.
Furthermore, the modular design of the solar systems will allow the end user
to easily remove and transport the entire system without disturbing the underlying
waterproofing layer or existing roof. The thin film, flexible, amorphous KES
solar systems are available with different roofing membranes as shown installed
in figures 1 and 2 for EPDM (Thermoset or “Rubber”) membranes
and figures 3 and 4 for TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) roof membranes.
 Figure 1 |
 Figure 2 |
 Figure 3 |
 Figure 4 |
KES Solar Systems are also available by mounting the thin film solar panels
directly to a polymeric board that is either adhered or wind vented securely
in place to the existing roof. By applying the solar system in this manner,
the ease of removal and minimized disturbance to the existing roof is enhanced.
Case Study number five of this report outlines the implementation, economic
and environmental benefits of installing a 13 kW solar system on a polymeric
board adhered directly to the existing EPDM roof membrane at 2001 Company’s
headquarters, located in Waterbury, CT.