A Net Zero Home in New Jersey

By Cass Jacoby. 

Game changing S-5®! PVKIT direct-attach system and PVKONCEAL module skirt systems land the company a partnership with the high-profile Net Zero Home Program. 

Nestled in the historic district of Society Hill in Piscataway, New Jersey is a sprawling 6,000 square-foot LEED Platinum-certified residence, appropriately named the “The NetZero Home.” This innovative structure was built with sustainability, energy efficiency and comfort in mind. It runs solely on renewable energy sources, with every aspect of the design of the building meticulously calculated to either capture the sun’s energy or conserve energy as much as possible.  

Atop the home sits a 31+kW PV solar system on its south-facing roof and nine Tesla Powerwall® storage batteries (7.6 kilowatts each) as a supplemental power source. All 80 LG high-efficiency solar panels are secured in place by S-5!’s PVKIT® direct-attach™ rail-less, solar mounting solution. A PVKONCEAL™ module skirt conceals the lower edge of the modules and all mechanical and electrical components underneath.   

Challenges 

The metal roof itself posed a challenge with its complex design, made up of angles, cuts and intricate details. The custom-built home has ambitious environmental objectives and requirements, making for an elaborate installation process. Rooftop attachments were selected on the criteria that they were penetration-free, durable, and that the color and finish matched and met the aesthetics of the high-end roof. 

Solution 

The roof was an ideal platform for solar integration since the solar panels could easily be mounted directly to the standing seams of the roof by using S-5!’s penetration-free, solar solution.  

The PVKIT direct-attach system was selected for its durability and ease of installation. Additionally, S-5!’s new PVKONCEAL module skirt was chosen to give the roof an attractive, clean, finished look while keeping debris and other unwanted objects out from under the solar array. 

A visionary trend for sustainable homeownership 

"By leveraging our access to the most advanced technologies the solar industry has to offer, we continually push innovative boundaries to increase energy efficiency and system performance — all in an effort to provide the best and most effective renewable energy solutions to our customers,” says Mitch Gaber, partner of development at Suntuity Solar. “Product quality, unmatched service and a commitment to innovation are the keys to our success and the hallmark to who we are as a company.” 

S-5! attachments enabled Suntuity Home to achieve the quality look they wanted, maintain the roof’s integrity and complement the look of the roof with a clean appearance and perfect color and finish-matching. This sets a precedence for a future where sustainable homes throughout the country can achieve the aesthetics of a seamless roof while enjoying the many benefits of solar power. 

“S-5! roof attachments are a game changer and the gold standard in the industry — more importantly S-5!'s commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our own core philosophy,” says Mitch. “We are proud of our association with S-5!, and we look forward to partnering with them in providing renewable energy solutions to building owners and homeowners for years to come." 

Watch this video to learn more about this project and about metal roofs and solar panel systems. 

Learn more about S-5! in their directory or visit www.S-5.com. 

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About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.