Eco Tech: Konarka’s Power Plastic makes solar an integral part of the building

Eco Factor: Solar panels on curtain walls of buildings can generate renewable energy.
Massachusetts-based Konarka has launched a pilot project that will integrate the company’s Power Plastic solar panels into non-load bearing exterior walls of the building to generate renewable energy. The company is testing the technology in an office building owned by Arch Aluminum & Glass Co.
When installed on the curtain walls of the building, the solar panels become an integral part of the architecture rather than an afterthought. If all goes according to plans, the solar panels on the office building will be able to generate about 1.5KW of green power, based on a peak output of 40W per panel.