Hybrid_JJ Solar_JJ Panels_NN2 Combine_VV0 Photovoltaics_NN2 with_IW Thermoelectricity_NP1 Tar_NN1 and_CC shingles_NN2 are_VBR hardly_RR environmentally_RR friendly_JJ materials_NN2 ,_, so_CS the_AT U.S._NP1 Department_NN1 of_IO Energy_NN1 (_( DOE_NP1 )_) hopes_VVZ to_TO soon_RR help_VVI homeowners_NN2 and_CC businesses_NN2 replace_VV0 the_AT roofs_NN2 over_II their_APPGE heads_NN2 with_IW something_PN1 greener_JJR ._. 
To_II that_DD1 end_NN1 ,_, the_AT DOE_NP1 awarded_VVD Weidlinger_NP1 Associates_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 New_NP1 York_NP1 City-based_JJ structural_JJ engineering_NN1 firm_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 $150,000_NNU grant_NN1 earlier_RRR this_DD1 month_NNT1 (_( matched_VVN by_II a_AT1 10-percent_JJ commitment_NN1 from_II the_AT state_NN1 )_) to_TO develop_VVI durable_JJ hybrid_JJ solar_JJ roofing_NN1 panels_NN2 with_IW integrated_JJ photovoltaic_JJ cells_NN2 and_CC thermoelectric_JJ materials_NN2 that_CST harvest_VV0 the_AT sun_NN1 's_GE energy_NN1 to_TO produce_VVI both_DB2 electricity_NN1 and_CC hot_JJ water_NN1 for_IF buildings_NN2 ._. 
Weidlinger_NP1 is_VBZ working_VVG with_IW Columbia_NP1 University_NN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 on_II the_AT project_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ the_AT engineers_NN2 and_CC researchers_NN2 hope_VV0 will_VM convert_VVI at_RR21 least_RR22 12_MC percent_NNU of_IO collected_JJ sunlight_NN1 into_II electricity_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 would_VM be_VBI an_AT1 improvement_NN1 over_II the_AT 5-_NN1 to_II 10-percent_JJ conversion_NN1 rate_NN1 possible_JJ with_IW relatively_RR inexpensive_JJ thin-film_JJ plastic_NN1 solar_JJ cells_NN2 ,_, although_CS a_AT1 far_JJ cry_NN1 from_II the_AT most_RGT complex_JJ (_( and_CC expensive_JJ )_) solar_JJ cells_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ have_VH0 achieved_VVN a_AT1 conversion_NN1 rate_NN1 as_RG high_JJ as_CSA 41.6_MC percent_NNU ._. 
These_DD2 new_JJ photovoltaic_JJ thermal_JJ hybrid_JJ panels_NN2 presently_RR exist_VV0 only_RR as_CSA prototypes_NN2 ._. 
Beneath_II the_AT clear_JJ ,_, outermost_JJ protective_JJ cover_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 layer_NN1 of_IO photovoltaic_JJ cells_NN2 ,_, followed_VVN by_II a_AT1 layer_NN1 of_IO thermoelectric_JJ material_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 layer_NN1 with_IW plastic_NN1 tubes_NN2 (_( called_VVN the_AT functionally_RR graded_JJ material_NN1 interlayer_NN1 )_) to_TO carry_VVI water_NN1 that_CST will_VM cool_VVI the_AT other_JJ layers_NN2 while_CS also_RR carrying_VVG away_RL heated_JJ water_NN1 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 bottom_JJ layer_NN1 of_IO reinforcing_VVG plastic_NN1 ._. 
The_AT photovoltaic_JJ cells_NN2 convert_VV0 the_AT sun_NN1 's_GE electromagnetic_JJ radiation_NN1 into_II electricity_NN1 ,_, while_CS the_AT thermoelectric_JJ layer_NN1 converts_VVZ the_AT sun_NN1 's_GE heat_NN1 into_II electricity_NN1 ._. 
The_AT water_NN1 tubes_NN2 are_VBR crucial_JJ to_II the_AT design_NN1 ._. 
Typically_RR ,_, when_CS photovoltaics_NN2 heat_VV0 up_RP they_PPHS2 begin_VV0 to_TO lose_VVI their_APPGE efficiency_NN1 at_II normal_JJ operating_NN1 temperatures_NN2 in_II a_AT1 sunny_JJ environment_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ Greg_NP1 Kelly_NP1 ,_, Weidlinger_NP1 's_GE director_NN1 of_IO sustainable_JJ design_NN1 ._. 
The_AT design_NN1 created_VVN by_II Huiming_NP1 Yin_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 assistant_JJ professor_NN1 of_IO civil_JJ engineering_NN1 and_CC engineering_NN1 mechanics_NN2 at_II Columbia_NP1 ,_, incorporates_VVZ a_AT1 capacity_NN1 to_TO cool_VVI down_RP the_AT photovoltaics_NN1 while_CS also_RR heating_VVG water_NN1 for_IF use_NN1 in_II the_AT building_NN1 to_II which_DDQ the_AT panels_NN2 are_VBR attached_VVN ._. 
In_II31 addition_II32 to_II33 being_VBG tested_VVN in_II Columbia_NP1 's_GE lab_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 number_NN1 of_IO these_DD2 panels_NN2 will_VM be_VBI installed_VVN atop_II a_AT1 6.4-square_JJ meter_NN1 shelter_NN1 located_VVN on_II the_AT roof_NN1 of_IO the_AT Frederick_NP1 Douglass_NP1 Academy_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 high_JJ school_NN1 that_CST specializes_VVZ in_II the_AT education_NN1 of_IO disadvantaged_JJ and_CC underrepresented_JJ educational_JJ groups_NN2 ._. 
Once_CS the_AT shelter_NN1 is_VBZ built_VVN ,_, students_NN2 will_VM monitor_VVI the_AT performance_NN1 of_IO the_AT panels_NN2 ._. 
"_" What_DDQ we_PPIS2 have_VH0 to_TO do_VDI is_VBZ demonstrate_VVI a_AT1 general_JJ commercial_JJ viability_NN1 ,_, "_" Yin_NP1 says_VVZ ,_, adding_VVG that_CST this_DD1 means_VVZ getting_VVG both_DB2 the_AT technology_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE associated_JJ costs_NN2 just_RR right_JJ ._. 
The_AT researchers_NN2 have_VH0 yet_RR to_TO calculate_VVI the_AT cost_NN1 of_IO the_AT technology_NN1 per_II watt_NNU1 ,_, a_AT1 standard_JJ measuring_JJ stick_NN1 to_TO determine_VVI whether_CSW a_AT1 renewable_JJ energy_NN1 project_NN1 can_VM compete_VVI with_IW established_JJ fossil-fuel_JJ technologies_NN2 ._. 
If_CS this_DD1 phase_NN1 of_IO the_AT project_NN1 is_VBZ successful_JJ ,_, the_AT work_NN1 done_VDN by_II Columbia_NP1 and_CC Weidlinger_NP1 could_VM move_VVI to_II a_AT1 second_MD phase_NN1 within_II six_MC months_NNT2 ._. 
That_DD1 second_NNT1 phase_NN1 is_VBZ likely_JJ to_TO offer_VVI the_AT researchers_NN2 $1_NNU million_NNO in_II DOE_NP1 funds_NN2 for_IF a_AT1 year_NNT1 to_TO further_RRR develop_VVI the_AT technology_NN1 ,_, Kelly_NP1 says_VVZ ,_, whereas_CS a_AT1 third_MD phase_NN1 would_VM likely_RR involve_VVI as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA $10_NNU million_NNO to_TO prepare_VVI the_AT technology_NN1 for_IF production_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 're_VBR looking_VVG at_II a_AT1 five-year_JJ process_NN1 to_TO come_VVI to_TO market_VVI ,_, assuming_VVG all_DB goes_VVZ well_RR ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 adds_VVZ ._. 
The_AT DOE_NP1 is_VBZ behind_II the_AT technology_NN1 thus_RR far_JJ ._. 
"_" Solar_JJ panels_NN2 have_VH0 not_XX achieved_VVN market_NN1 penetration_NN1 due_II21 to_II22 high_JJ initial_JJ costs_NN2 and_CC inefficiency_NN1 ,_, but_CCB the_AT hybrid_JJ building-integrated_JJ panels_NN2 from_II this_DD1 project_NN1 will_VM be_VBI part_NN1 of_IO the_AT building_NN1 's_GE skin_NN1 and_CC significantly_RR more_RGR efficient_JJ ,_, "_" according_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 DOE_NN1 statement_NN1 e-mailed_NN1 to_II Scientific_JJ American_JJ ._. 
"_" These_DD2 less_DAR costly_JJ and_CC more_RGR durable_JJ panels_NN2 are_VBR suitable_JJ for_IF residential_JJ and_CC commercial_JJ projects_NN2 for_IF new_JJ construction_NN1 and_CC renovations_NN2 ._. "_" 
The_AT broad_JJ concept_NN1 of_IO building_VVG a_AT1 solar_JJ panel_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ tough_JJ enough_RR to_TO act_VVI as_II a_AT1 roof_NN1 panel_NN1 yet_RR sensitive_JJ enough_RR to_TO capture_VVI as_RG much_DA1 of_IO the_AT sun_NN1 's_GE energy_NN1 as_CSA possible_JJ is_VBZ likely_JJ feasible_JJ ,_, says_VVZ David_NP1 Ginger_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 associate_JJ professor_NN1 of_IO chemistry_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Washington_NP1 in_II Seattle_NP1 ._. 
"_" Of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, putting_VVG all_DB these_DD2 ideas_NN2 into_II the_AT same_DA package_NN1 in_II a_AT1 cost-effective_JJ manner_NN1 is_VBZ often_RR more_RGR challenging_JJ than_CSN pitching_VVG the_AT idea_NN1 on_II paper_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ why_RRQ you_PPY want_VV0 clever_JJ engineers_NN2 trying_VVG out_RP new_JJ designs_NN2 and_CC then_RT testing_VVG them_PPHO2 in_II real-world_JJ environments_NN2 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 adds_VVZ ._. 
And_CC although_CS this_DD1 idea_NN1 of_IO "_" building-integrated_JJ photovoltaics_NN2 "_" (_( BIPV_NP1 )_) is_VBZ not_XX new_JJ ,_, the_AT Columbia-Weidlinger_NP1 multilayered_VVD hybrid_JJ design_NN1 is_VBZ different_JJ from_II anything_PN1 currently_RR available_JJ to_II builders_NN2 ._. 
SolarWorld_VV0 AG_FO in_II Germany_NP1 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, sells_VVZ a_AT1 technology_NN1 it_PPH1 calls_VVZ Energyroof_NP1 ,_, which_DDQ consists_VVZ of_IO panels_NN2 covered_VVN with_IW solar_JJ laminates_NN2 that_CST generate_VV0 electricity_NN1 but_CCB does_VDZ not_XX include_VVI a_AT1 layer_NN1 of_IO thermoelectric_JJ material_NN1 ._. 
In_II October_NPM1 ,_, The_AT Dow_NP1 Chemical_NN1 Company_NN1 announced_VVD its_APPGE Powerhouse_NN1 Solar_NN1 Shingle_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ the_AT company_NN1 says_VVZ can_VM be_VBI integrated_VVN into_II rooftops_NN2 with_IW standard_JJ asphalt_NN1 shingle_NN1 materials_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 solar_JJ shingles_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ feature_VV0 thin-film_JJ copper_NN1 indium_NN1 gallium_NN1 selenide_NN1 (_( CIGS_NP2 )_) photovoltaic_JJ cells_NN2 ,_, are_VBR expected_VVN to_TO be_VBI available_JJ in_II limited_JJ quantities_NN2 by_II mid-2010_MC and_CC projected_VVN to_TO be_VBI more_RGR widely_RR available_JJ in_II 2011_MC ._. 
In_II 2007_MC ,_, the_AT DOE_NP1 had_VHD given_VVN Dow_NP1 $20_NNU million_NNO in_II funding_NN1 to_TO develop_VVI building-integrated_JJ solar_JJ arrays_NN2 for_IF the_AT residential_JJ and_CC commercial_JJ markets_NN2 ._. 
Once_RR Weidlinger_JJR and_CC Columbia_NP1 create_VV0 their_APPGE panels_NN2 ,_, the_AT engineers_NN2 will_VM have_VHI to_TO decide_VVI how_RRQ best_RRT to_TO keep_VVI them_PPHO2 waterproof_JJ and_CC resistant_JJ to_TO fire_VVI ,_, Kelly_NP1 says_VVZ ,_, adding_VVG ,_, "_" We_PPIS2 also_RR want_VV0 to_TO get_VVI parity_NN1 with_IW the_AT weight_NN1 of_IO existing_JJ roofing_NN1 systems_NN2 ._. "_" 
