Student developing solar panels to affix onto shutters and awnings
Solar panels are becoming a more common sight on the Island but to many residents they are still an eyesore.
The quest to become more sustainable is facing a stumbling block in the form of traditional Bermudian architecture. With our whitewashed roofs, some homeowners believe renewable energy and Island aesthetics simply cannot mix.
One Bermudian student however, is about to change all that.
Industrial design undergraduate Stratton Hatfield is seeking to develop a group of products to incorporate both.
In his final college project, Mr. Hatfield aims to deploy 'thin film' technology to create flexible solar PV panels. These he envisages placing on window shutters and awnings, to harness the power of the sun.
The 23-year-old, from Paget, is currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where during the past four years he has designed products such as a homeless shelter on wheels and inflatable biodegradable packaging. He is now in the stages of his final ten-week project, and is seeking people's views on solar installations.
Mr. Hatfield told The Royal Gazette: "Having been born and raised in Bermuda I decided to focus on designing a set of products that could help the Island community.
"I'm really interested in sustainable design, or green/eco design. Alternative energy is a huge discussion now around the world and I want to develop a product to help residents rely less on imported fossil fuel and more on their own homemade energy.
"I want to focus on the most abundant amount of natural energy in our world, the sun."
He said: "Solar harnessing solutions are continuing to develop into more efficient and less expensive products, that many consumers are beginning to invest in and install.
"However, in Bermuda I am aware that besides cost, one of the reasons why Bermudians opt out from installing any solar solutions is because of the aesthetic impact of the panels on their building 'doze tings are ugly'.
"A lot of people don't want to install solar panels into their rooftops as they feel they devalue the aesthetic value of their house. They think of them as an eyesore. So my goal is to design a set of products to minimise that.
"I am seeking to innovate new forms of integrated photovoltaic solar solutions that either blend in or compliment the traditional architectural elements in Bermuda. I plan to develop a set of products that can be retro-fitted to current structures or implemented into new buildings being built.
"There's a lot of new PV (photovoltaic) technologies incorporating thin film, which is a flexible solar panel. This 'solar fabric' can form into shapes which are part of the design of the building. So I am looking to incorporated this into window shutters and solar awnings."
Mr. Hatfield is asking for your feedback on solar energy solutions. His survey can be found at:
