Posts From June, 2026

Solar Confidence in Commercial Construction

How One Oregon Contractor Lowered Operating Costs & Elevated Design with CertainTeed’s Solstice® Shingle
Solar Confidence in Commercial Construction
Written by: Andrew Wickham, the Senior Director of Solar Products at CertainTeed, where he leads the development of innovative solar roofing and energy solutions for residential and commercial applications. Project: New office building, Sarmiento’s Roofing, Oregon | Building Type: New-construction commercial office (~11,000 sq. ft.) | Solar / Roofing Contractor: Sarmiento’s Roofing, LLC |Solution Provider: CertainTeed The Project In 2024, Sarmiento’s Roofing, LLC completed a brand-new, 11,000-square-foot, wood-frame office, showroom and shop in Salem, Oregon. For owner Santiago Sarmiento, the roof was more than a building component, it was a proving ground. As a roofing and solar contractor, he wanted his own facility to showcase where the industry is heading: integrated solar roofing that looks like a traditional roof, protects like a premium roofing system, and delivers real energy savings. A major motivator came from Oregon’s rapidly changing energy landscape.... read more
 

Energy Resilience in New Homes

How Houston Builders Can Leverage Battery Storage to Differentiate Communities & Deliver Homebuyer Value
Energy Resilience in New Homes
Today’s residential homebuilders are operating in a remarkably complex market. Elevated mortgage rates, stubborn construction costs, and a pressing home affordability crisis have slowed sales velocity and forced builders to rethink traditional incentives. In recent years, builders have relied on design center credits or mortgage rate buy-downs to attract buyers. However, these are short term fixes that directly dilute a builder’s margins. Forward-thinking builders can now shift their strategy from these buyer concessions to a permanent reduction in a home’s monthly operating costs. In the Greater Houston area, energy has become one of a household’s largest operational expenses outside of the mortgage payment itself. By rethinking how communities are powered, builders can fundamentally lower this ongoing cost for homeowners while securing a distinct competitive advantage. Through a strategic partnership in Texas with Reliant Energy, Sunrun is deploying a modern grid... read more