Roof Options » Understanding Future Uses of Roofspace and Defining An Early Path to Profitable Roof Estate Investing

Rain Could Be A Clean Way of Generating Electricity
April 17th, 2025

Via New Scientist, a report that scientists have found a way of using rainfall to create renewable electricity: Water droplets falling through a tube have generated enough electricity to power 12 LED lights. Such an approach could one day be used in roof-based systems to harvest lots of clean power from rain. “Rain falls on Earth every […]

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Machine Learning Helps Map Solar and Green Roofs
April 2nd, 2025

Via Sustmeme, a look at how machine learning helps map solar and green roofs: Data visualisation of roof shapes. Image credit: © Ordnance Survey Brand new roofs data, extracted with the help of machine learning, will benefit sustainability and energy sectors by supporting carbon net zero initiatives and retrofits, plus map solar and green installations. […]

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China’s Massive Solar Rooftop Roll-Out Gains Traction, But Grid Struggles To Keep Pace
December 24th, 2024

Via South China Morning Post, a look at China’s massive ‘distributed’ solar power generation program on roofs of houses, factories and airports is spreading across country, but curtailment rate is also rising: Former construction contractor Gao Shouguang switched careers last year, abandoning the troubled property sector to become a solar panel distributor – and another example […]

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Rooftop Revolution: Where Homeowners Are Adopting Solar Panels
December 16th, 2024

Via Fast Company, a report on where homeowners are adopting solar panels: While more homeowners are adding solar panels to their homes in hopes of reducing their energy bills, adoption varies significantly across the country To understand which housing markets are doing the most solar panel installation, ResiClub collaborated with the data experts at BatchService, […]

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Solar Math: Wait Until You Need A New Roof
October 17th, 2024

Via Grist, a report on the math behind putting solar on your roof, which indicates that waiting until you need to re-roof is usually the best course of action: Not too long ago, Bryan and Summer Stubblefield wanted to outfit their California home with solar panels. They were considering an electric vehicle, and powering it with the sun […]

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Dubai Airport To Launch World’s Largest Airport Rooftop Solar Panel Installation
October 7th, 2024

Via Zawya, a report on Dubai Airport’s plans to launch the world’s largest airport solar panel installation: Dubai Airports announced a landmark collaboration with Etihad Clean Energy Development Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEWA, to launch the world’s largest rooftop solar panel installation project at an airport. The announcement was made in the presence of […]

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About This Blog And Its Author

As potential uses for building and parking lot roofspace continue to grow, unique opportunities to understand and profit from this trend will emerge. Roof Options is committed to tracking the evolving uses of roof estate – spanning solar power, rainwater harvesting, wind power, gardens & farms, “cooling” sites, advertising, apiculture, and telecom transmission platforms – to help unlock the nascent, complex, and expanding roofspace asset class.

Educated at Yale University (Bachelor of Arts - History) and Harvard (Master in Public Policy - International Development), Monty Simus has held a lifelong interest in environmental and conservation issues, primarily as they relate to freshwater scarcity, renewable energy, and national park policy. Working from a water-scarce base in Las Vegas with his wife and son, he is the founder of Water Politics, an organization dedicated to the identification and analysis of geopolitical water issues arising from the world’s growing and vast water deficits, and is also a co-founder of SmartMarkets, an eco-preneurial venture that applies web 2.0 technology and online social networking innovations to motivate energy & water conservation. He previously worked for an independent power producer in Central Asia; co-authored an article appearing in the Summer 2010 issue of the Tulane Environmental Law Journal, titled: “The Water Ethic: The Inexorable Birth Of A Certain Alienable Right”; and authored an article appearing in the inaugural issue of Johns Hopkins University's Global Water Magazine in July 2010 titled: “H2Own: The Water Ethic and an Equitable Market for the Exchange of Individual Water Efficiency Credits.”

The content contained in this blog represents the opinions of the author only (except when other individuals or sources are directly quoted, of course). The author’s opinions are not a recommendation to buy or sell any security or pursue a specific investment opportunity. This commentary is merely a personal analysis to foster discussion for informational purposes only. At any time, the author may hold either long or short positions in securities of various companies discussed in the blog. This commentary in no way constitutes a solicitation of business or investment advice. It is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader and the author, and should be taken in any way as representing the views of my employers or business associates, past, present, or future.