Solar shingles on the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center in Glenview, IL. Note the shallow roof pitch. There are 2 potential problems with this with respect to solar. 1 - snow can collect on the roof and be slow to shed, and 2 - the panels (shingles) will not be able to generate as much electricity as they could if they were at a steeper angle.
Here is the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center the day after a big snowfall on Saturday Dec 2, 2006. (The snowfall took place the day before, on Friday. This photo was taken at 11:30am.) There was much blowing and drifting of the snow and this roof, due to it's orientation, didn't get the worst of the snow for this particular storm.
Solar shingles on the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center are on the left. On the right is a "green roof" with vegetation.
Snow covering the roof of the Evelyn Pease Interpretive center.
A home in Arlington Heights, IL, taken at close to the same time as the photo of the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center (11:45am). Notice the steep pitch of the solar thermal panels (approximately 52 degrees.) The panels have shed half the snow and are being useful, generating heat. In addition, the panels are at the optimal angle to the winter sun to capture the most energy for the conditions.
Closeup of the solar thermal panels.