Rooftop solar shade structure

Abstract

An example solar structure is disclosed for providing shade to a roof of a building having a building support structure. The solar structure may comprise: a plurality of vertical supports; a plurality of connecting beams; and a plurality of solar panels, wherein the plurality of vertical supports couple the load of the solar structure directly to the building support structure. Example methods are disclosed for keeping rooftop equipment cooler and operating more efficiently and longer, for specifying smaller AC units, for extending the life of a roof, for reducing the heat entering a building from sunshine, for reducing the heat re-radiated from solar panels onto a roof, and for specifying smaller structural roof support beams. An example solar structure comprises a movable portion configured to move from a first position to a second position to allow rooftop equipment to be lifted off the roof through the solar structure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A solar structure for providing shade to a roof of a building, wherein the building has a building support structure, the solar structure comprising:
 a plurality of vertical supports;   a plurality of connecting beams, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are configured to support the plurality of connecting beams at a first height above a surface of the roof of the building; and   a plurality of solar panels supported by the plurality of connecting beams over the roof and configured to provide shade to the roof of the building;   wherein the plurality of vertical supports couple the load of the solar structure directly to the building support structure; and wherein the plurality of solar panels comprises an array of solar panels, wherein the solar structure supports the array of solar panels located over all or a portion of the roof of the building and at least one rooftop equipment.