As colder temperatures arrive in the northern hemisphere and cause heating costs to soar, some are basking in the sun, warm with new opportunities.

Solyndra, Inc. and Carlisle Energy Services announced Monday a $320 million long term contract to place Solyndra's solar panels on all Carlisle Construction Materials (Carlisle parent company) cool roofs.

The companies see energy savings and production synergies from their cool roof-unique PV products. Carlisle's white cool roofs reflect solar radiation away from the building, meaning the building’s heating and cooling system does not have to work as hard. A greater amount of solar radiation reflects off the roof and is absorbed by the photovoltaic system.

Solyndra manufactures photovoltaic systems specifically designed for flat commercial buildings to collect reflected, direct, and diffuse light. The Solyndra modules weigh less than standard PV, and are designed to allow wind to blow through them. The companies' claim that when used together, the solar power output increases by twenty percent when compared to standard roofing materials.

Carlisle Construction Materials will be installing the Solyndra systems on building roofs as part of its continued efforts to implement Energy Star-certified cool roofs.