Commercial and industrial property owners can make money from the green energy movement by leasing their rooftops for such things as solar generation systems.

But they need to know a few things first.

While rooftop leasing can produce a regular monthly income, property owners should remember they’re attaching a power generation system that can last up to 40 years on a roofing system that has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.

Owners must consider the implications to their long-term building plans prior to making a multi-decade commitment, and this should be factored into the lease agreement.

In order for photovoltaic solar systems to generate a consistent profit, they need access to approximately 70,000 to 80,000 square feet of rooftop space.

In some cases, solar providers rent several roof surfaces in order to secure the required square footage to accommodate the system.

This makes plenty of commercial, industrial and retail spaces ideal locations for roof rentals.

These systems can generate approximately 500 kilowatts.

Once the system is installed, power is generated and sold to the local utility. This is done through a pre-negotiated agreement between the provider and the utility company.

Property owners do not have to be involved in marketing rooftop power generation, and the lease agreements can guarantee a monthly income stream for up to 20 years.