Solar Roofs Are Interesting Ways To Go Solar

The solar roof is made of a series of solar shingles, tiles that pull double duty as both roofing shingles and small solar panels. Each tile generates only a tiny amount of energy, but when linked together with other solar shingles, they can potentially produce as much power as traditional solar panels.

While Tesla’s foray into the solar industry was praised as a unique and innovative venture, few understood that the solar shingle was actually patented in the 1970s and first became commercially possible in 2005.

What The Heck Are These Solar Shingles Made Of?

Solar shingles are made of three main layers. The most critical element in the solar shingle is the solar cell. The cell absorbs the sun’s energy and transforms it into electricity. The cell is coated with a colored louver, a kind of thin film that allows sunlight to enter the shingle but renders its solar components invisible from the street level. Ultimately, the louver and the cell are sandwiched within two sheets of tempered glass.

Solar shingles have a few separated advantages over standard solar panels. Small and lightweight, solar shingles are simpler to install than regular solar panels. Installation is also more suitable for many situations because they don’t require a roof evaluation.

Some solar shingles also come with more extended warranties than standard solar panels. While the standard panel warranty lasts for just 25 years, Tesla guarantees that its shingles will generate power for at least 30 years and remain intact over the lifetime of the home.

Solar shingle companies also like to point out the aesthetic value of solar shingles. While conventional solar panels jut out visibly from the roof, solar shingles are visually inconspicuous, and often combine seamlessly into the rest of the home’s roof.

The exchange for solar shingles is small but growing. CertainTeed’s Apollo Tile II obtained the product innovation award from Architectural Products Magazine in 2014. The tile has a power rating of 60 watts per tile and weighs less than ordinary roofing shingles.

Similarly to any solar installation, the price of installing solar shingles depends on the equipment you select, the installer you fancy to work with, and the amount of energy you want to produce. The more power you use, the more solar shingles your home will require. Tesla, for instance, recommends that most consumers cover their roof with about 40 percent solar shingles and cover the remaining 60 percent with standard shingles (which look identical). However, if your home has high power needs, you could wrap your roof with up to 70 percent solar shingles, leaving just 30 percent covered by regular shingles. (Construction regulations forbid coverage of more than 70 percent.)

Solar Panel Cost Effectiveness

Solar shingles are most cost-effective for people who are creating a new home and want solar power. By connecting both solar panel installation and roof installation into a single process, the homeowner could save abundant money (on top of the money they stand to save on their electric bill). They’re also a good opportunity for current homeowners who are ready to replace their roofs and need to go solar.

Standard household solar systems cost about 30 percent less than the average cost of Tesla’s solar roof. But like other areas of solar technology, the cost of solar shingles will likely continue to drop. PowerScout, a solar startup, suggests that the price of solar energy will likely continue declining through at least 2022. And cost rebates for solar shingles are even more likely now that big-cheeses like Tesla and Dow are in the market.

Here at HahaSmart, we can help you find a solution for any solar need you may have.  Whether solar panels or tiles, we can point you in the right direction.  Get in contact today.

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