Solar Energy For Homes

Recently, solar energy has taken a turn for the better with one of the newest advancements in solar energy, solar roof shingles. Solar roof shingles are a great way to turn a traditional shingle roof into an energy producer. are hybrid shingles that double as a roof shingle that protects the roof from weather and such as well as harnessing the power of the sun and turning it into usable electricity. Solar roof shingles are the new innovated green roofing product of the past couple of years (as of 2015).

What are Solar Roof Shingles?

Solar roof shingles or A.K.A photo-voltaic shingles are shingles that use solar technology to create electricity from the sun as well as protect the roof like a tradition asphalt shingle.

How Do They Work?

Solar shingles or a.k.a solar tiles work like traditional solar panels. They use the sun as a power source to create electricity. Each of the solar shingles is comprised of photo-voltaic cells. This type of technology has been around for a while and was at first used on satellites in space. The name photo-voltaic truly tells what they do. The first part of the word “Photo” means light and the second part of the word “voltaic” means electricity. Thus they take the light and turn it into electricity.

Each of the cells on solar shingles or even a solar panel contains a type of material that is called semiconductors. One of the most used types of semiconductors for photo-voltaic cells is silicon. What occurs first with solar shingles is the light hitting them. When this happens a part of the light is captured within the silicon semiconductor. In simple terms what happens is the semiconductor now contains energy and with this energy electrons get loosed and begin to move more freely. Next, these free flowing electrons are acted upon by the photovoltaic cell’s (PV Cells) electric field or fields and are forced to flow in one common direction. This creates a current that can be used for electrical power. This is the basic version of how solar shingles work.

New Technology

Solar shingles have come a long way. In fact, solar shingles or solar tiles used to be unsatisfactory based on their inability to have a high electricity conversion rate. Because of this, traditional solar panels have generally been the best option for turning a roof into a energy creator.

After the year 2008 the thin-film solar cells had a huge breakthrough when the United State’s Department of Energy achieved a 19 – 19.9% electrical conversion. The previous percentages were just above 10%. This breakthrough came by using a copper indium gallium diselenide or a.k.a CIGS solar cell. Now with this new advancement available solar shingles are much more viable and effective.

What Do They Look Like?

How Much Do Solar Roof Shingles Cost?

Photos are of Damaan Solar Shingles from their before and after pictures

The amount of money you will initially spend on a solar shingle roof varies but you can expect to pay $30,000 + on a shingle solar roof. With the initial cost you can expect to receive up to a 30% tax incentive from the federal government. Many cities and states also have tax incentive savings available.

Here are some quick answers regarding the cost of solar shingles or a.k.a solar tiles:

1. The cost of solar roof shingles varies from state to state.
2. The cost is always custom based on the roof type, area, slope, and so forth.
3. It depends on how big of a system you will need or want to be installed.
4. Prices vary based on installer estimates.
5. Prices vary based on the solar shingle manufacturer or brand type.

                                              Questions To Help Determine Your Price

1. How big is your roof?
2. What is the pitch of your roof?
3. What state and city do you live in?
4. What brand of solar shingles do you want to use?
5. What size of a system do you want or need?
6. Does your state provide tax incentives?
7. Does the power company buy back electricity and if yes, at what price?
8. Do you know a local certified installer of solar shingles?
9. Do you need an entire new roof or are you just replacing some existing shingles with solar shingles?
10. Will you need to remove trees to give your roof more sunlight?