What You Need to Know About Solar Shingles

Many homeowners like the idea of getting some type of solar energy source installed on their roof for the energy it provides but don’t like the eyesore of having solar panels. There’s good news for the homeowner as you can now have your cake and eat it too in the form of photovoltaic or solar shingles. Let’s look at what solar shingles are including their pros and cons.

What are Solar Shingles?

Solar panels used to be the only way to get efficient solar energy in the home, they are big, bulky and pretty ugly but with the development of new technologies solar energy can now be obtained with simple solar shingles. Solar shingles are produced smaller so they’re better able to replicate the look of traditional asphalt shingles while packing the power punch of full sized panels. Popular solar shingles include Powerhouse by DOW and the Apollo series by CertainTeed.

The homeowner can install as many or as little solar shingles as they want, you can get your entire roof done if you had the resources to afford it but most homeowners get a few sections done to help take a little off the top of their power bill. The shingles can integrate into the design of your current roofing material for a clean look.

Advantages of Solar Shingles

Environmentally Friendly

Solar shingles take into solar energy and convert it into useful for energy to power your home with no harmful byproducts making solar shingles very friendly to the environment. More natural energy means you are cutting down on your carbon footprint.

Energy Savings

While there is a large initial payment solar shingles will do a great job of saving you money on your utility bill in the long run. With many tax incentives in place you may be able to get solar shingles installed at a reduced cost.

Disadvantages of Solar Shingles

Cost

While new technologies continue to drive the price of solar shingles down, it is still a large investment. According to DOW a cluster of 350 solar shingles may cost as much as $20,000 to install. The cost can be mitigated depending on where you live and their tax incentives for installing green energy sources.

Talk with your local solar roofing company or consultant to find out if solar shingles are a good fit for your property.