Solar Shingles and Solar Roofs
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With the rapid advancement of solar power we are now seeing new products enter the market containing “integrated solar panels”. For example, solar shingles.
What are Solar shingles? Essentially they are ordinary roof shingles which are made out of photovoltaic materials. They perform the same function as an ordinary roof shingle, but have the added capability of producing electricity.
The advantage of the solar shingles is that these thin “solar panels” can now be integrated right into one’s building materials - so instead of having solar panels on your roof, you would now have a solar roof.
Aside from being more desireable from an aesthetic standpoint, this also eliminates the need for the installation of bulky and heavy “traditional solar panels”.
How are Solar Shingles Made?
Advancments in solar power technology, such as the inventions of solar ink and other combinations of semi-conductors, have made it possible to combine or include photovoltaic materials in with a wide range of other products and materials. Solar cells no longer need to be made out of bulky heavy weight silicon panels, but can in fact be printed on just about any type of material - such as plastic, metal, and others. Researchers have even found ways to produce organic photovoltaics, though that is at the moment still in a purely experimental phase.
Benefits of Solar Shingles
- Attractive style
- Fully integrated shingle roof
- Lower electric bill
- Free electricity
- Pollution-free power
- Increased home value
- Protects the environment
- Exceptionally durable
- Great investment
- Significant state cash rebates available
- Federal tax incentives available
Solar Shingles Costs and Financing
To be honest, right at this moment solar shingles might still seem expensive to some, but as any new technology develops its products become cheaper with time. However it does look as though the cost will be considerably lower than installinga comparable set of conventional solar panels. In one recent example, the entire cost of a solar shingle installation on a home was about $16,000, with a $12,000 tax rebate. This brought the entire cost to only $4000. Not only is that considerably lower than the usual cost involved in installing a home solar power system, but one has to keep in mind that the cost of tiling or shingling a roof is covered at the same time. The solar shingles are, afterall, shingles as well as solar panels.
Clean energy cash incentives and tax rebates are available at a federal level, and most states also have a clean energy or sustainable energy source rebate program. This combined, with energy savings does make solar shingles affordable, and will in most cases pay for itself over time.
Tags: electricity, energy, energy savings, environment, home solar power, Installation, photovoltaic, photovoltaics, solar, solar cell, solar cells, solar panel, solar panels, Solar Power, solar power system, Solar Powered Roof, solar roof, Solar Shingles, sustainable, Sustainable EnergyRelated posts:
Solar Shingles
This is a video that shows thin film solar panels used on a home, ok nothing new, but what is interesting is the pricing, the total costs of the installation and panels were 16000 dollars, however 12000 dollars are returned through federal and state clean energy cash incentives and tax rebates. In other words, this person ended up only paying 4000 dollars for his solar power roof.
Through the use of net metering he is still connected to the electrical grid, thus he draws power from the power company at night. This eliminates the need for an expensive battery back up system in order to store the power from the solar panels. In addition to removing the cost of the battery back-up system excess energy produced during the day is sold back to the utility company. Net result? His average monthly electricity bill is now 25 dollars!
So looking at all things in their proper perspective, this solar power system will pay itself back in only a few years. But he is already benefiting from reduced electricity cost right now.
Tags: battery, electrical, electricity, energy, grid, Installation, Net Metering, solar, solar panel, solar panels, Solar Power, solar power system, Solar Shingles, thin film solar, Video
