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Solar Shingles — Are they feasible for your home?

Article by Joshua Vadney

Solar shingles, or photovoltaic shingles, are photovoltaic cells designed to look similar to normal asphalt shingles. They were first commercially produced in 2005. In an interview with Reuters, the Dow Chemical Company’s spokesperson estimated that their entry into the solar shingle market would create billion in revenue by 2015 and billion by 2020.

These shingles harvest sunlight and convert it into electricity. Generally, they are 12 inches wide and 86 inches long and can be stapled directly to roofing cloth. They have 5 inches of exposed area when applied. Various models of shingles have different mounting requirements. Some may need special installation while most others can be installed directly onto the roof between normal asphalt shingles.

All photovoltaic electricity is produced in the form of direct current (DC). Our homes use alternating current (AC). Installation costs of solar shingles usually include the cost of an inverter that converts direct current to alternating current.

Old solar shingles were costlier to install than traditional PV panels, but new, more efficient designs like thin film copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells can be installed in under 10 hours. Older, traditional panels took 22 to 30 hours for the installation. Solar power can be implemented with greater ease thanks to the reduced installation cost.

Constructors in California like Lennar are collaborating with SunPower to offer new construction solar homes that have solar systems already installed before people move in. Decreasing the expenses and utilizing solar roof tile technology makes solar a default option, making solar a reasonable solution to decrease electricity expenses.

Solar shingles look like normal roofs as they have a deep, dark, purplish blue color. Home owners may be attracted to them because of their aesthetic value, letting the home owner to use solar power without having to install large solar panels on their roofs. Some solar shingles are made of polymatrix which only some manufacturers produce. These shingles incorporate well into current roofs.

Using the grid as a backup source of electricity is the most economical way of installing these shingles. Batteries are costly and the installation becomes even more complicated and they are not economically feasible in large scale as backup storage. Extra hardware is always required for battery backup. This includes battery enclosures, batteries, separate sub panels for critical load circuits and battery charge controllers.

Are you looking for more solar panels facts? Visit http://www.solarpanelsfacts.org to learn more including solar panels costs!

About the Author

I live in a rural town in Northwestern Pennsylvania with my wife and two children. I’ve always been interested in lowering our impact on the environment and saving money at the same time.