Solar Shingles

Solar shingles:

Also known as photovoltaic shingles are a fairly new technology being developed and pushed mostly from DOW. These shingles are made up of a modified solar cell (a thin film style of cell) and a plastic/hybrid shingle base. They are very similar looking to a tradition shingle with the major difference being the cells’  blue-purple coloring.

In the near future you should start to see them start popping up on local roofs. For quite some time the solar based technology has been simply too expensive to produce a consumer quality shingle that not only produces enough energy to be worth while but it also need to be able to withstand varying climates and extreme weather conditions.

With the introduction of Dow Chemical Companies consumer solar shingles in 2011, the company is estimating/hoping to see the solar shingle market expand quickly into the $5 billion range withing 5 years and then to $10b by twenty twenty.

While this prediction seem somewhat hopeful to me, I do agree that the market will take off in coming years. But to be truly game changing, more tests need to be done, as we still don’t know how these shingles will stand up in cold and or very windy climates?

If I am going to replace a tried and true asphalt shingle with a solar shingle I will definitely need to be sure that it will provide the same or better protection to my house. And at the same time produce enough electricity to make the premium costs worth while.

While some won’t like the Look of these futuristic and green roofs

I actually quite like it, the shiny blueish look give the house a bit of a tech and futuristic look and as a huge solar nerd I will be looking in to add these once I know they will last in my environment.

Check out the photo below to see the solar shingles in use:

Photovoltaic Shingles

Looking for a way to reduce your energy consumption in you home or business? A relatively new green product, photovoltaic shingles are a new electricity generating roofing solution that can be an excellent option for both new construction and homes in need of a replacement or upgrade. They give a home or business the ability to independently generate electricity directly from the sun when needed, reducing your energy bill in the process.

Designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles. There are several varieties of solar shingles currently available on the market. There are small solid panels that replace current shingles in a row. In this style, they will look similar to the current shingles on your roof. There are also photovoltaic shingles that are more solid in design. These tend to contain a number of silicon solar cells and look more like traditional shingles.

Finally, there are newer systems that use thin film solar cell technologies and are similar to regular roofing in terms of both size and flexibility!

How  Solar Shingles Work:

Adding them to your roof can be completed in a similar process as getting a typical new roof. Both solar panels and a roof can be installed at the same time when these shingles are used and then integrated into the roofs construction, which will save time and installation costs.

Each cell converts energy from light into electricity. Therefore, these shingles create electricity by absorbing photons and releasing electrons. The more solar cells that are linked together in a system, the greater volume of energy they can capture and produce.

On average, a single one can produce up to 50w of electricity. This can add up to a considerable amount when you are looking a a house with the majority of the roof covered in shingles.

Once in place and hooked up, the sun’s rays actually act as a bonding agent between each unit and help to form a weather resistant seal on the roof that can withstand poor weather and high winds.

Benefits of Solar Shingles

Home-owners may be drawn to solar shingles because of the many benefits this type of roofing system can provide. these benefits include:

• the Shingles are aesthetically pleasing: Solar shingled roofs have a dark purplish-blue color and look very good and similar to a traditionally shingled roof
• A fully integrated shingle roof can be exceptionally durable. Withstanding winds, and poor weather without needing maintenance.
• A lower electric bill! Why pay for your electricity when you can affordably generate it yourself?
• Protecting the environment: Solar shingles provide a pollution free way to produce power for your home.
• A Smart investment: solar shingles will tend to pay for them selves in the long run by reducing or eliminating monthly electrical bills entirely.
• Tax Rebates: most states and provinces offer tremendous tax rebates or government grants to help offset the costs of installing!