

The average cost of solar shingles is between $42,600 to $69,000 before the federal solar tax credit.Īre Solar Shingles Right for Your Home? Photo Credit: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Solar shingles are the most expensive roofing material on the market.įactors affecting the cost of solar shingle installation include brand, roof type, location, and installation costs. With household solar, research suggests homeowners prefer a sleeker, more low-profile design, and they will pay a higher price tag to get it. They are sleek, weather-resistant, and have a long lifespan, however, they are a relatively new and expensive technology. Solar shingles are a great way to harness the power of the sun to produce clean, independent energy. However, if you are replacing your roof, it can take two or more weeks to install, depending on your roofing company.
First solar roofs install#
If your existing roof is in good condition, solar roof installation can take as little as one week to install over your traditional materials.

It typically takes 350 tiles for an average installation, saving you between 40% to 70% on your utility bills.
First solar roofs professional#
Professional roofers attach the shingles directly to your roof deck, and a licensed electrician wires the shingles. Unlike solar panels, solar shingles do not require a mounting system or rack. They are considerably longer and heavier than regular shingles which average 12 inches by 36 inches and weigh approximately 5 pounds per square foot. Individual shingles are typically 12 inches wide by 86 inches long and weigh 13 pounds per square foot. Solar shingles require a labor-intensive, specialized installation. Roof replacement or asphalt shingles re-roofingġ2 inches x 86 inches and less than 1 inch thick Because they are an integrated roof component, from a distance they look like ordinary shingles. The chief advantage of solar shingles is largely an aesthetic one.

Solar shingles have a dual purpose: to generate electricity and protect you from the elements like regular roofing shingles. Solar panels have one function: to generate electricity. Photovoltaic devices can power anything from a small calculator to a jumbo jet, and, if there are enough of them, they can produce 100% of a building’s electricity, working anywhere, even in gray, overcast climates. All BIPVs convert the sun’s energy into electricity and have the same net metering policies – rules overseeing utility credits for excess energy sent back to the grid. Solar shingles and solar panels are building-integrated photovoltaics. How Are Solar Shingles Different From Solar Panels? The direct current passes through the inverter, which converts the direct current into alternating current to be used by your home, stored in your solar battery bank, or fed back into the national electricity grid. When hit with sunlight, the semiconductor energizes, creating an electric field.Īll solar roofs have an inverter and generate direct currents. The photovoltaic cells lay between layers of semiconducting material like silicon. The sun shines on the shingle, which absorbs the light through photovoltaic cells. Solar shingle roofs work the same way as standard solar panel systems, harnessing the flow of electrons released when sunlight hits a semiconducting material. Some companies, like Tesla, only offer complete solar power systems with no re-roofing option. A professional roofer can install them on top of your existing asphalt shingles, or they can install a new solar roof system if it is time to replace your roof. Solar shingles are a building-integrated photovoltaic component of your roof. Many companies continue to develop solar shingles to integrate with other popular roofing materials like wood shakes and concrete, clay, and slate tiles. These shingles look and perform like traditional asphalt shingles, protecting you and your home from the elements while saving you money on your electricity bill. They are thin photovoltaic sheets, or solar cells, that absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity to power your home. What Are Solar Shingles? Photo Credit: ben west / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0Īt their most basic, solar shingles, also known as solar roof tiles, are small solar panels integrated into a conventional roofing system. Are Solar Shingles Right for Your Home?.How Are Solar Shingles Different From Solar Panels?.
