Over 4 million homes across the US have traditional solar panels installed on their roofs, making solar power the fastest growing sector when it comes to energy production in the US. Especially when you consider government subsidies you may be eligible for, solar can be a really cost-effective choice for homeowners who are focused on their environmental impact or on their energy spending.
But for some homeowners, the look of solar panels across their roof can be a potential downside, as can the extra weight added to their roof (which can come with more potential for roof damage over time). And for these homeowners, opting for solar tiles on their roof can be an excellent choice.
What Are Solar Shingles?
Solar shingles (or solar tiles, depending on their form factor) are mini versions of solar panels shaped like either tiles or shingles. They still have the solar energy capturing qualities of solar panels, but (especially from a distance) they look more or less like normal roofing materials.
How Do They Work?
They work exactly like big solar panels you have probably seen mounted on someone’s roof. The surface of the solar tile (or shingle, or panel) collects the energy from the sunlight that hits them and stores it in batteries where it can be used within the household or (in some areas) sold back for use by the local energy companies.
What Are the Benefits?
For people who like the idea of solar energy, either from a perspective of protecting the planet or from a perspective of reducing their energy bills, but don’t like the idea of altering the look of their home to accommodate large solar panels, solar tiles or solar shingles may be the answer.
Solar tiles also have the benefit of not burdening your roof with extra weight — with traditional solar panels, you have a full roof installed, and then add the solar panels on top, requiring your roof to bear this extra weight. With solar shingles you’re getting solar “panels” and roofing materials in one, so there isn’t such an extra burden on your roof surface.
Solar tiles and solar shingles strike a great balance between an eco-friendly choice and an aesthetic choice. You get to keep the look you want for your roof while also benefiting from solar technology — it really is a win/win.
What Are the Potential Downsides?
Though they can be a great compromise between form and function, solar tiles aren’t perfect.
They require expert installation and maintenance. And though this might be a deal-breaker for some DIY enthusiasts, most homeowners opt for expert installation and maintenance for their roof regardless of whether or not their choices include any sort of solar option. But, there’s also the consideration that combining solar materials into your roofing materials could complicate the maintenance, as well. Any future roof repairs won’t be quite as easy as going up on the roof and nailing down a few loose shingles — the interaction between the solar element and the roofing element will need to be considered during any future maintenance of your roof.
Solar shingles or tiles aren’t as efficient as traditional solar panels — you get more “bang for your buck” when you use standard solar panels. Solar tiles just don’t generate as much electricity as their traditional cousins.
Solar tiles can only really be installed as part of a roof replacement or significant roof repair — they can’t easily be retrofitted onto an existing roof. So, if your current roof is in good shape, you probably won’t be installing solar shingles anytime soon.
Installing solar tiles and solar shingles also cost more than a traditional solar panel installation … though not more than the cost of a solar panel installation PLUS a roof replacement. So, if you were already going to have your roof replaced, and you were considering having solar panels added on top of it, you might actually end up with a benefit in terms of cost.
If you’ve been considering solar, and you know you’re going to be needing a new roof, but losing the great lines of your roof has been holding you back from installing solar panels, then it might be a good idea to consider solar shingles or solar tiles for your next roof’s materials. Call your local roof replacement company if you have questions or you want to learn more. Here in Cincinnati, give us a call here at Harper, anytime.