Solar Shingles are a little on the pricey side, but if your roof took a beating this winter and you feel it's time to re-shingle then these sun soakers could be a worthy investment.
Solar shingles are designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles and can be installed like asphalt shingles too. Although they are similar in appearance to asphalt shingles, the benefits of solar shingles far exceed protecting your roof. They are an integrated photovoltaic (PV) building product, which means they directly generate electricity from sunlight. The sunlight is used to generate electricity and some models can convert the electricity to heat. This natural source of electricity is said to be able to cut your home's electrical costs by 40% to 60%.
All photovoltaic power is produced in the form of direct current (DC). Homes use alternating current (AC), so part of the cost of installation of solar shingles is the price of an inverter to make the conversion.
The cost is about $25k for a bundle. Government grants in some places could bring the cost down to about $10k. According to some consumer reports these shingles will pay for themselves "far sooner than some solar water heaters we've tested."
If it is an investment you are considering for your home, they are manufactured by companies including SunPower Corporation, Solar Components Corporation, Atlantis Energy Systems, and Dow Chemical.
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