Nowadays, making investments in your home is smart. So, installing a solar power system will add value and increase your future savings for the long-term. Besides, along with solar technologies’ development, solar energy system prices are also decreasing and becoming more accessible.
Every year the solar equipment market suggests new innovative solutions and modern solar equipment to improve your solar experience. Solar shingles, also known as building integrated photovoltaics, are the most promising renewable energy technology today.
What Are Solar Shingles And How Do They Work?
Solar shingles have the benefits of solar panels at the same time serving as roof tiles. So, they offer you both functionality and aesthetics of solar roofing.
With climate change and human activities causing average global temperature rise on Earth, a climate emergency is real. Using solar power will decrease your fossil fuel dependency, hence reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Solar panel shingles will help you produce electricity directly through the sun, with no environmental harm and no pollution. In comparison to a solar panel, solar shingles become an integral part of the building. Essentially solar shingles are made to look like a standard asphalt shingle. They are made of two materials:
- Copper indium gallium selenide cells which are thin and flexible and have a high-efficiency rate
- Monocrystalline silicon which is a natural semiconductor usually used in computer chips. They have higher efficiency but are generally more expensive.
Solar roof shingles are the guarantee for sustainable roofing for homeowners. They are lightweight and easy to install. While you should drill a solar panel onto your roof through your roof shingles, solar shingles need no drilling. So, they are not an extension to your roof as they form the roofing themselves. Thus, shingles are also durable enough to withstand wind and rain.
Behind The Design: How Solar Roof Shingles Really Work
Solar roof shingles have an immense potential to make an impact. Moreover, solar shingles are an outstanding example of solar products becoming construction roofing materials. You can find solar panel shingles both on commercial and residential buildings. Solar roof shingles are not only pleasing but also require less labor and installation cost. In the end, solar shingles are meant to protect your building and generate electricity for your needs.
As already mentioned, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) function similar to the solar panel system. But how do solar roof shingles really work?
When the light hits your solar shingles, the part of this light is captured within a silicon semiconductor. The electrons are loosed and start moving in one direction creating electric power in your building. When you install an inverter, it converts this power into electricity.
The amount of energy created depends on the weather, your home’s geographic location, and available sunlight. The longer sunny hours, the more efficiently the solar panel system will function. Besides, for maximum efficiency, remember to maintain and clean your solar tiles.
Solar Shingles vs. Solar Panels
Generally, solar shingles and solar panels are quite similar and operate the same way. They are made of the same primary materials, including photovoltaic cells. The essential difference is the appearance, assembly, and installation. While PV cell panels are mounted on top of the existing roof, solar shingle cells serve as both covering and produce energy. Thus, shingles must be indeed durable as a rooftop.
By choosing between a regular solar panel system and solar asphalt shingles for your roof, attentively research all the advantages and disadvantages of both.
So, solar shingles are more aesthetically appealing than traditional solar panels. When building a new house or replacing your roofing, consider solar shingles as a more cost-effective option as you will save on additional labor and roofing materials. Even moving to a new home, you can reinstall your solar shingles.
Solar panels are more energy-efficient. However, the installation is more complex and requires more time. In the case of solar shingles, it will take on average 10 hours for specialized solar panel companies to complete the installation.
What for the negative part of solar shingles, unlike ordinary solar panels, you can not install all the types of solar shingles on any roof, and you may need new roofing. Furthermore, solar tiles are new to the market and, therefore, more expensive than regular PV panels.
Solar Shingles Cost
If you have decided to go solar, you should know that a solar tile generates electricity and acts as a regular shingle simultaneously, making it less expensive as a long-term investment. However, you will need more tiles connected together for the entire roof than solar panels for the same area. The high price is the main drawback of solar shingles. It will cost you from USD 15,000 to USD 30,000 to install solar shingles.
How Many Solar Shingles Do You Need for Your Roof Design?
The number of solar shingles you need for your home depends on your home and energy usage. You can even install only a few solar tiles to generate some amount of solar energy. But in case you decide to replace your entire existing roofing, you should know that it will add a growing worldwide value to your home.
Author of a publication: Irene Abgaryan
