Solar Roof Shingle Benefits

Have you heard of solar roof shingles? There is a big chance that you have not since they are a new and upcoming product that has been gaining popularity throughout the United States (especially in sunny states). There are a few reasons why solar roof shingles are gaining popularity and one of them is because they look so great! These shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, are photovoltaic cells designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles and have a really nice look. In the past, the only way to get solar power into a home was to install roof mounted modules which were definitely not as aesthetically pleasing as the solar shingles nor did they work as well.

How Do Solar Shingles Work?
The shingles use the sunlight and transfer it into energy to be used in a home. The electricity is generated when the sun strikes a semiconductor layer, typically crystalline silicon, laminated to the shingle’s surface which in turn creates electricity for your home.

Who Should Consider Solar Shingles?
Clearly, solar shingles work only with sunlight. So if you live in a climate with limited sunlight then you would really want to consider the benefit to solar shingles in that the benefits may not overweight the costs. This is because solar roof shingles cost about $10,000-$14,000 to have installed. In states such as Arizona and California, the benefit is great which is one reason why these states are the leaders in solar roof installations. It’s not for this reason alone that they are popular in these states. Another reason is because some electric companies have pay back programs which means that if a homeowner generates more electricity than you actually needed (this can happen on really sunny days), then you can in a way earn money back and in some cases get your utility bill down to a few dollars.

Keep in mind that you do not have to have a new construction to have a solar roof shingles. The shingles can be easily installed over other shingle types. Make sure you find a professionally trained roofer and electrician who are familiar with the installation of these types of special shingles.