Solar shingles are an innovative product that acts as a traditional asphalt shingle while generating clean, and free, solar power for your home.  In fact, depending on the system you use and where you live, you might make a tidy little sum by selling power back to the electric company! 

Imagine being able to turn your entire roof into a private power plant while maintaining the look of a conventional home. You can do it with solar shingles. Best of all you will not be sacrificing the integrity of your roof for an alternative power source. They protect the home from the elements as well as conventional roofing.

The shingles are fully integrated into the roof, blending in with the conventional shingles. Because they blend in completely they do not ditract from the architectural integrity of the home the way that the big, old fashioned panels used to.

Because you install them individually you can create enough power to handle the needs of your household by adding more solar shingles. The PV panels can be used to update an existing structure as well as during the building of a new home. This was not always possible with the old style panels. 

How do they look?

Well, they blend with the surrounding shingles. Each solar shingle is generally about 1 foot by 8 feet. You would use as many of these as necessary to create the power needed for your home or office building.

If you have some roofing experience you can install these panels!

The shingles are nailed in place on conventional roof decking. Because they are so integrated with the other shingles it is easiest if the solar shingles are added at the same time as a new roof. The shingles must be applied over 30 pound felt sheeting.  After the solar shingles are installed the heat of the sun will bond the shingles together and form a weather resistant seal.

The panels come with a template from the manufacturer. The installer (roofing contractor or you) will mark and drill the holes for the wiring. As the shingles are applied electrical lead wires extend from underneath each solar shingle and through the roof deck where they are connected in the interior roof space.

Generally at this point you will need an electrical contractor. The wires from all of the photovoltaic shingles are connected and the wires are run to a combiner box. Next the contractor will run the wires from the combiner box to the power center. The power center has the following equipment:

• Charge controller
• Meters
• System disconnect switch 
• Fuses
• Inverter
• Batteries 

• Will handle up to 80 mile per hour wind loads
• No need for support structures
• 20 year power output warranty
• Back ventilation of solar panels is not needed 
• Lightweight
• Easy to install 

O.k. Solar Shingles has several packages to fit many needs.  They have one type for those who do not have access to electrical lines and they also have packages for those that do have access to them.  They also have some wind generators for those who are not sure whether wind or solar is the best way to go.

Uni-Solar also carries these types of shingles.  They have some excellent diagrams on stie to help you see and understand exactly how the wiring works from the combiner box to the battery. 

There may be tax breaks available in your area to help defray the costs of installing solar shingles.  Check with the Department of Energy site to find out if you qualify.

The bottom line is that these panels are good for the environment.  It takes about one year for them to pay back (to the environment) the energy that was used to make them.  Thier actual carbon footprint is very small.  While the initial cost may seem like alot (expect to pay over 25,000.00 for the average home) In the twenty years that they are guaranteed they will pay for themselves many times over.  In fact, for many people they will have paid for themselves in the first seven years. (assuming an initial cost of 25,000.00 and an average monthly electric bill of 300.00)

Solar shingles are a great way to save money over a long period of time, protect the environment, and insure that power outages do not phase you.  They add value to your home and may enable you to recieve tax breaks.

Seriously, what's not to love?