In this day and age, there are two things that people need to focus on: saving money and reducing their carbon footprint. Most of the time, these two get in each other’s way because cheap and affordable things often come with a high cost to the environment.
However, thanks to technological developments, your home can save you money and help save the environment with the help of solar shingles.
Solar shingles are a new groundbreaking development that offers homeowners a sleek roofing design while harnessing the sun’s energy to power your home.
At Turtle Roofing LLC, we pride ourselves on being a leader in the solar roofing industry. If you’re thinking about installing a solar roofing system but don’t know where to start and what all the terminology means, then carry on reading as we break down what precisely solar shingles and solar roofing is and how it can benefit you and your home.
What Are Solar Shingles?
As human beings have evolved, so too have our energy needs. We’ve drawn energy resources from the ground, harnessed the wind, and created nuclear power plants. It thus would make sense for homeowners to harness the sun’s power, which is often our rooftop’s greatest enemy, to construct a modern roofing system.
Solar energy is one of the cleanest forms of energy available to us. And in places like Nebraska, with scorching summers, it would make sense for homeowners to want to introduce solar energy into their homes.
For years now, solar panels have been available to homeowners. However, its ugly design and small energy-yielding capabilities didn’t make it an attractive asset for homeowners.
People wanted to find a way to reduce the size of the solar panel because it often clashed with the architectural style and curb appeal of homes while harnessing enough energy to power their homes.
And this is why the solar shingle is the perfect solar harnessing roofing material. The solar shingle roof operates as an integrated photovoltaic system. Meaning, the shingles on your roof generate electricity directly from the sun.
Solar shingles and solar panels are made from similar materials, but the solar shingle can be installed on your roof just like ordinary roofing materials.
Types of Solar Shingles
When installing your solar shingled roof, you need to use a trained and certified roofing company to ensure the best installation possible. There are two types of solar shingles available: silicon and CIGS.
Silicon Solar Shingles
The silicon solar shingles are similar to the solar panel as they both have a rigid frame, and they can be integrated alongside your existing roof shingles. The shingles have a waterproof layer to protect your shingles from things like rain and moisture, as well as the photosensitive layer that allows the shingle to harness the sun’s energy.
CIGS Solar Shingles
CIGS solar shingles are a new development in solar technology that is lighter and more flexible than silicon. Made from copper-idium-gallium-selenide (CIGS), they can be installed along with your existing roofing materials, making them perfect for people who want to save on energy and roofing costs.
Many roofing brands are jumping on the bandwagon and producing their own range of solar roofing shingles. Dow and Certainteed have launched their solar roof shingles and are currently the leading solar shingle roofing brand in the US. However, automobile manufacturer Tesla has recently entered the roofing industry with their Tesla Solar Roof.
Advantages of Solar Shingles
By installing a solar roofing system, you can create clean energy in your home and drastically reduce your electricity costs. If you’d like, you’d be able to power your entire home with your solar rooftop. Plus, the government offers a $2000 tax deduction for your solar roofing installation to thank you for your clean energy efforts.
Disadvantages of Solar Shingles
Rooftops are often not built to capture the most sunlight or solar energy possible. The positioning of your home, as well as the size of your rooftop, will determine how many solar shingles should be installed on your roof and thus how much energy you’d be able to generate. If your home is situated at an angle that shades it from the sun, you might not be able to reap the benefits of a solar roofing system.
For more information about installing solar shingles on your rooftop, give Turtle Roofing LLC a call today!