We all know that utilizing solar energy to generate electricity is good for the environment, but it’s also beneficial for you as a business or homeowner. While we typically associate the notion of solar power with solar panels, solar roof shingles are another innovative solution that is highly efficient at lowering your energy bills, and it also adds considerable value to your property. 

According to Homefix Custom Remodeling, it is a worthwhile investment for every forward-thinking property owner. Solar roof shingles are sustainable and reliable, whether they are used to overlay or replace the existing ones. Another important feature? Their visually attractive design.

What are solar roof shingles?

Solar shingles are slim sheets with photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells transfer sunlight energy into electrons, which then generate an electrical current. Unlike panels, shingles can be installed on smaller roofs as well. Depending on the manufacturer, one shingle can generate from 13 to 63 watts. As a result, this type of roofing significantly reduces the overall carbon footprint of your household and your energy bills.

What are the benefits of solar shingles?

Powering your home with solar energy has many advantages. Using shingles does not only transfer solar power into electricity effectively but also brings additional benefits such as increased property value and design aesthetics. Solar panels are bulky, whereas solar roof shingles are sleek.

Size

In terms of size, solar roof shingles are similar to standard roofing tiles and shingles. The average size of one solar roof shingle is about 17 inches in width and 64 inches in length, with a thickness of less than 1 inch. Their weight per square foot is about 10 pounds and they cannot damage or weaken the underlying structure. 

Materials

The typical material that shingles are made of is copper indium gallium selenide (CIGV), protected by a layer of quartz glass. CIGV is a semiconductor that allows the product to be thin and flexible. It features a high conversion efficiency rate, the average being between 10% and 12%. 

Solar shingles are also available in monocrystalline silicon. While they come with a heftier price tag, they also have a higher conversion rate of about 15% to 20%. 

Cost‐efficiency

Protecting the environment is an important aspect of solar roofing, but the primary reason why so many property owners nationwide and worldwide are even considering the investment is obvious: lower energy costs. Since individual shingles produce from 13 to 63 watts of energy, a typical roof installation can reduce your monthly utility bill by 40% to 70%. Increasing the number of shingles further lowers the cost. 

Aesthetics

There are different designs to choose from. Solar shingles can be easily combined with different roofing materials to get a sleek finished look. Since it’s not necessary to cover the entire roof surface for these to be efficient, it’s possible to install them in certain areas of the roof such as the edging, for a more subtle effect.

Installation

The installation is quick and simple and it doesn’t require any drilling or cutting through the existing roof. As stated above, they can be installed over an existing construction or used to build an entirely new roof. They connect to both off‐grid and grid‐tied PV systems.

Durability

Solar roof shingles are extremely durable. They are resistant to severe weather, debris, fire, and UV radiation. Due to the flexibility of the materials, they’re made of, they are also infrangible, which means they won’t break when stepped on.  

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Property value

The ability to harness solar power adds value to your property, but the exact numbers depend on factors such as solar capacity and property location. According to research, a 10kW system capacity may increase the value of a property by $60,000.

Low maintenance

The maintenance of solar shingles doesn’t require any specialized tools. You can clean them in the same way you would a regular roof. Since the solar shingles market system is young, at least when compared to solar panels, there’s still not enough data to rely on, but the predictions are that even with no maintenance at all, it can last up to 30 years.