If you are one of the growing population who is determined not to sit back whilst the planet is dying, you will probably have an interest to “green technologies” such as solar and wind.  When doing research on these technologies you may be wondering what type to choose.  This is a very difficult question to answer however in this article you will learn about solar roofing shingles.  You will probably already know about solar panels however solar shingles go that step further and can either cover your whole roof or just a section.  The solar shingles take energy from the sun so that you can reduce your need for mains electricity.  In some cases, you might even be able to stop using mains electricity altogether.

Solar roofing shingles are suitable for both residential homes and commercial premises.  If your current roof is in need of replacement you can either replace the whole roof with solar shingles or you can select areas to cover instead.  Although the environment is a concern to you, you should also think about the financial aspect of solar energy.  Even if you don’t plan on living in your home for many years, many people say that you can recoup your costs when you go to sell your home as this will be a very big selling point.

You might have noticed whilst conducting your research, that solar panels and shingles are often called “building integrated photovoltaic” (BIPV).  This just means that the panels are built into the design of the building, although there is no reason why they can’t be added at a later stage.  Solar technology is great because it isn’t obtrusive and makes no noise, unlike wind turbines which many people dislike.  If you live in a traditional home in an area which is built-up, you might find that your neighbors get annoyed if you installed wind turbines.  You might even find that you need planning permission.

If you are worried about the solar shingles sticking out like a sore thumb then you will be pleased to know that these solar shingles are designed to look like other more traditional roofing shingles.  On the whole, most people like them and the dark purple/blue color really does help them to blend in well.  If you would prefer black colored shingles then SunPower produce these and they are very good looking on S-Tile and Flat roofs.

If you don’t like the idea of paying the full price for solar power then you should find out if government grants are available.  Luckily governments around the globe are trying to encourage people to invest in this sort of technology which is why you’ll get some financial help.  Now that thin film solar technology processing is much easier to manufacture and work with along with the great appearance buying solar shingles is a much more attractive prospect.  For those with pitched roofs, choosing small tiles or shingles is a good idea.  If you have a flat roof you can either have one large layer of solar film or large integrated panels.

Everyone has a different idea of how much electricity they are going to generate with solar and other renewable energies.  You might be really keen on the idea of being as eco as you possibly can.  Alternatively you might just want to reduce the amount of electricity you use from un-eco sources.  With renewable energy you can either be “on grid” or “off grid”.  One grid means that your home is connected to the electric grid and you will take electricity from it when your solar panels aren’t getting enough sun, however you can also sell any excess electricity back to the grid if your solar panels are getting lots of energy from the sun.

If you are “off grid” it just means that your home doesn’t get any electricity from the grid plus it also means you can’t sell any surplus electricity to it either.  If you live in a very rural area where you don’t have easy access to power lines then having solar along with other technology is a great way of meeting your electric needs without being connected to the grid.  In most cases solar isn’t enough to achieve this on its own so having geothermal or wind turbines installed is strongly recommended.  You should also be very frugal with you electricity use and make sure you buy energy efficient appliances and turn off gadgets when not in use.

People all have different reasons to buy solar roof shingles, some just care about the environment, some want to save money on their energy bills, whilst other want to achieve a bit of both.  If you are interested in saving money then you will be eager to know how long it takes for you to break-even on your purchase.  This isn’t a straight forward question to answer as it can depend greatly on how much sunlight you get and the position of the solar shingles.  Typically though you will see the financial benefits in about 10 years time.  Although electricity costs continue to rise so that figure might actually be lower, plus solar technology is more affordable than ever.

To ensure you are making the right buying decision, it would be helpful for you to think about the following pointers:-

How much sunlight do you get throughout the year?  The nearer you live to the equator the more sunlight you will be able to enjoy.  So if you live somewhere a bit dull most of the time such as Seattle, solar energy won’t be as efficient.

What direction does your roof face and are there any surrounding buildings or trees that could block out light?  Common sense dictates that the more sunlight that a solar panel is exposed to, the more electricity it can create.

How much are you paying for your current electricity and are these costs likely to rise?

If you are planning on moving sometime within the next few years, are the potential buyers likely to pay extra for solar roofing shingles?

When buying solar roofing shingles, it’s advised to have them installed by a qualified and licensed dealer.  You will find local dealers by searching the internet or looking in the phone book.

Naturally, if you want to produce lots of energy, then you need to install lots of solar shingles.  Although it isn’t necessary to completely cover your whole roof in solar shingles, you can have sections instead.  Some parts of your roof might be facing away from the sun or be overshadowed by trees, therefore having solar shingles installed on those parts of the roof wouldn’t be cost effective.  Just have them installed where they are going to get the most light.

Of course, there’s more to a roof than looking good and producing your own electricity.  It also has to be able to withstand storms and precipitation just like any other roofing material.  The good news is that solar shingles are produced to a high quality and also come with guarantees.  Make sure you compare all the different suppliers to find out what guarantees and warranties they offer.  You should also enquire about ventilation as these units are going to be exposed to a lot of heat.

In the past being eco was costly which is one of the reasons many people didn’t bother.  Luckily with new technology and government initiatives, being eco is much easier for the average person.