Now, if you have a slate or tile roof, there’s a new option that lets you go solar and offers superior aesthetics and durability: SunSlates from Atlantis Energy;. This innovative product combines Swiss-made Eternit cement-composite roofing slates, which have been in widespread use on the Continent for over 60 years, with solar panels; the result is state-of-the-art protection from the elements combined with power generation of 1 kilowatt per 100 square feet.

SunSlates work especially well in areas with extreme weather conditions and are currently performing well in blazing sun and heavy snow. If you’re attracted to the idea of going solar but worried about the fact that your roof really takes a beating, they might be the perfect solution.

[tags]sunslates, solar shingles[/tags]

That’s why the California Public Utilities Commission has just announced a new $108 million subsidy program aimed at low-income homeowners. According to an article in the Oakland Tribune, the program will cover 50 to 75 percent of the cost of installing solar energy systems for nearly 7,000 California households that would otherwise be unable to take advantage of the energy-efficient technology. It’s all part of the California Solar Initiative, which seeks to add 3,000 megawatts of solar installations statewide in the next 10 years.

Details of the program are still being developed, and it’s expected that applications will first be accepted in mid-2008. To find out more, visit the PUC’s Web site.

Details are still being ironed out as to exactly how the rebates will work and what different programs local utilities may set up; it’s conceivable that there will be significant variation from one utility district to another.

If you’re using the winter months to plan your next home improvement project, keep solar water heaters on your short list — by summer, the bureaucratic dust may have settled and you may get the best deal by moving quickly. When you’re interviewing potential solar contractors, make sure to ask about available programs in your area — and how each building pro plans to help you get the most from them.

Cost remains a significant issue, but rebates and incentives offset that substantially. Observers say what’s driving the move to solar is a combination of utility-bill sticker shock and concern about the environment. Before, “it was economic, like ‘I want to get rid of my bill,’” says Tom McCalmont of REgrid Power. “In recent years, it’s much more, ‘I’m concerned about climate change. I’ve seen Al Gore’s movie.’”

Updated 11/1/2007: We just added more information about Solar Roof Shingles.