The past five years have seen the solar industry shine. With the green revolution in high gear, homeowners see the wisdom of using renewable power to generate electricity. Gas prices are also rising steadily, granting renewables well-warranted attention over fossil fuels purchased at the mercy of oil-rich countries. There’s also a new wave of aesthetics, enabling solar power systems to become architecturally as well as environmentally savvy.

Solar shingles, for instance, are a proven solar option that utilizes the same photovoltaic (PV) technology as solar panels. These building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) blend into traditional roofing materials for a more seamless look than that afforded by bulky, mounted panels. A single shingle only produces enough electricity to power an electric fan, but several feet of them together garner the energy to power an entire house.

Thing is, solar shingles are currently manufactured by just a handful of companies. Three of these are Uni-Solar, Atlantis Energy, and SunPower.

Uni-Solar

Uni-Solar photovoltaic shingles have been awarded the Popular Science Grand Award, “Best of What’s New” and Discover Magazines “Technical Innovation Award” for best innovation. Each solar shingle serves the same function as a conventional roofing shingle, providing weather protection while generating clean electricity. Solar shingles imitate the pattern of traditional shingles so they can blend right into the roof. The sun helps bond the shingles together, sealing the deal.

Atlantis Energy

Atlantis Energy is responsible for Sunslates, which cover 300 square feet of roofing in a typical system. Each shingle produces about 13 watts of electricity and is designed to withstand rain and wind of up to 80 mph. The Sunslates are a roofing product that must be installed using electrical or certified roofing subs. Each tile is connected to the adjacent tile, which locks and secures them within the circuit. Designed to last decades, each Sunslate begins as an Eternit roofing slate, popular in roofs of Europe.

SunPower

SunPower makes high-efficiency, building integrated SunTiles. The SunTile brand blends into flat and S-Tile roofs to convert sunlight into clean energy. SunTiles are all-black, designed to complement any home design. SunTiles are built to withstand 110 mph wind-driven rain.

Settling on a product is only the first step. To ensure that they’re installed for optimum results, don’t settle for less than a qualified solar installer. Our free service connects you with quotes from the best solar installers in the industry.

Links:

• Solar Shingles
• On Solar Shingles