Solar Shingles

By: Monica Lee

Introduction

Many people are familiar with solar panels, but solar shingles may be
the next big thing for saving energy. The average American household
runs up an electricity bill of about $114 a month [9]. As seen in Figure 1
below, most of this cost comes from basic household functions, such as
heating and lighting.
Unlike normal solar panels, solar shingles cut back on electricity costs
by including the functions of solar panels while also functioning as
regular roof shingles. The amount of sunlight shining on roofs in America
is enough to power half the nation, and solar shingles offer a way to
effectively harness this natural, renewable energy in order to reduce electricity costs without taking away from the structures visual appeal [1].
This poster aims to share the features and many benefits that solar shingles have to offer. It addresses the technology behind solar shingles, the
benefits that solar shingles have to offer, and alternative ways to become
more energy-efficient.

Benefits of Solar Shingles

Using solar shingles comes with many benefits
and advantages:
Many states offer to pay off some of the
costs for installing solar shingles [3]

They can be installed like traditional

roofing (see Figure 3) [1]

Installation time is often shorter than it is

for solar panels [6]

Solar shingles lay flush and blend nicely

with the rest of the roof (see Figure 4)
and are less obvious than normalsolar
panels [4]

They help protect your home from rough

weather [4]

Solar shingles distribute clean electricity

that was harnessed naturally [4]

Figure 3. The installation process

for solar shingles and traditional
roofing are very similar [7]

Figure 1. Distribution of energy usage in the average

home [8]

Background

Description of Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are types of building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPVs

for short. These combine solar cells with various materials such as slate,
metal, and fiber-cement. Electricity is produced when the sun hits a
semiconductor layer on the shingles surface. One single shingle does not
produce much power, but they are capable of producing enough power
for entire households when grouped together (see Figure 2) [5].

Figure 4. Solar shingles are often grouped in large

numbers to maximize the power produced [2]

Save Energy at Home

Not everyone may be able to afford solar shingles, but there are many other
ways to make your home more energy-efficient.
Small actions, such switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, can all add up
to help cut your energy consumption.
Scan the QR code below with your phone or visit the following website to
learn more about what you can do to save energy in your home:

www.progress-energy.com

Figure 2. Solar shingles are often grouped in large

numbers to maximize the power produced [9]
References:
[1] American Chemical Society (ACS). (2012, August 21). New solar panels made with more common metals could be cheaper and more sustainable.ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 28, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821093850.htm [2] BIPV: Bodacious, Incredible and Pleasantly (In)
Visible. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/products/bipv-bodacious-incredible-and-pleasantly-invisible/ [3] Fallon, B. (2015, July 21). Solar shingles usher in next phase for energy saving. Retrieved October 29, 2015, from http://www.greenwichtime.com/business/article/
Solar-shingles-usher-in-next-phase-for-6397909.php#photo-8341788 [4] Meyers, G. (2015, July 21). Solar Shingles Update: IST & Solar Roof Dynamics Offer Renewable Energy Roofing In California. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/21/solar-shingles-update-ist-solar-roof-dynamics-offer-renewable-energy-roofing-california/ [5] Pandolfi, K. (n.d.). Solar Shingles. Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1205726,00.html [6] Solar Shingles Versus Solar Panels. (2015, July 20). Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://www.intermtnwindandsolar.com/
solar-shingles-versus-solar-panels/ [7] Solar Shingles: An Alternative to Solar Panels. (2012, May 25). Retrieved October 29, 2015, from http://solarpowerauthority.com/solar-shingles-an-alternative-to-solar-panels/ [8] Why Energy Efficiency Upgrades. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2015, from http://energy.gov/eere/
why-energy-efficiency-upgrades [9] Wirfs-Brock, J. (2014, May 22). How Much Electricity Do You Use Each Month? Retrieved October 27, 2015, from http://insideenergy.org/2014/05/2/using-energy-how-much-electricity-do-you-use-each-month/