Solar Roof Panels

Since its inception there have been two major drawbacks to the use of solar energy for home heating needs:  cost and cosmetics.  Without some kind of tax benefit, it is difficult to design a solar heating system that can be cost competitive with traditional heating fuel sources.  It can be done but only in very large systems that cover an entire home and include its hot water needs.  Some people don't care about cost and go solar simply because they feel it is the right thing to do from an environmental standpoint.  Others go solar because in their areas, it's actually a status symbol.

Then there's the cosmetics.  Perhaps you've seen some of the pictures of those multi-million dollar homes in Northern California with beautiful tile or slate roofs -- and then you notice one side is competely covered by these big, bulky, ugly, slabs of something that looks like black glass.  Until recently those were the only solar roof panels available:  a large photovoltaic panel.  As you may know, companies are beginning to pop up that are actually making money designing and installing solar roof panels.  First Solar Corporation's initial public offering of its stock exploded and the company has been flying ever since.  Even during the Great Recession of 2008 they have held on. 

With increasing demand comes rapidly expanding technological developments.  This happens in any field and solar power is no exception.  One of the latest developments is called "thin film" technology.  In layperson's terms all this means is that the silicon wafers built up to produce a photovoltaic cell can now be condensed into a thin film of material.  So now this film can be applied to existing building materials instead of dedicated solar roof panels.  It is now possible to install roofing tiles or roofing shingles with photovoltaic properties built into them.  First introduced in 2006, these products are rapidly gaining in popularity.  Their growth has been significantly impacted by the Recession.  After all, who would consider installing these great new solar roof panels when you're worried about losing your job.  But as the economy improves, the demand for these solar roof panels will come back and grow.  In some ways it's like getting a "two for the price of one" special.  You need roof protection and you want solar heating.  These solar roofing panels serve both functions.

This "double duty" idea is growing already as a Solar Energy Provider in the American Midwest has created a metal roof system.  They already have seven different prefabricated systems out on the market.  And the idea of incorporating solar heating capability into other types of building materials is growing as well.  There are several corporations and major universities close to perfecting a "solar heat" paint.  That's right.  Some day in the not too distant future you will be able to paint your house and heat it at the same time!