With the popularity of solar energy, people continue to express a desire for more choices in solar products. Then solar panels are becoming an increasingly common sight in homes as the technology becomes more affordable and efficient at generating renewable energy. As an alternative to panels, however, a new technology called solar roof tiles is gaining popularity. Here, we will explore the knowledge of solar roof tiles, including how they work and their advantages and disadvantages.
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What Are
Solar Roof Tiles
?
Solar roof tiles, also known as solar shingles or solar slates, are a relatively new green energy technology. The finished look of solar shingles is much less aesthetically disruptive than traditional solar panels because they blend seamlessly into the roof. The remarkable feature of solar roof tiles is how they are adapted to different styles.
solar roof tiles
How do solar roof tiles work?
Solar tiles work on the same principle as photovoltaic panels, which are widely used in construction. The main difference is the assembly: the photovoltaic panels are fixed to the existing roof; Solar tiles have been part of the roof structure since the beginning of construction, replacing conventional tiles. The tiles are made of photovoltaic cells. The electromagnetic fields they generate after absorbing sunlight provide electricity to the interior of the building. Each tile is connected to the switchboard by a cable.
To ensure the efficiency of the shingle operation, each shingle needs to be installed with a solar inverter that converts the generated energy into electricity, converting it into alternating current (AC) energy that can power your home.
The advantages of solar roof tiles
&#; Aesthetically Pleasing
Solar roof shingles are aesthetically pleasing compared to older large solar photovoltaic panels. It's still striking but looks more stylish and modern. Another consideration for solar roof tiles may be that there is no gap between the panels and the roof, perfectly integrated into the architectural design.
&#; Durability
Solar roof tiles have an expected life span of 20-25 years. Solar tiles are also easy to replace if they break or malfunction. There are many claims that solar roof tiles are stronger and more durable than standard tiles.
&#; Effectiveness
Because solar roof tiles are made of thin photovoltaic panels, they can be used in areas where it is difficult to install photovoltaic panels. However, the efficiency of these tiles still depends on shading, roof orientation, and solar exposure.
&#; Save Money
Solar roof tiles will reduce your energy bills and save you money. You might even have a chance to make money from the power company because your solar shingles send excess power back to the grid.
&#; Low Failure Rate
The operation of a photovoltaic power generation system has no mechanical rotating parts, no fuel, and water, and the power generation process is convenient and simple.
&#; Environmental Protection
Does not emit any substances, including greenhouse gases, does not produce vibration pollution, and does not produce radiation harmful to human health.
&#; Convenient Installation
Standard solar panels must be mounted on top of the roofing material, which usually means drilling holes into the roof. While solar roof tiles are part of the roof, you don't have to worry about drilling or installing equipment at the top of the roof.
&#; Easy Maintenance
Another key benefit of solar shingles is that they are light and relatively easy to repair and replace. If one or two are damaged, you can quickly replace new solar shingles or inactive shingles as needed.
If you want to get any information about solar roof tiles, feel free to talk to our experts!
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solar roof tiles
The disadvantages of solar roof tiles
&#; High Initial Cost
You'll save money in the long run, but as a newer technology, initial installation costs are high.
&#; Repair and Maintenance
Solar roof tile technology is still immature and it is still difficult to find qualified installers in most places, especially if you live outside a major city.
With solar shingles, your roof can keep you comfortable and safe and generate electricity. Gain Solar will continue to make more affordable and efficient solar shingles, Continuously innovating design solutions for zero energy buildings, our vision is to create a world where solar energy can be harnessed from every surface the sun touches&#; the future of solar products is definitely brighter.
Duncan Cleminshaw and Reynolds Holmes, GAF Energy
Residential solar in the U.S. has grown substantially over the past two decades, and millions of homes across the country now have rooftop solar systems. Up until this point, residential solar installation has consisted primarily of mounting solar panels on top of the roof. That approach&#;rigid solar panels mounted on racks that are bolted through roofing shingles&#;is a somewhat inelegant, brute-force solution that creates engineering, construction, and sales challenges. It&#;s frankly remarkable that the industry has experienced so much growth with such uninspired installation methods.
While solar is now installed on an estimated 7% of homes across the country, the potential for mass market adoption remains largely untapped. For perspective, consider that approximately 5% of homes in the U.S. undergo roof replacements annually. That is, each year, nearly as many American homes get new roofs as homes that have installed solar in total (over decades).
The functional and perceptual issues inherent to traditional rack-mounted systems limit the industry&#;s growth. Roof integrity and the additional structural load on top of the house are primary functional concerns, potentially leading to damage and leaks. Bolt-on, racked installation also continues to be expensive and requires expertise to maintain roof integrity. Due to those risks, rack-mounted systems may impact the homeowner&#;s insurance premiums. And, perceptually, their often less-than-desirable chunky geometric aesthetic can be a concern for many homeowners and communities.
Enter building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). With BIPV, waterproofing and energy-generation are solved by one advanced product: a singular solar roof. BIPV in all its forms overcomes limitations inherent in traditional solar rack-mounted systems. This transition to solar technology integrated into roofing shingles or tiles&#;rather than added on via clunky, unwieldy panels&#;is inevitable. Fortunately, technological advances and cost reductions have made affordable BIPV a reality in the last several years. Imagine every roof replacement annually becoming a solar roof installation; the growth of solar on U.S. homes would be tremendous.
The benefits of BIPV roofing are many: enhanced aesthetics, increased installation efficiency, and improved structural integration. We must prepare for a landscape where solar technology is not mounted on roofs, but built into them from the outset. BIPV is a superior solution for solar on roofs; the small integrated-solar-roof market promises to outstrip rack-mounted technology in the next decade.
Rooftop solar has traditionally been installed by electricians and solar installers. The shift to BIPV will necessitate adding roofers as a trade not just allowed but required to install solar-integrated roofing. During this transition, manufacturers and contractors will be called upon to engage with permitting authorities to explain how the installation of these roofs meets building codes, and why roofers will be essential to safe and compliant installation of solar roofing.
Take Timberline Solar Energy Shingles from GAF Energy, for example. Timberline Solar incorporates photovoltaic shingles&#;also known as solar shingles or energy shingles&#;into conventional asphalt shingle roofs. These energy shingles are engineered to match the characteristics of GAF&#;s asphalt shingles in size, shape, thickness, weight, and safety certifications, including resistance to wind and fire. Installed using roofing nails&#;just like asphalt shingles&#;this system uses conventional tools and processes of shingle roofing.
Many BIPV solar roofs meet building codes and safety standards that classify energy shingles as a roof covering. With Timberline Solar, any design and installation that can use asphalt shingles can now easily include energy shingles.
Because Timberline Solar combines both asphalt and energy shingles, it requires the skills of an experienced roofing contractor to install. As a complete replacement roof, it must be integrated with all features of the roof, including valleys, ridges, hips, eaves, vents, dormers, etc. Each roof feature involves completing roofing tasks that are outside the scope of work performed by electricians and solar installers.
By matching the form, function, and installation method of asphalt shingles, Timberline Solar energy shingles eliminate both the electrical and mechanical complexity of traditional solar, and they instead leverage the tools and practices of shingle roofing.
For example, Timberline Solar has no exposed metal common to retrofit solar installations (module frames, racking, stand-offs, etc.). By removing all exposed metal, Timberline Solar eliminates the grounding and bonding tasks normally performed by an electrician or solar installer.
However, Timberline Solar does not eliminate the need for an electrician; it shifts that role to the point when roofing installation is completed. An electrician will still perform all the post-roof installation tasks of connecting wiring from the roof to the ground and connecting a home&#;s solar installation to an inverter, the main service panel, and to the utility grid.
Timberline Solar explicitly complies with the requirements set by the International Residential Code (IRC), which has included photovoltaic shingles since . The IRC has established clear compliance requirements for both the roofing and solar functions of PV shingles. This includes safety standards they have to meet as well as requirements and limitations on how they may be installed. The energy shingle requirements in the IRC are nearly identical to those applied to asphalt shingles.
As a code-compliant roof covering, Timberline Solar has been designed to allow its rooftop installation without enabling any of its electrical functions. Unlike other solar products, the wiring for each energy shingle is always accessible from the top even after it has been installed. No wiring is hidden underneath. This difference matters because Timberline Solar energy shingles can be attached to the roof, and become the roof, without &#;plugging them in or turning them on.&#;
It becomes possible to install the entire roof, asphalt shingles plus energy shingles, strictly as a roof covering with a 25-year warranty. Let that sink in. Now ask yourself which trade should be allowed to install the roofing portion of a solar roof.
Put yourself in the homeowner&#;s shoes. Your existing roof is at the end of its life. There might even be two layers of roofing up there. Pieces of shingle show up on your lawn after a windy night. Maybe you&#;ve discovered a couple of leaks in the attic. You look at the 10-day forecast and rain is on the horizon. The point is, you&#;ve finally decided to bite the bullet and tear the whole thing off. How soon do you need a new roof? Clearly the answer is as soon as possible. Roofs that keep rain out are not optional &#;nice-to-haves.&#; They protect the home and the people inside.
Starting from the premise that it&#;s important to replace a failing roof quickly, what other requirements must be met before work may begin? When it comes to installing one layer of shingles after a complete tear-off of existing roofing, building departments typically issue a permit over-the-counter. The requirements are simple and straightforward.
The inclusion of solar adds other requirements, including electrical plan review, and slows approvals in most jurisdictions. However, the division of labor between roofing and electrical is clear in a Timberline Solar installation, and it is therefore absolutely possible to separate installation into two permits:
The electrical work can be done independent of the roofing, and may begin any time after the permit is issued provided the roof is complete. Depending on the jurisdiction&#;s preferences, inspections can be performed as each phase of work has been completed, or can be done as a single final inspection covering roofing and electrical.
A building department that chooses to adopt this approach to permitting a PV shingle roof accomplishes two things simultaneously. First, the homeowner (the building department&#;s &#;real customer&#;) and the home are quickly protected from the weather. Second, plan check and permitting are simplified to separate roofing from electrical while still remaining thorough.
Keeping pace with innovation in construction technology is challenging for all stakeholders: AHJs, homeowners, code-making bodies, standards developers, contractors, to name just a few. In this instance, dividing permits for PV shingle roofs between roofing and electrical can fulfill the building department&#;s commitment to life safety and compliance.
The other code that applies to any residential solar installation is the National Electrical Code (NEC/NFPA 70). Despite the difference in form factor between solar panels and energy shingles, their core function is the same: converting sunlight into electricity.
The electrical code requirements for both types of systems are the same, but energy shingles have the advantage of being simpler because they have no exposed metal to ground, like the frames of the solar panels or the racks they sit on. Nor do they use Module Level Power Electronics, like DC-to-DC converters or microinverters. This allows for clean separation between the roofing installation and electrical work that follows it.
GAF Energy ensures that all contractors selected to install Timberline Solar receive extensive training including real-world projects. In addition to covering installation and safety requirements specific to Timberline Solar, the training also draws a bright line between roofing scope completed by roofers and electrical scope completed by electricians. A clear division of labor and close coordination between the trades ensures a successful installation.
GAF Energy&#;s Timberline Solar represents the beginning of a new era in residential solar&#;one where BIPV roofing will transition from a niche to a mainstream option that many homeowners will choose for their new roof. Opting for solar roofs over regular roofs would represent a step-change in residential solar adoption.
Timberline Solar Energy Shingles are installed just like asphalt shingles. Thus, they remove all of the structural and many of the installation issues that hamstring traditional rack-mounted systems. Given that roofers will be central to the installation of energy shingles, some building departments may determine updates to permitting and inspection processes are needed to account for the differences from traditional retrofit solar.
The introduction of Timberline Solar by GAF Energy calls for a reevaluation of the trades needed to install this hybrid of shingle roofing and solar. Installed as a complete roof replacement, a true BIPV solar roof such as Timberline Solar requires the skills, tools, and training of a roofer. This integration of roofing and solar into a single, cohesive procedure will require the skills of both the roofing and electrical trades for every installation.
During this transition, it is essential for GAF Energy to be at the forefront providing education and support to building departments. Areas of focus should include:
As these systems become more prevalent, a better understanding of their installation processes and the collaboration between roofing and electrical trades will be crucial.
Clear guidelines and proper training will ease the transition, ensuring that energy shingles are easy to permit and inspect, paving the way for a more sustainable future in residential solar energy.
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