Solar Roofing Tiles and How they are an Asset

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Multi-purpose technologies are some of the handiest tools available; nothing’s more convenient then when you can buy an item that can kill two birds with one stone. A good example is solar roofing tiles; tiles that can attach or replace a roof shingle and work as a shingle and provide energy at the same time. Solar has become one of the best fields around, allowing the public and the private sector to provide an alternative source of electrical energy at a low cost, which, in turn, cuts costs on the utility bill even further. The combination into solar roofing tiles is an innovation that is guaranteed to become a major asset in the home in quite a few ways. Solar Workings Solar technology is based off of solar tiles and solar modules, which are photovoltaic cells linked together to make a small tile. The tiles, in turn, link to make panels and arrays, and vary in efficiency based off of makeup of the cells and power. Solar is usually made out of silicon, and depending on the type of panel (mono-crystalline, poly-crystalline, thin-film) usually ranges around 15 to 20 percent conversion rate of solar to energy. In the last few years, a design was made to replace silicon named CIGS cells, which is a fairly durable and efficient creation. Mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline are both a trade-off in price, while thin-film is a trade-off in efficiency level. Solar Roofing Tiles in the Early 2000’s The issue with solar roofing tiles in the early 21st century was that solar tiles could not be effectively made out of either crystalline type due to the bulky size of the panel. Solar tiles switched over to thin-film silicon tiles, which were lightweight enough to snap on to shingles or replace shingles. However, thin-film has a lower efficiency level, and could not necessarily provide an investment. In addition, silicon tiles in the early 2000 have had issues with durability, and would develop cracks and have electrical issues. Dow’s Solar Roofing Tiles The CIGS cells designed to rival silicon were developed by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2007, and the design idea was given to (along with heavy funding) Dow Powerhouse, a branch of Dow Chemical that focuses on solar technology, specifically solar roofing tile. Dow’s roofing tiles use thin-film with a new design that solves the efficiency issue with older tiles and is far more efficient. Dow’s solar roofing tiles are rated to be weather-proof and able to withstand heavy snow loads, and were redesigned to hide whatever wiring that could be exposed effectively. Dow’s shingle is heavily anticipated and has been sent out to installers across the country to begin selling the tiles. Other solar roofing tiles have been developed using silicon that are actually efficient, but Dow’s tiles are looking to be more efficient and overall better product. However, any installation of roofing tiles is an extremely simple process that can be done by either roofers or solar installers in eight to ten hours. What Solar Roof Tiles can do for You There are a few different types of products in solar technology, and all of them do a good job of cutting costs and saving energy. However, solar roofing tiles are a special branch in solar tech, as they have dual purposes: provide roofing for your home while performing all the normal actions of a solar panel. Many companies such as SolarCity developed silicon solar roof tiles; however, Dow’s new roof tile uses the new CIGS cell and is a heavy prospect in solar technology. Solar roofing tiles from company such as Dow are a good product to have, as they can lower expenses, provide roofing for the home, conserve energy, and preserve the environment.