Roof Solar

As oil prices go up, so do our electrical bills. One simple solution is to install a solar roof on your home. With a solar roof, you can generate your own electricity!

A solar roof replaces traditional building materials with photovoltaic materials. For flat roofs, thin-film cells are integrated into flexible polymer roofing membranes. For pitched roofs, you can use either multiple roof tiles or attractive solar shingles. You'll be saving tons of money on electrical bills and your home will look dynamite at the same time!

Not only will a solar roof shield you from the elements, it will also generate electricity when the sun is up as well. Such energy can also be stored for future use. Now, that's what I call "saving for a rainy day" in the real sense!

Anyone planning to install a new roof should consider getting a solar roof. This is one investment that will have a long-term impact on your finances and lifestyle.

Solar roofs are built to last for up to fifty years. That's comparable with the most durable building materials around. The typical installation involves laminating photovoltaic (PV) strips onto the roof panels, before the roofer puts them into place. The wires would then run in the ridge cap, out of view.

If you prefer to use PV shingles, the shingles are installed by nailing them to the plywood sheathing of the roof. The inter-connectors are built in, under the plywood, and the roofers use matching asphalt shingles to fill in around the edges. The DC current generated by the shingles is then diverted into a battery bank.

Governments of some countries provide tax or other financial incentives to encourage people to install solar roofs. Establishments using photovoltaic technology can sometimes produce enough energy to completely free them from other sources of electricity. Some governments even offer subsidies which help those who wish to have solar shingles or tiles placed on their own buildings.

Check to see if your city or state offers incentives to homeowners who install solar roofs.