In the past, homeowners that wanted to find a green power source were pretty much limited to solar panels. But with the relatively recent affordability of solar roofing tiles, homeowners have another option. The shiny tiles are similar in size and appearance to conventional roofing tiles but they generate power while being aesthetically pleasing.
Solar technology has increased at an astonishing rate in the past five years and it is now economically and physically available to the masses. According to The Canadian Solar Industry Association, “The Canadian photovoltaic industry has grown at an average annual rate of 25% from 1992 to 2006.” With the industry growth, prices have fallen and solar tiles are an affordable option for homeowners who want to get off the grid, for those in remote locations, and for people who want to go green.
How do Solar Roofing Tiles Work?
They are constructed of photovoltaic cells, mounted on a sturdy composite roofing tile, which capture sunlight and convert it into energy. All Sunslates are connected together in series as groups. Electrical lines for each group runs to an inverter, which converts the DC power into AC power. The AC lines are then connected to an AC electrical panel. Solar roofing tiles perform the same protective function as any other quality roofing material and are mounted to the roof using methods similar to traditional tile roofing. The angles of your roof (30 degrees is ideal to catch the maximum amount of sunlight) and the direction the roof faces (south is preferred) determine the efficiency of your solar roofing tiles.
In countries such as Japan and Germany where electricity is more expensive and government grants for solar support are available, solar roofing is a common sight. One out of seven homes in Austria, which gets 20% fewer solar hours per year than Canada does, have some form of solar technology. In Spain all new buildings must include solar. The largest Amish population in the world in Ohio have solar technology on 80% of their homes. According to Rob McMonagle, the executive director of the Canadian Solar Industries Association from 2002 - 2006, Canada is about ten or fifteen years behind the rest of the world in regards to harnessing solar power.
Sunslates Solar Roofing Tiles
Sunslates solar roofing tiles are available in Canada through Solarity Industries, a sun powered solutions company based in Fort Langley, B.C. Sunslates are made to survive harsh environments; they can be walked on and the shatterproof glass that covers the photovoltaic cells will withstand a 1-inch hail stone striking at 80 km/hour. The solar roofing tiles can weather burning sunlight and massive snow dumps. Sunslates come with a one-year material defect warranty and a 20-year power generation warranty.
Sunslates are a touch larger than regular roofing tiles. They come in two sizes: a 16” x 28” module that produces about 14 watts of electricity and a 20” x 33” module that produces about 20 watts of electricity. The amount of power your solar roof can generate is dependent on the slope of your roof, the direction your roof faces, and the roof area.
Sunslates Roofing Tile Installation
Dave Beckham at Solarity Industries doesn’t recommend homeowners install Sunslates on their own. “The installation can be complex and errors can result in considerable cost for the owner. Also, the roofs have to pass local building, safety, and electrical codes by regulatory authorities. Contractors are generally better equipped to deal with these kinds of code requirements.” Contact someone you trust for an estimate.
In addition to producing electricity, Sunslates can also be supplied with a heat collection system that allows homes to harvest heat from the roof for use in hot water pre-heating or space heating.
While solar roofing tiles can be a costly upfront investment, the pay-back period is relatively small. Beckham clarifies, “With a suitable feed-in-tariff or subsidy program, a Sunslate roof can recover its cost in about 12 to 15 years or less. Sunslates have an estimated life expectancy of about 35 years, so the payback period is about 40% to 50% of the life of the tiles.” Thinking of solar roofing tiles as a long term investment makes the upfront cost more palpable.
Pros of Solar Roofing Tiles
Solar roofing tiles offer more perks:
- You start saving money immediately on your monthly electric bill or eliminate it altogether.
- Installed photovoltaic technology will increase your home’s value. According to Solar Concepts, “Real estate studies have shown that homes with installed renewable energy systems actually sell faster and sell at a premium.”
- Peace of mind from producing your own electricity with no harm to the environment.
- Partially or completely getting off the grid at a time when energy prices are rising.
- During blackouts, with the aid of battteries, roofing tiles will continue to provide power to your home.
- If possible in your area, solar roofing tiles allow you to feed unused electricity back to the grid, making you money.
With financial assistance, outfitting your home with solar roofing tiles won’t be so costly. Solar installations are classified by the government as green incentives and therefore are valid for home upgrade grants, power feed-back credits, and such. To find out the latest federal and provincial solar roofing incentives, check out the Canadian Solar Industries Association web site and click on ‘government incentives’. Installing solar roofing tiles on your roof when it is being constructed or when the roof needs to be replaced will reduce costs.
Canada lags far behind Europe and Japan in the use of solar power for energy needs yet we get more sunshine than they do. That’s shocking when you consider that solar power is the only energy source that is clean, free, and renewable. Maybe solar roofing tiles will become the standard for roofing in years to come as prices continue to fall and government incentives become more readily available?
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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