Australia is well and truly the sunburnt country, particularly here in Brisbane, with abundant clear skies perfect for solar. In fact, Queenslanders are leading the way in adopting solar technology, with 40% of homes in QLD and SA alone having solar. It&#;s this combination of plentiful sun and rising energy prices, that create a huge opportunity for Australians to continue embracing solar. If you&#;re looking to make the move to solar, you&#;ll know roof panels are long established and well known, but what about the newest technology - Solar Roof Tiles? If you&#;re looking for a non-obtrusive way to bring solar energy into your home then solar roof tiles could be for you. This blog will explore everything you need to know about this emerging technology. &#;
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Put simply, they&#;re like traditional roof tiles, but capable of collecting solar energy. Dig a little deeper however, and you&#;ll see how clever they are. What makes them so smart is the fact that they don't require mounting on top of a roof, they actually integrate within a tiled roof giving them the technical classification of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Functionally, this means you can cover more of your roof with solar panels, and aesthetically they fit in seamlessly with your home.
Now, contrary to what you might be thinking, solar roof tiles don&#;t need to take over your entire roof. The ingenious thing about the product is that by their nature they can slot in seamlessly to a tiled roof. As much or as little as needed. So, depending on your location, budget and energy goals you can create the perfect solar setup for your home.
Image via Tesla.Just like traditional solar panels, solar roof tiles capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. As with any solar installation, there are other components required. A solar setup of any size needs these three components:
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When it comes to sunlight capture, not all roofs are made equal. Like any purchase, you will get what you pay for. Broadly speaking there are three types of solar panel technology to look out for - monocrystalline (efficient and expensive), polycrystalline (still efficient but less expensive) and thin film (inexpensive solution).
Most solar roof tile manufacturers use monocrystalline technology which is the most efficient of the three, but also the most expensive. Interestingly, Tesla recently launched a new solar roof tile which actually has the capability, via a thin coloured film on each tile, to blend in with the other tiles on a roof. If you&#;re willing to pay for the privilege of course. But, more on the cost of tiles later.
Unlike solar roof panels that are installed on top of a roof, solar roof tiles integrate within a roof. But there&#;s a catch - almost every manufacturer requires you to install their own traditional tiles alongside the solar tiles. This is to ensure a snug and safe and watertight installation. Solar roof tile manufacturers will have their own specific set of installation requirements, so look at them closely when choosing. If installed correctly, water ingress should not be an issue.
On a side note, should you find yourself on the roof of your home, you can walk on the solar roof tiles. All solar roof tiles are rated for high weather performance and can withstand weight better than other roofing materials like Colourbond or traditional tiles.
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As with any solar technology, you&#;ll need to look after your investment to ensure it keeps producing electricity for your home. To maintain efficiency of your solar roof tiles, they should be kept clear of debris (fallen branches, dust etc) and kept moderately clean. The good news is, unless you&#;re in a dry, dusty environment, rain will usually be just fine to keep your tiles performing well. If you do need to clean them, we do not advise climbing on the roof - simply hose your roof down from the ground.
The second element is maintenance. As with most technology, solar systems benefit from servicing to make sure everything is performing well, so consider having your provider service your solar roof installation once every 5 years.
Take a closer look at living with solar roof tiles in this short video. YouTuber Alex Flack reviews Tesla Roof Tiles after one year and answers his most frequently asked questions.
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There&#;s a lot of information out there, so here&#;s a quick overview of the key differences between solar panels and solar roof tiles.
FactorSolar RoofJinko Solar Panel Avg. output per sq metreThe amount of energy produced over an average square metre.
165 Watts 217 Watts Avg. efficiency ratingThe portion of energy in the form of sunlight that can be converted
into electricity by the solar cell.
Total installation cost measured divided the total system capacity.
$8.00 less than $1.00 Typical installation fee (6KW system)Average cost inclusive of technology, trades and other factors.
$15,120 - $48,000The time it will take for the savings generated by the system
to equal and surpass the installation cost.
How long it takes for a system can be installed at your home.
5-14 days 1-2 days LifespanHow long the system will reliably produce energy before needing
to be replaced.
There&#;s a lot to think about when deciding whether solar roof tiles are right for your home. Now, knowing the basics of what they are and how they work, you&#;re equipped to make a more informed decision. If you&#;re looking to explore further, these are the critical factors to consider to avoid common mistakes when looking at Solar Roof tiles.
Solar tiles are an exciting emerging technology, with the potential to transform the market. However, there are plenty of trade-offs to consider when comparing solar roof tiles against solar panels. While many benefits and performance measures are the same or similar, the critical difference to consider is cost and when you&#;ll see a return on your investment. With roof tiles costing as much as 4x the amount of traditional solar panels, you&#;ll need to decide if the aesthetic benefits outweigh the potentially prohibitive costs.
Are you interested in learning more about integrated solar roof tiles? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Nonetheless, with a basic understanding of what they are and how they work, you&#;re now equipped to investigate further and ask the right questions of providers. Our team has over a decades experience installing solar for homes across Brisbane, so If you&#;d like to explore solar further, get in touch. We&#;d love to help you on your journey.
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You can offset your energy bill and create clean energy without unsightly, bulky, rack-mounted solar panels on your roof. With the sleek, modern design of GAF Timberline® Solar, you can generate reliable, clean energy for your home but still enjoy the extraordinary appearance of a uniform-looking roof.
Solar shingles are installed flush to the roof to provide an aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional solar panels. And GAF Timberline roofing shingles without solar capabilities match the size, shape, and color of solar shingles creating a seamless appearance for your roof.
Read on about this clean energy created from your roof, and learn answers to common questions about solar shingles.
Timberline Solar shingles are designed to require little to no maintenance. Rain helps wash off any dirt or debris accumulation, but if they need additional cleaning, you can gently rinse them with a garden hose when they are cool.
Solar shingles offer durable protection from the elements just like a conventional roof does. When you choose solar shingles, your home will be safeguarded from storms and extreme temperatures. They protect your house from costly leaks and moisture infiltration.
Timberline Solar shingles are warrantied against weather conditions such as snow, rain, and wind.
Homeowners who invest in solar shingles can monitor output and track their clean energy production by logging into the GAF Energy homeowner portal. Solar roof monitoring delivers data into your hands and makes it simple to spot any issues.
As a homeowner, you should consult your tax advisor on the solar tax incentives available. Typically, when you install GAF Timberline Solar with Christian Brothers Roofing, you will receive a 26% federal tax credit on solar components, a 25-year SolarMax® Technology Warranty for power output, and a 25-year Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty for performance, workmanship, and waterproofing.
Timberline Solar operates in connection with the electric grid and is well-matched with various energy storage offerings on the market. AC-coupled batteries can be added to existing solar installations at any time. Other energy storage systems may require unique equipment for existing solar installations.
Yes! Innovative, efficient solar shingles are available for your Kansas City home. Contact us at Christian Brothers Roofing to learn more.
It takes about the same time to install solar shingles as it would take to install a composition shingle roofing system &#; on average, three to five days. During your installation, the roofing contractor will keep you updated on the progress of your solar roof.
Yes. If you want GAF Timberline Solar, you&#;ll need to replace your whole roofing system. Unlike solar panels, which are installed on top of your system, solar shingles are flush with your roof so they must be installed with coordinating shingles engineered for the solar roofing system by GAF.
Timberline Solar incorporates the world&#;s first nailable solar shingle, which roofing professionals can install as easily as regular roofing shingles with a nail gun. This roof-integrated solar system is seamless, waterproof, and mimics traditional shingle installation.
In contrast, roof-mounted solar panels require specialized installation skills and can puncture your existing roof, creating leaks. When the waterproofing of your roof becomes vulnerable due to the installation of solar panels, your roof will degrade faster, and you&#;ll have costly problems to overcome due to water infiltration.
Solar shingles are also more pleasing to the eye than solar panels, adding value to your home with better curb appeal than panels.
The price of a GAF Timberline Solar roof varies based on the size and slope of your roof, how much sunlight reaches your roof each day, and more. This roofing system is designed to be affordable and compares to the price of a new roof plus traditional solar panels.
It pays to create your own energy and save on monthly utilities year after year. The savings you&#;ll experience on utility bills will offset the cost of your new roof over time. With solar roofing becoming more popular, solar shingles can benefit your home&#;s resale value.
Solar power is produced by capturing sunlight and converting it into energy. If trees block solar shingles, they won&#;t produce as they should. Maximum energy generation is accomplished when your roof is free from shade. They are not advised if a roof is heavily shaded due to an obstruction like another building.
If your roof only has light shading, trees may be cut back to make way for the sun to shine on your solar roofing shingles. But the value of installing solar roofing, even with some shade, can vary from house to house&#;so if you&#;re curious about how solar shingles may work on your home, reach out to a reputable contractor (like us!) and have it evaluated.
Yes. You&#;ll use less energy from the grid and enjoy lower electric bills as a result.
At Christian Brothers Roofing, a premier Kansas City roofing company, we&#;ve partnered with GAF®&#;the top roofing brand in North America&#;to bring their cutting-edge, sleek, watertight solar shingles to homeowners in the Kansas City Metro area. Take a moment to learn more about our solar shingle services.