Are Energy Shingles the same as Solar Panels?
While conventional solar rack systems have been common for some time, newer energy shingles are a great alternative to help offset the power consumed by your home’s heating and cooling. Your roof is a great place to soke up rays and produce electricity, but it is important to know what solar options are available. Energy shingles like GAF Solar share several similarities with their rectangular cousins, but they also have many advantages that separate them apart from a standard rack system.
What are Solar Rack Systems?
A solar rack system is a series of solar panels that are mounted to your existing roof leaving a space between the solar panels and your homes waterproofing material. These large rectangular panels, when oriented correctly can offset the power used at home. Because they are installed on an existing roof, it is common to replace the roof before installing the solar panels. When it comes to replacing the roof down the road, the panels must be removed and reinstalled after the work is completed. The panels are mounted to the roof and any leaks caused by the solar system are not covered under the roof warranty due to the fact it would be caused by the solar system and not the roof. Finally, the space between the panels and the roof often becomes a home for birds and small mammals like squirrels.
Bird Egg found under solar panels
What are Energy Shingles?
Solar shingles are shingle shaped solar panels that are installed and intertwined with asphalt shingles. Even if they were never hooked up to grid to produce energy, they would be waterproof roofing material. Because they are installed by the roofer, there is no finger pointing when leaks occur regarding warranty coverage. Unlike rack systems, solar shingles lay flat and offer no home for unwanted pests. Most people would agree that they are more aesthetically pleasing than solar panels.
Buying Rack System?
Rack systems are often only leased to the customer with conditions that their power bills will not increase over a certain point during a predetermined time frame. When purchasing solar panels outright, they can be costly and require many years to pay for themselves in the form of lower power bills. Although excess power can be sold back to your power company, it is often at a much lower cost, so it makes more sense to have a system that is equal to the homes’ typical electric usage.
Buying Energy Shingles?
Solar shingles are normally installed when a home already needs a new roof. Customers can buy them outright with the roof or explore financing options. Many customers choose financing options that will be equal to their current home energy bill. This ensures that the project is within the budget and has the bonus of new roof with a lifetime warranty. Most people assume they will need to continue paying their electricity bill for the rest of their life but customers with 20-year financing will eventually have their project paid off.
What is the Next Step?
If you are interested in GAF Energy, Call Bayside Exteriors today. With a copy of your home power bill and satellite images of your home, we can design the perfect system for your needs. Not only will GAF guarantee the power production of your energy shingles, but they will also back the roof with a lifetime warranty.