You’re looking at a new roof. Have you considered how this roof could transform the way you look at home energy use? Generate your own energy with a roof that’s covered in shingles that create energy to power your home. A roof with solar shingles can create up to 60 percent of a typical home’s energy budget without the clunky look of traditional solar panels. How much does it cost to add solar shingles to your home, and how much is the return on your investment?

The Cost of Solar Shingles

In the last few years, solar technology has been moving forward exponentially, and costs continue to drop. However, there are still material and labor costs to purchase and install your solar shingles. While there is a slightly larger up front cost to solar shingles, the return can be faster than you might think.

Using Solar Shingles Instead of Other Roofing Products

Are you planning to add new shingles to a leaking roof? Solar shingles are especially cost-effective, if you add them when you’re considering renewing your existing roofing material. If you need to add new asphalt or tile shingles, you’ll be paying for the shingles and the installation. Solar shingles integrate seamlessly into your existing roof. It’s recommended that you have them installed professionally so that you can ensure that there will be no leaks.

Bringing the Cost Down

There are many government programs to encourage homeowners to become more energy-efficient, and governments will often subsidize your investment in your solar shingles. If you are purchasing a set of solar shingles, regional, state, and federal programs can actually cut your cost in half. You can find state-based energy incentives or apply for the large federal program that ends at the end of 2016.

How Much Can a Typical Home Save?

The amount of money you save due to solar energy generation depends on a number of factors that are specific to your area. For example, if you live in a place that receives less sun or has lower energy costs, you will save less money than if you live in a place with a high solar yield and high energy costs. The EIA states that “in 2014, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,932 kilowatt hours (kWh), an average of 911 kWh per month,” and that the average monthly electricity bill is about $114. If your new solar shingle installation generates 60 percent of that energy, you’ll save around $800 per year. You’d pay off your subsidized solar shingles in just over a decade, leaving several decades of discounted electricity until your shingles reach their usual life of 40 years.

Each calculation is very individual, so it’s important to speak with an expert in the field to determine your potential payback and energy return on solar shingles.

Solar shingles aren’t just a new roof, they’re a new way to generate energy for your home. When you’re looking for an expert on solar shingle installation, contact Harry Helmet. We’re the proud installers of CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning roofing products. Learn more about roofing with Harry Helmet and contact us for a roofing quote today.

Written by Del Thebaud