Solar Roofing
As energy prices soar and the environment continues to reel from massive degradation, more and more people are contemplating the use of solar roofing so they can get off the energy grid.
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Commercial and residential use of solar energy is gaining ground these days because the cost of installing solar panels is getting cheaper. Most importantly, those who adopted solar technology have already seen its concrete benefits especially in reducing energy bills.
How Solar Roofing Works
Solar roofing is a standalone system that can be integrated to your existing roof. It is composed of solar panels that have the capacity to absorb the power and energy of the sun.
By storing and converting this solar energy into alternative current, a typical residential home can generate enough power for their daily needs. That is why some homeowners were able to get off the electricity grid by harnessing the free energy provided by sunlight.
Types of Solar Roofing
There are two major types of solar roof systems. The first one will completely cover your roof with solar panels. This is best if you intend to power your home exclusively from solar energy.
The other type is partial solar roof system where you can install solar panels in some parts of your roof. This type is typically used if you want to combine grid electric energy and solar energy to power your home or building.
The use of solar panels is needed in both systems. Some manufacturers provide integrated solar panels with their own framing structures. Integrated panels are easier to install because you can simply bolt them on the roof. There are also solar panels that are made just like regular roof shingles. Installation of these solar shingles on your roof is usually done by the manufacturer.
Innovations to Solar Roofing Systems
In the past, solar roofing systems were very bulky. Aside from the panels, you will also need an inverter that will convert DC to AC.
Latest solar roofing systems however are more advanced and less bulky. That is because a micro inverter can now be integrated into each solar panel so you can directly use the power as AC. Although solar roofing is still expensive, it is not as prohibitive as before and can be a good option to live off the grid.