solar shingles: aesthetic power

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SOLAR SHINGLES Aesthetic Power By: Jerad Carlson Minneapolis College of Art and Design Introduction to Sustainable Design Fall 2012

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Page 1: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

SOLAR SHINGLESAesthetic Power

By: Jerad Carlson

Minneapolis College of Art and DesignIntroduction to Sustainable Design

Fall 2012

Page 2: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

WHAt ARE SOLAR SHINGLES?

Solar shingles are solar cells or panels that are designed to imitate a conventional asphalt shingle.

Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells, capturing sunlight and transforming it into electricity.

Commercial solar shingles were first available in 2005.The shingles have a dark and deep purplish color to them and resembling most roofed houses of today.

Homeowners will be more drawn to them because of their aesthetic value; by utilizing solar power without the use of large panels on their roofs.

photo from DOW Powerhouse

Page 3: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

WHy SOLAR?

Solar power offers a limitless supply of safe, clean, and abundant energy.

Enough sunlight reaches the earth’s surface in one HOUR to power all of mankind’s energy needs for one YEAR.

Reduces the need of traditional energy supply sources like fossil fuels.

More affordable and efficient now then ever before in history.

Page 4: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

HOW dOES It WORk?

Solar Shingle System

Power Inverter

Suns Rays

The sun produces photovoltaic energy in the form of DC current while households use AC current.

When the suns rays it the solar shingles it is converted in to energy that then travels through a wiring system down to a power inverter which converts the DC current into the AC current that powers the house.

The shingles are made of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) a thin-film solar cell that has reached 19.9 percent conversion efficiency.

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Page 5: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

ENvIRONmENtALLy FRIENdLy

The use of solar energy is a major factor in the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Reduces the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere that continues to harm the environment.

Energy from the sun is clean and a renewable energy source that has an infinite supply unlike traditional fossil fuel sources.

Page 6: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

PERSONAL EmPOWERmENt

Getting solar energy is about personal empowerment putting the homeowner in control of the source of its energy consumption.

Installing solar shingles onto a house helps an individual who wants to go solar and is afraid to because of the stigma that goes along with going green.

People who want to be energy independent and more in control of their energy consumption methods are more likely to install solar shingles on their homes.

It takes the power away from the traditional power company and back into the hands of the homeowner.

Page 7: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

SOcIAL AccEPtANcE

When more people use solar energy the less it costs everybody and society as a whole will be able to afford to invest in other things that matter to them like healthcare and education costs.

The use of shingles is already socially acceptable and adding a benefit like solar energy to them enhances the social acceptance of the use of solar energy.

Solar shingles look like regular shingles making being green discrete and normalizing the use of solar power in society.

photo from DOW Powerhouse

Page 8: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

EcONOmIcAL NOW!

Through advances in technology solar shingles cost now 10 to 15 percent less per watt than traditional flat panels.

Installation of the solar shingles has improved drastically. Now it is estimated to only take about 10 hours to install and that is a reduction of about two-thirds of the time it used to take.

Potential net metering allows you to get credit for the energy your household creates.

Tax incentives provide great relief of the total cost helping you pay off any installation costs.

Page 9: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

SOLAR SHINGLES FOR EvERyONE!

Expand Market Availability – DOW Powerhouse a major manufacturer in the solar shingle industry recently introduced their shingles in few states in 2011 and now as of 2012 the only states that their product is currently available are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington D.C.

In order for people to invest in solar shingle installations they need to be affordable. The price has gone down but not enough. Further advancement in price reduction is needed in order to bring it to the masses.

There needs to be continued work on technology advancements to increase efficiency. This will also help entice the public to purchase solar shingles for their home.

Page 10: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

AEStHEtIcS ARE ImPORtANt!

We all know that people are not buying into solar as much as they should and one of the main reason is because of looks.

A lot of people don’t want to be known as hippies or treehuggers so they stay away from products that are associated with the stereotype. But, most want to save money and increase their energy independence and these are common ideals. Solar shingle advancement is a huge key into bringing more sustainable energy to everyone.

I believe that people are more likely to buy into solar shingles over solar panels. This is mainly based on aesthetic appeal because the solar shingle helps people feel normal by looking normal. It is more normal for a person to put a shingle on their house as opposed to a panel.

Page 11: Solar Shingles: Aesthetic Power

Who makes solar shingles?DOW Powerhousewww.dowpowerhouse.com

Kyocera Solar Inc.www.kyocerasolar.com

Atlantis Energy Systemswww.atlantisenergy.org

PowerLight Corporationwww.powerlight.com

Works citedAlter, Lloyd. “PowerHouse Solar Shingle Is Clever. But Is It A Good Idea?” Treehugger. November 19, 2010. http://www.treehugger.com.

Blue, Jessica. “Solar Tiles vs. Solar Panels.” National Geographic. www.greenliving.nationalgeographic.com.

DOW Powerhouse. Why Solar. http://www.dowpowerhouse.com.

Pandolfi, Keith. “Solar Shingles.” This Old House. wwww.thisoldhouse.com.

Surina, Echo. “What ar solar shingles?” TLC. www.tlc.howstuffworks.com.

Wang, Ucilia. “Replace Your Roof And Generate Electricty From Solar Shingles.” Forbes. June 18, 2012. www.forbes.com.

Wikipedia. Solar Shingles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_shingles.

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