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- holotone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Bad ass! Good to see some green tech around these parts....!
- silky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11These are quite common here in Japan now. A lot of homes and public buildings (community centers, town hall, etc.) use these. Sharp electronics has been one big producer here that I know of. They have a big display on solar power in their headquarters in Makuhari (near Tokyo). Their English site on solar power, http://sharp-world.com/solar/index.html
And if you can get around in Japanese, http://www.sharp.co.jp/sunvista/index.html - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Likely nothing. Newer photovoltaics don't have that awful piece of glass on top anymore, and are mostly made of composite materials and plastic (as evidenced by the ease of installation).
To be honest, I've been looking for something like this to do to my house to help offset the cost of running so many computers at home. Even if it costs $10,000 now, it's likely to pay for itself in 10 years or less in saved energy costs, and if the product lasts another 20 years... - klang, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The fact that you can buy "spray on mud" for your 4x4 truck prevents me from saying that your idea about "fake solar shingles" is totally nuts .. in fact, I too see a new marked ..
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/b/a/187861.htm - SniperX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I'm thinking wherever you live won't be the first area to adopt a technology like this ;) - But here in California, or other equivalent areas, something like this should have already been more prevalent.
- jmasters, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4In California, believe it or not, it's against the law to try to restrict someone from using solar roofing, even when it violates CC&R's (Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions). A homeowners association in northern California lost a 2 year battle to keep the solar roof tiles out of their community.
Now if they could just get the efficiency up on these things..... - DaMoB, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Check here: http://www.solarwarrior.com/ and http://recsolar.com/
- tjl2015, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6As soon as these become more prevalent, and people start seeing all of their neighbors going solar roof, I see a new market. Fake solar shingles! Yes, for one-tenth the cost, I'll sell you these shingles that look just like your neighbor's fancy-shmancy solar ones! Won't HE look stupid! I'll be rich!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Theres nothing to stop them trying though :)
- OropheR, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I would love to go solar, if I had the money to invest in it.
(and to buy a house as well) - Habemus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3What happens when hail from a hail storm (an monthly occurrance here from March-June) hits it?
- ZapWizard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I love the idea, better then the bulky units that look like grow box's
But I doubt the average roofer can install it with a nail gun. - Genghis1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Why does Japan always get all the cool stuff first?
- pagit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Great technology
this technology has been out for awhile
I remember Bob Villa episode a couple of years ago where he demos installation about photovoltaic shingles.
Did a quick search and found it: http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/HomeAgain/Video-1005-02-0.html
Great technology - sandinshoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Looks like a good way to go. HGTV,s " I Want That" had a good show about solar shingles. Go hear http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_electric_other/article/0,1797,HGTV_3698_3941073,00.html and hear for Uni-Solar http://www.uni-solar.com/interior.asp?id=102
- JoPettitt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Nicely integrated!
- axiomata, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've always wanted to work for a solar roofing company. Just sounds like fun.
- sandinshoe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2sorry...just heard the coffee brewing "here".
- Jozer99, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Just like regular roofing tiles? I doubt it. I helped roof a friends house once. Can you cut these tiles with a knife? Can you nail these tiles into the roof? Didn't think so. What they problably mean is that they are roof tile SIZED pannels. They still take a professional to install. Why would they use small panels? It is less efficient than a few large panels, and probably more expensive per equivilant area.
- JPhilipson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Now all I need is a roof!
- terafunker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was just wondering why someone hadn't done this already! And as for the hail storms in June, you'd be well advised to move away from there, Habemus. Where do you live, mate? Not in the UK I assume; if you're in Alaska or Finland then maybe PV tiles weren't going to be much use most of the time anyway.
- Djerrid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"But I doubt the average roofer can install it with a nail gun."
You're right. Bob Vila isn't your average roofer. But it looks like so much fun!
"Ren Anderson from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows Bob how to nail the solar shingles on the roof just like conventional three-tab roofing."
http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/HomeAgain/Video-1005-02-0.html
Hat tip to Pagit. - griz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How much is it??? I just got a quote of $7000 to replace my roof. I'd love to do it with something like this!! Can they stand up to a New Hampshire winter??
- Habemus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I live in Texas -- perfect for solar power. Lost of sun, but also lots of hail :( ...
- octseo, on 01/15/2009, -0/+1how is it possible, it is really amazing for us
Regards
http://www.i-roof.com/ - zadzagy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Looks like there is legislation winding its way through Congress that would allow for a tax break of up to $2000 on installation of solar panels on your house. Helps a bit with the cost!
From the IRS website:
"Additionally, the new law makes a credit available to those who add qualified solar panels, solar water heating equipment, or a fuel cell power plant to their homes in the United States. In general, a qualified fuel cell power plant converts a fuel into electricity using electrochemical means, has an electricity-only generation efficiency of more than 30 percent and generates at least 0.5 kilowatts of electricity.
Taxpayers are allowed one credit equal to 30 percent of the qualified investment in a solar panel up to a maximum credit of $2,000, and another equivalent credit for investing in a solar water heating system. No part of either system can be used to heat a pool or hot tub."
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154657,00.html - 1charmedlife, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The "breakthrough" listed in above the above comment linking to a "revolutionary breakthrough" (the "greenman.co.za" link) from Eskom seems to be false - there's absolutely no supporting information on that on their website. As a matter of fact, the company's 2005 Annual Report makes utterly no mention of Solar Tech development at all.
- Lavaknight, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm glad this got digged. It definitely shows that although we aren't there yet, solar power has the potential of becoming a very significant source of energy in our lifetimes.
Just think, if every house in Las Vegas or Pheonix had PV cells on their roofs, and could generate their own (or most of their own) electricity! - sofong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Check out the Sterling Engine and mirror links that you can find at Sandia National Labs. Also some folks are putting a single solar cell at the focus of a parabolic mirror.
- solar118, on 05/10/2009, -0/+0Build your own Homemade Solar Panels ... http://greendiyenergys.com
- pipeweed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Apparently there's been a breakthrough that'll mean the stuff will be really cheap in about a year or so - see http://greenman.co.za/b2evolution/blogs/index.php?p=258&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
- Berkana, on 10/12/2007, -8/+8Ah. . . treebugger. (just kidding! I love trees too. . . just not that way.)
- Rob5246, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I saw something like this on the science channel once. They had this other part where if you had the solar panels on your roof and weren't using all the power you were generating, you could sell it back to the power company and make money out of the deal.
- xiuxiu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I hope this can power my computer ;)
They should have what they have in Israel, it's like a sattlelite dish, but it's mirrors that focus on a single solar energy absorbing area, and can apparently power amazingly and efficiently. - cthclain, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Habemus asked about how they stand up to hail. What about walking around on them, balls, and other foreign objects hitting them? I go up on the roof at least once a year for christmas lights. I remember playing games of annie-annie-i-over where the ball is constantly hitting the roof. How will it hold up to these rough conditions?
- mastercraft, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0Mastercraft Exteriors is actively searching for ways to be green for our customers.
http://www.mastercraft-exteriors.com/sidehouse4.ht ...
Mastercraft Exteriors
Since 1996 - pipeweed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0There is actually mention of this on the Eskom site - http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=702
- EBFoxbat, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1After seeing the spray on mud, I shall now lose all hope for humanity. Thought I might buy a few cans just to say "See that roof? It's entirely solar. See those walls? It's entirely spray on faux-adobe."
- Sandman3030, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0I would how the will hold up to ice and snow?
- foxhoundadmin, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2pv products are harmful for the enviroment. suck it, treehuggers! boo-yah! in YO face, biAtches! :P
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