Sustainable Building Forum

Has any one seen the solar roof panels which look like shingles? 
Another friend said in Europe there are new solar panels which are way cheaper - what is the cheapest any one has seen in the states?

Hi Terry:

I haven't seen these, but I think they are a great idea.  If we could make using solar energy more affordable for the average person it would really help the world.  I'd like to be able to do it in my house, and maybe one day I'll be able to.  Solar energy is free for anyone to use if you have the ability to harness it!

Hey, from Japan over here, and a lot of the newer homes have solar panels as well.

As far as USA goes, it will probably cost you around 8 or 9 grand for a basic set up, but if we are talking a family home, it might be worth the cost in the long run.

I don't see a return on investment
Eg 8 grand for the installation,
MY 8 grand grows 4% a year.
If you have your investment back, eg. in 10 years.
I have a return of 40%.

In the future, the solar cells will be stronger and yes, with that 40% return,
I can invest in a solar sell MODEL ANNO 2017.

If you have enough grands, you can already buy & save our planet.
First I need to survive my own energy bills.

I just got the best innovations of 2007 edition of popular science and they had these cheap solar panels coming out in the next year or so. Check it out.

The problem with the solar panels that look like shingles is that they are not nearly as efficient as the regular rigid solar panels are, for a bunch of reasons. 

Don't confuse those flexible shingles with the new "thin film" solar that is coming out but I don't think quite commercialized yet.  It should be much more efficient, not less.

Solar is getting increasingly economical.  The biggest problem is the up front payment, I think.  Over time, it definitely pays off.  The only question is how much time.

A financing model that works really well is a Power Purchase Agreement, but PPAs are typically for really, really big commercial installations.  There is a new company, Sun Run, that is doing PPAs for residential, but they are very new.  I'm eager to see if they are successful or not.  I might even get a site review for our house, though we are solar skeptics and would not want to give up the solar thermal we have now for heating our pool.