Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells designed to resemble asphalt shingles that were first available commercially in 2005. They capture sunlight and convert it to electricity while providing an aesthetic alternative to traditional solar panels. Homeowners are drawn to solar shingles because they allow utilizing solar power without large panels and help normalize the use of solar energy in society.

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

2. What Are Solar Shingles?
photo from DOW Powerhouse
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.

3. 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.

4. How does it work?
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.
Suns Rays
1 Solar Shingle System
2
3
Power Inverter
4
The shingles are made of copper indium gallium
diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cell that has
reached 19.9 percent conversion efficiency.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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 shingles 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.

10. 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.

11. Who makes solar shingles? Works Cited
DOW Powerhouse Alter, Lloyd. “PowerHouse Solar Shingle Is Clever. But Is It A Good Idea?”
www.dowpowerhouse.com Treehugger. November 19, 2010. http://www.treehugger.com.
Kyocera Solar Inc. Blue, Jessica. “Solar Tiles vs. Solar Panels.” National Geographic. www.
www.kyocerasolar.com greenliving.nationalgeographic.com.
Atlantis Energy Systems DOW Powerhouse. Why Solar. http://www.dowpowerhouse.com.
www.atlantisenergy.org
Pandolfi, Keith. “Solar Shingles.” This Old House. wwww.thisoldhouse.com.
PowerLight Corporation
www.powerlight.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.
Thank you for your time!