Solar Shingles vs. Solar Panels: What Are the Differences?

In 2020, renewable energy made up 12% of the energy used in the US. This grows every year as more people move towards renewable resources.

One of the most popular types is solar energy. If you want to implement a solar system into your home, you should compare solar shingles vs. solar panels.

These are the 2 main options you have, and each has its advantages. To find out more, keep reading this solar shingles/solar panels guide.

What Are Solar Shingles?

Solar shingles serve a similar purpose to solar panels but are different in their design. They’re much smaller and can integrate with the roof shingles you already have, or a new roof system.

Solar panels are generally placed on top of a roof, but solar shingles make up the roof itself. They absorb solar energy, which can help power your home and can also be stored in a solar battery.

Benefits of Solar Shingles

The main advantage of solar shingles over solar panels is the aesthetic. They integrate seamlessly into your roof, which is preferred by many people.

Solar shingles are often quicker to install. This helps keep labor costs down and also means that you spend less time with installers working on your house.

If you want to upgrade to solar power and you also need a new roof, you can essentially kill 2 birds with 1 stone here. This will save time both time and money.

Benefits of Solar Panels

Solar panels are far more popular, which means there’s a larger market. You have a lot more choice when it comes to solar panels, so you can customize things to meet your own needs.

While the installation time of solar shingles helps to keep the cost down, solar panels are still far cheaper to install overall. One of the main benefits of solar energy is long-term savings, so if you can also save during installation, that’s an added bonus.

Solar panels have more mobility than solar shingles. This means that if you move homes, it’s much easier to take them with you. With solar shingles, the amount of work this would take makes it not worth the effort.

Colorado has several incentives and programs that are better than most other states. You’ll be rewarded for having a solar power system and won’t need to pay any taxes on it. Your system may also send excess energy back to the grid, which you’re then paid for.

Overall, solar panels are more efficient than solar shingles, and that’s generally the most important factor when it comes to renewable energy. Click here for solar panels by Skyline Solar Power, a leading solar provider with locations in Colorado, Iowa, Wyoming, and Utah.