Are Solar Roof Tile Worth It?
While domestic solar panels have been around for such a long time now, they’ve failed to become a hugely mainstream application enter Solar roof tiles. This is usually due to the sheer cost of installing and maintaining solar panels, although the cost is lowering, they continue to be very expensive and slightly out of the average budget for most, not only in the UK but all over the world. The UK has a reputation for miserable weather and a cloudy forecast which means that the investments of your customers are less likely to bring a good return on investment. As most people know, it takes a long time to allow your solar panels to pay themselves off and while the technology is getting better and cheaper all the time allowing for a shorter payback period, it’s still longer than you’d like. With that in mind, solar roof tiles have been floating around in the world of energy for a while too. But is the technology good enough to recommend to customers? And what are solar roof tiles? What Are Solar Roof Tiles? Solar roof tiles in the simple sense are exactly the same as a normal solar panel, they convert the same sunlight into the same energy the same way (more or less). They are sometimes referred to as; solar tiles, solar shingles or solar slates. We’ve seen a few iterations of these roof tiles and in that time, they have a number of styles. Some look like an ordinary roof tile, that blend in and don’t look the same as your existing tiles, some don’t even look like a solar roof tile at all. The Advantages One of the biggest advantages of solar roof tiles is that they look just like a normal roof tile if you purchase that style. While you can buy solar roof tiles that look like tiny solar panels in a tile, companies do offer those that look like a low-profile slate tile or even a more traditional pan-and-cover tile. Regardless, being able to replace only a few of your roof tiles will also mean that you’re saving money if you plan to only cover a small area rather than your whole roof space again. You’ll also be able to skip the process of reinforcing your roof for the larger, heavier solar panels to sit on top of the roof tiles. Reinforcing your roof isn’t always necessary, most solar panels will sit within the acceptable weight limit of your roof but if you do have to reinforce the roof of your home it can be costly. Using Solar roof tiles means that there will be less strain on your roof and offer easier installation too. The Disadvantages The cost is one of the main reasons that most people are put off by the idea of getting regular solar panels. Now, the fact that companies have miniaturized them and given them shape and style which means they are less of an eyesore. This is likely to mean that they’ll have a greater cost attached to them due to the extra work that goes into making them. Using the Tesla solar roof tiles as an example we can see that with a $200 electric bill and a 3,000 sq. ft. roof, you’d be looking at 30% coverage (in solar tile) with a cost of $60,900. This would also mean that it would take around 15 years to breakeven and cover the cost of the solar panels. Installation can sometimes be a bit of a pain too, with different tiles comes different mounting and connections. Having to learn new techniques for fitting these solar roof tiles might take a while and could even result in a costly course for existing roofers. So, if the cost is going to be higher for you, it will also be higher for your clients/ customers too which might put them off. Top Brands While we have had these solar roof tiles around for a while, they haven’t really become a well-known product as of yet. There aren’t as many companies in the mainstream market as you’d like to think either. Obviously, Tesla is one of the biggest companies in the mix at the moment. Due to the fact that they are usually at the forefront of developments in all things electric we’d expect nothing less really. Tesla In November 2016, Elon Musk gathered a number of stakeholders and presented their version of the solar roof tile. It was quite revolutionary due to the fact that they’ve been designed to look just like a regular roof tile/shingle. Most other designed just simply look like a miniaturized solar panel which is still a bit of an eyesore. Tesla’s solar roof tiles come in four varieties; Tuscan Glass, Tuscan Glass, Textured Glass and Smooth Glass. This means that there will more than likely be a style that matches your existing roof already, so if your customers are hoping to only replace a specific number of roof tiles, they could do so. CertainTeed’s Apollo II Although CertainTeed is a new(ish) name, they are still the old company at heart. Originally in 1904, they were called General Roofing Manufacturing Company but now they offer a number of different services and products after becoming a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain. One of the main appealing factors that CertainTeed has to offer is that their Apollo Tile II solar shingles have been readily available for around 5-6 years now. Whereas Tesla’s solar roof tiles haven’t really been a widely available product like the Apollo Tile II’s have. You can purchase these solar shingles from an installer and get the price of the install and the shingles in one go. These tiles, however, have only one style that doesn’t exactly blend in. These Apollo Tile II’s have been designed to “match the profile of flat concrete tiles” and blend in to provide a clean look but they definitely do stand out. This is likely to make them less desirable than the tiles from
Electric vehicles brings lifestyle change to Birmingham CEO
With two electric vehicles (EVs) and more planned for his business in Birmingham, Ben Allan, CEO of Miso, is a recent convert of green technology and has totally changed the way he plans his working day to ensure he always has enough charge in his car. Interested in the concept of EVs and lured by the large tax breaks available from the Government, Allan took the plunge and bought two new electric vehicles – a Tesla Model X, as his company car, and a Hyundai Ioniq as the family car. The charging speed for the cars was initially slow and lengthy as it was only 3kW from a three pin-plug, so Allan applied for an OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) Grant, also known as the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), so he would be eligible to receive up to £500 off the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging point. Allan contacted three OLEV accredited EV charging installers in the local Birmingham area to install two electric vehicle chargers at his home. Mr. Electric® was one of the Government approved electrical business’s who was approached and consequently won the work due to its exceptional customer service. Mr. Electric took over the grant application for its customer and recommended the installation of two EO Charging home chargers. Designed, manufactured and tested in the UK, the EO home charger was the ideal charging solution as it was simple, affordable, wall mounted and suitable for charging all types of EVs. Another key functionality was the speed and ease of charging – with a power rating of 7.2kW, the chargers had a charge time of three hours. “I was so impressed with Mr. Electric from the outset and the fact that we have asked them to possibly install car charging points at my company is testament to the work they have already done”, added Ben Allan. “The team provided a quality service from beginning to end and continue to show their high levels of professionalism and expertise in the EV market. They have done everything from the initial site survey to understanding my requirements and then the installation at home. “Driving the Tesla is undoubtedly fun and hugely enjoyable, particularly now that I can charge it easily and quickly at home. I plan my days around the car by setting off earlier to meetings if I know that I have to stop and charge mid journey – in just 30 minutes I can be fully charged, respond to emails and be on top of my work. Although many people are daunted by the high prices of electric cars, plus the limited mileage range, and where they can recharge their vehicles, this hasn’t been the case at all for me. Undoubtedly, the real advantage for me lies in the running costs – with big savings on fuel costs, servicing and car parking – and the charging, which has been seamless thanks to Mr. Electric and their expertise.” Dominic Longley, Director of Mr. Electric Birmingham North believes we have a corporate social responsibility towards the environment and fully supports the growing demand for sustainable green transport technology. “It is great to see so many of our customers embracing these emerging technologies both at home and in the workplace. We are continuing to build our relationship with Ben and hope to install EV charging points at this workplace so his employees can also reap the benefits. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular as both consumers and businesses are looking for new ways to reduce rising fuel bills, and as a result, the demand for electric vehicle charging points is also on the rise.” Mr. Electric is now an approved installer and trusted partner for EO Charging, which has a comprehensive product range designed and built to be flexible and compatible with all leading motor manufacturers’ EVs. Together the two organisations will now be able to offer domestic and commercial customers a one-stop solution for all types and modes of EV charging, from the product right through to the installation and ongoing maintenance of the charging point. For further information about Mr. Electric and the services it can offer, visit https://www.mr-electric.co.uk/birmingham-north or call 0121 285 0136. For further information about EO Charging and its EV charging product range, visit www.eocharging.com.
