Dow Chemical Company introduced solar shingles today. The solar panel is woven into the roof tile of a typical asphalt shingle. Dow reports that the shingles are available in limited quantity until a larger production and distribuion plan is put in place by 2011.
The shingles offer solutions to two problems of solar panel installations: leaking and asthetics. The solar shingles blend into the shape or conventional roofing tiles.
The shingles work by incorporating a thin-film photovoltaic cell into a shingle. The best part, the shingles function as solar panels and typical shingles. Instead of replacing one’s shingles and purchasing a solar system, a homeowner can kill two birds with one stone.
Funding for the development of the asthetically pleasing solar panels came in 2007 from the Energy Department.
