Solar Installation
If you’re a property owner looking to roof or re-roof your home or another structure, you must consider how your roofing decision will impact your future energy demand and costs. Failing to do this is short-sighted and will lead to your energy costs being higher than they need to be.
As a manufacturer of metal roofing, we have taken considerable steps to ensure that our products are energy efficient in terms of reducing summer heat gain. Our Green American Home metal roofs address all 3 forms of heat transfer – radiant, conductive, and convective – to achieve a roof system of maximum energy efficiency.
While these components and attributes of our metal roofing products save energy through reduced air conditioning demand, we also have engineered methods for attaching solar panels to our roofs for property owners who want to create energy with their rooftops.
Solar Energy Production System Life Expectancy vs. Investment
When considering products that will allow you to use your rooftop to produce energy, it’s important to keep in mind that solar production continually gets more efficient with technology advancements. Because of this, it is wiser to buy a solar system with a 20-year life expectancy rather than one with a longer-term life expectancy. Any solar production equipment made today will be sadly outdated in 20 years, likely not making any sense to even operate it beyond that period of time.
Cost-Effective Solar Energy
The reality is that traditional crystalline photovoltaic panels offer the most cost-effective solar energy production. Their modular nature is very helpful in allowing repairs and replacement. Additionally, while they are durable and built to last 20 or so years, they do eventually need to be replaced, allowing property owners to step up to even more efficient energy production at that time.
Metal Roofs and Solar Installation
Traditional solar panels can be integrated nicely with metal roofs. With clip-fastened standing seam roofs, the panels can be clamped onto the raised seams so that no or very few actual roof penetrations are necessary. With other types of metal roofs, penetrations of the roof will be necessary but there are many commercially available fastening brackets designed for water tightness that work very well.
If you as a homeowner have plans for solar in the future, discuss those plans with your roofing contractor the next time you roof your home. Depending upon the type of roof you choose to have installed, it may be possible for the installer to take steps now that will simplify solar installation in the future.
Metal roofs are ideal for solar installation. The durability of the metal roof will hold up to roof traffic when the solar array is installed and serviced. The metal roof will also easily last as long as the solar panels themselves. Additionally, a cool metal roof from Green American Home can help to increase the efficiency of the solar panels themselves. And, finally, using a metal roof to save energy while producing energy at the same time with solar, is the best of both worlds.
Solar Shingles in the Future?
While our current recommendation today, is to stick to the tried and true traditional photovoltaic panels (which keep getting better all the time), we are pleased to say that there are other things on the horizon. We are anxiously watching the development of “solar shingles” and look forward to integrating them with our metal roofing systems. This truly will be a fully integrated solar roof that makes sense.
questions about using your roof for energy conservation and production? Ask our expert, Todd Miller.
The Homeowners Guide To Roofing
Read our Homeowner’s Guide to Roofing and you’ll get valuable tools and information you’ll need to pick the right roofing product and hire the best contractor to install your home’s new roof. And the best part is. all this information is FREE!
8 Factors that Determine the Cost of a Metal Roof
Green American Home 8510 Industry Park Drive Piqua. OH 45356 888-705-5656 All images and content ©2010-2023 Isaiah Industries, Inc. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy Site Maintained by StoryRidge Marketing
X This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read RejectAcceptSettings
Privacy Overview
Green American Home (a division of Isaiah Industries) uses cookies to improve your experience on our website. You have the option to accept or reject these cookies in several categories. You can enable or disable each category using the buttons to the right. You can also review our Privacy Policy here.
This is an necessary category.
These cookies help us to understand where our visitors come from and how they use our site.
Advertising cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers.
These cookies help us to meet our marketing objectives, and are anonymous unless you fill out a form to request information from us.
Never Been Easier!
In partnership with North America’s leading roofing manufacturer, GAF, we offer elegant, low-profile solar panels that install like a skylight, ensuring a water-tight, beautiful roof that generates clean energy.
To keep it simple, we offer one warranty for the roof and solar panels. Additionally, GAF-certified roofers will do all the work on the roof, guaranteeing the best standards for installation.
It’s never been easier to turn your roof into real estate that works for you!
Contact Us for info
Energy-EfficienT Roof That Pays for Itself
GAF Energy solar can produce electricity at a lower cost than your utility company. The more you produce and use your own electricity, the less you purchase from the utility company.
Over time, GAF Energy solar can even pay for itself AND your new roof, via monthly electric bill savings and government incentives.
You can also get credit for solar energy you send back to the grid when your panels produce more power than your home uses. This further increases your monthly savings!
Best Solar Warranty
The GAF Energy system makes it easy for you to go solar.
Working with a GAF-certified roofer to go solar means your new roof and its integrated solar have the option to be covered under the same industry-leading warranty.
This warranty is backed by our partnership with GAF, a company that has been in business for more than 100 years. direct experience and dedication you can rely on.
Local Choice Global Impact
When you choose to install solar roofs on your home, you are making a choice that has a positive impact on the environment both locally and globally.
Solar roofs provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional roofing materials, and they also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By choosing solar roofs, you are helping to reduce the amount of pollution in the air and making a difference on the environment.
Go Solar! Request FREE Estimate
Roof Mount 24/7 Solar Attic Fan with Inverter
QuietCool’s Roof Mount Solar Fans is the most intelligent attic fan on the market today. This fan utilizes solar power to keep your home cool and safe throughout the day. Better yet, with the included AC/DC inverter, your fan can continue running during nighttime hours or when the sun is not out. Utilizing a large solar panel, an AC/DC Inverter, weatherproof design, and revolutionary technology this fan provides eco-friendly cooling all year long.
Our solar roof mount attic fan is not only powered by solar panels but an ultra-energy efficient DC Motor that allows the fan to never stop protecting your attic. This motor is an industry-leader that allows for a long lifespan with no maintenance. This means you get everyday cooling at the fraction of the cost of other attic fans.
- Plug and play (no wiring)
- AC/DC Inverter for 24/7 cooling
- Poly crystalline Solar Panels
Give us a call if you need assistance 1-888-QUIETCOOL
FEATURES
Hover over any unique product piece to learn more about it.
Built-in Preset Thermostat: A mechanical thermostat that determines when your fan turns on and off (72 ºF off 83 ºF on). AC/DC Inverter: Allows your Solar Attic Fan to run on your electrical grid so your fan can operate 24/7 even after the sun goes down. Computer Balanced Fan Blades: High-performance fan blades that cut through the air in the most efficient and effective way possible. Tilt/Rotation Adjustment Bracket: Up to 60º vertical tilt and 180º horizontal rotation for maximum sunlight exposure. Solar Panel: Polycrystalline solar panel that is up to 2-4 times the output of the industry standard. Bug Screen: A screen that keeps out bugs, animals, and unwanted debris, from getting into the home. Roof Mount Housing/Cover: Powder-coated Steel Housing/cover that protects the fan from any outdoor elements. Flashing: Flashing that prevents water from entering the attic space. Vortex Air Funnel: Aerodynamic funnel that distributes large quantities of air evenly throughout the Roof Mount Housing resulting in higher airflow and efficiency. Inverter Plug-in Cord: 20-foot cord that allows you to plug and play from anywhere in the attic. Ultra-Energy Efficient DC Motor: Industry-leading Brushless DC Motor that allows for a long lifespan with no maintenance.
Are Solar Roof Shingles Rebates and Tax Breaks Available?
ElenaTheWise/Getty Images
Yes. Solar roof shingles are eligible for the same rebates and tax breaks as solar panels. This includes a 30% federal tax credit and other state and local tax incentives, some associated with the Inflation Reduction Act.
Tesla Solar Roof and Dummy Tiles
Bonus: Because you’re replacing the roof as part of the installation, the tax credit covers the cost of the entire roof and solar system, versus just the cost of the solar panels.
Are Solar Roof Shingles Worth It?
Maybe. If you can afford them, they’re a good option for combining a sleek aesthetic with the benefits of solar.
“I do think it’s worth it,” says Weiner. “But only for the right customer. Solar shingles appeal to someone who really wants their house to stand out and is willing to pay for that.”
Solar roof shingle pros
- Curb appeal;
- Less chance of leaking because one company installs the roof and panels;
- Similar life span to traditional solar panels and roofs;
- Durability, especially in high wind areas.
Solar roof shingle cons
- Cost;
- Not as efficient in watt hours, so it’s harder to maximize rooftop energy production;
- Not as good for hot climates, since there’s no airspace underneath for cooling (when solar materials get warm, the voltage drops);
- No passive home cooling effect like with solar panels, which add shade to the roof and reduce heat transfer from the sun into the house.
The Future of Solar Roof Shingles
Iaremenko/Getty Images
“To date, solar shingles have not lived up to their promise of providing homeowners with cost-effective, highly efficient and aesthetically pleasing solar systems,” says Weiner. “But ultimately they will be the go-to solar product.”
Weiner says GAF Energy, one of the largest roofing manufacturers in the country (and his former employer), wants to make the technology worthwhile on a large scale. The company just built a second manufacturing plant while expanding its certified roofing contractor network.
“They’re investing millions of dollars in the technology and their leadership firmly believes in this is the way that that solar is going,” says Weiner. “So it’s ultimately going happen, I believe, but the timeframe is still unknown.
“It’s just proven to be more difficult to really get these two systems to integrate. And at the same time, innovation is happening very rapidly with solar panels, and the solar roofing industry has to compete with that as well.”
A freelance writer and indie film producer, Karuna Eberl covers the outdoors and nature side of DIY, exploring wildlife, green living, travel and gardening for Family Handyman. She also writes FH’s Eleven Percent column, about dynamic women in the construction workforce. Some of her other credits include the March cover of Readers Digest, National Parks, National Geographic Channel and Atlas Obscura. Karuna and her husband are also on the final stretch of renovating an abandoned house in a near-ghost town in rural Colorado. When they’re not working, you can find them hiking and traveling the backroads, camping in their self-converted van.