Solar Shingles: Frequently Asked Questions

A solar shingle is a roofing product with solar cells built in, so the roof itself makes electricity. Each Energy ReLeaf shingle is a 55 or 60 watt monocrystalline module with 24 half-cells, mounted on a baseplate that installs in courses like any other shingle. There is no rack and no panel bolted on top of the roof.

Yes, solar roof shingles exist and you can buy them today. Energy ReLeaf makes the PH-055 and PH-060, which install on pitched roofs on homes and sloped-roof commercial buildings. They carry roofing ratings such as UL 790 Class A fire and UL 1897 wind, and solar module listings such as UL 1703 and IEC 61215.

Yes, if you judge them as a roof first. Energy ReLeaf shingles carry a UL 790 Class A fire rating, a UL 1897 wind rating of 110 to 200 mph depending on fastening and exposure, and TAS 100 wind-driven rain testing. The shingle won Best of IBS for Best Energy Efficient Product. Each one makes less power than a large panel, so the system is sized by roof area.

There is no official ranking, because solar roofing is a small market and products differ a lot. Some are integrated shingles laid with asphalt, others are full solar tile roofs. Compare them on what matters to you: who installs it, fire and wind ratings, warranty terms, and whether one damaged piece can be replaced. Energy ReLeaf designs, engineers and assembles the PH-055 and PH-060 in the USA.

Solar shingles are quoted per roof, not sold at a list price. The cost depends on roof size, pitch, how much of the roof is solar, and the roof work needed. We review the property for free and put the price in a written proposal, alongside the system size, the production estimate and the incentives that apply at your address.

Solar shingles cost more than shingles alone, because the same roof is also the power system. The gap depends on roof size, pitch and how much of the roof is solar, so we quote each roof after a free property review rather than publish a per-square price. If your roof is being replaced anyway, compare the proposal against the re-roof you already need.

A solar roof is usually easiest to justify when the roof needs replacing anyway, because you are already paying for a new roof. It also depends on your sun, your electric rates and the incentives at your address. Your proposal gives a production estimate for your roof, so you can judge it with your own numbers before you commit.

One common reason is the roof under them. When an old roof wears out, panels and racking have to come off and go back on around the re-roof, and the bolts that held them leave holes to deal with. Solar shingles avoid that step: they are the roof, there's no racking bolted through it, and one damaged shingle swaps out on its own.

The 33% rule isn't one fixed standard, but it usually means sizing the solar array up to a third larger than the inverter's rating. People use the phrase for other rules of thumb too. We don't size to a rule of thumb: your proposal starts from your actual roof planes, sun exposure and electricity use.

It depends on electricity use, not square footage, because two 2,000 sq ft houses can use very different amounts of power. In shingles, one kilowatt of system size takes about 17 PH-060 shingles or 19 PH-055 shingles. Send a recent utility bill with your property review and we will size the roof to what the house actually uses.

Yes, a house can run on solar if the roof has enough sunny area for what the house uses, and storage to cover nights and cloudy stretches. Energy ReLeaf systems have battery storage integrated in the roof and don't feed the grid by default, though they can if you want. Your proposal shows how much of your use the roof should cover.

Energy ReLeaf solar shingles carry a 25-year warranty on the roof and solar when installed by an Energy ReLeaf cooperative member installer. Batteries and electronics carry a 10-year warranty (third-party components). The shingle is built to roofing standards and runs from −40 to +90 °C, and a damaged one is replaced on its own.

With solar shingles, a hail-damaged shingle is replaced on its own: its PV insert comes out by removing six screws and the roof underneath stays closed. Each shingle's glass is tested with a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 51 inches. If a storm has already put a new roof on the schedule, solar shingles can be that roof.

Yes, solar panels and solar shingles still make power on cloudy days, just less of it than in direct sun. How much less depends on how heavy the cloud is. Integrated battery storage helps here, because power stored on a bright day can run the building later. Your production estimate accounts for your local weather over a full year.

It often can, but it depends on your policy, so ask your insurer or agent directly. Tell them the roof is a solar roof and give them its fire and wind ratings. Policies differ on storm coverage, deductibles and how they treat rooftop solar. We can explain how the roof is built, but your insurer decides what is covered.

Solar incentives change, so check the current rules before you count on any credit. We don't publish rates here because they can go out of date. Your proposal lists the incentives that apply at your address when it's written, and a tax professional can confirm what you qualify for.