The most immediately obvious perk to solar shingles is their inherent ability to look like regular shingles. Unlike solar panels, anyone passing by a home covered in solar shingles probably isn’t going to realize they’re even there.
They also completely replace regular shingles, meaning they’ll (technically) reduce building material costs. Though the solar shingles aren’t free, and these savings on building materials won’t apply if you’re replacing roof tiles that are already in place.
Speaking of savings, you’re not likely to find any when it comes to solar shingle installation. As noted by MarketWatch, solar shingles tend to be more costly than traditional solar options (around $20 to $30 per square foot on a 2,000-square-foot roof, compared to solar panels costing around $15). Additionally, while it’s not difficult to source regular solar panels and have them installed by a reputable company, solar shingles aren’t as prolific. So not only are you likely to have to pay more upfront, but you’ll also have fewer options to choose from — and you’ll have to put in more work to find them.
Beyond the costs and logistics, efficiency is also something solar shingles fall short on compared to their larger counterparts, topping out at around 14- to 18 percent (modern higher efficiency solar panels are closer to 25 percent). Regular panels typically last a few years longer than shingles, though the difference isn’t quite as significant.
