DOW Solar Shingles
(https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1959512_694725507236398_1745473463_n.jpg)
DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingles are just as durable as asphalt; can be walked on; and have been tested to stand up against wind, rain, snow, hail and fire. And the other great news? They are available for installation in your area. Turn your home into a POWERHOUSE today!
http://www.dowpowerhouse.com/contact/contact_signup.htm?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Solar%20Shingles&utm_content=032114_allstates
Dow Solar offers financing for Solar Shingles. For the same price as a conventional roof, you can have a roof that makes money for you.
That's one of many differences between traditional solar panels and DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingles--they're not on your roof, they ARE your roof.
"Solar panel systems are priced and sold on a per watt basis because the only function they serve is electricity generation. Conventional roofing materials are priced and sold on a per square (area) basis because the only function they serve is weather protection. The DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingles do both. They replace conventional roofing materials on the portion of the roof where they are installed and they generate electric power for the home throughout their service life (20+ years). Total installed cost is the most appropriate metric for DOW POWERHOUSE systems. A typical residential roofing installation with conventional (non-solar) materials may cost a homeowner ~ $10K. This same project with a 3kW POWERHOUSE Solar System installed on a portion of the rooftop may cost the homeowner ~ $25K after federal and utility solar incentives are considered. However, a POWERHOUSE rooftop will pay for itself during its intended lifetime, where an asphalt roof will do nothing but depreciate."
Okay so... $25K as opposed to $10K for a normal roof
So since I need a new roof soon anyway I did the math
I use an average of $400.00 a month power so that is $4800.00 a year, My roof area allows enough that I would be in the 80-100% range of saving (meter running backwards - no batteries)
Life span of solar panels... 20 years
Power consumption at current rate for 20 years 96,000.00
Cost of standard roof $10.000 Life span about 20 years
Total cost under current setup $106,000.00
Total cost with DOW roof $25,000 + 20% of power bill $19,200 = $44,200
Overall savings over 20 years... $61,800.00
::)
Hmmm okay so... that is a current top system
Now then what can we do that is cheaper? :D
Now then what can we do that is cheaper? :D
Well, simply "cheaper" may not be the true key word to use as one considers the various alternatives!
So, I do reply to that question with a possible "better" alternative to one's "bottom line", not only for cost, but also for overall benefit, including almost complete safety from the common environment disasters, such as tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Such can be had, including drastic reductions in utility costs, with Monolithic Dome homes and buildings. I may never build another house, but I think if i did, it would be a Monolithic Dome. I have looked at these for several years, and am very impressed with what they do, and the look of the resulting structures.
A really great feature of these structures is, they are "free-standing", with no internal support required. So, the interior design and layout is totally flexible!
There is much available to view on the internet, including YouTube. I will post a few things below for anyone interested. The first link is the home page for Monolithic Domes, and has many different examples of their construction results, from small homes to very large gymnasiums and other facilities, with some having result comments.
http://www.monolithic.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yJfcnIFYqg
One dome of possible special interest, and it says "for sale!!! :))
http://www.monolithic.org/stories/for-sale-or-lease-starship-pegasus
(click photo for larger pic of the "peggy")
(http://s21.postimg.org/8o81lymhz/Pegasus_Dome_Screen_Shot_2014_03_30_at_5_54_52_P.jpg)
And for those of us with no Roofs? Got lots of windows 6 foot high. Also got lots of warm walls in the summer.
Quote from: deuem on March 31, 2014, 06:51:07 AM
And for those of us with no Roofs? Got lots of windows 6 foot high.
Well if the windows face south...
(http://www.colourbox.com/preview/1996031-125717-3d-illustration-of-solar-panel-over-white-background.jpg)
Speaking as the original inventor of the solar shingles (which I thought up and did nothing about) 2 years ago.
There's a couple of hidden costs.
One being that you gotta clean 'em from time to time.
The other being that you need a way of checking the output of each shingle and replacing the ones that go bad. In my design we had an LED on the back of each one...
Good, I am glad it got to market, I knew it was one of my better ideas.
FB!
Well, Yes, all of my big windows face south about 185 degrees. All the small windows face West. Some venting windows face North. No east windows, Just a seperating wall. About 190 sq feet of south windows. So how much power could I get out of 190 sf? Do I need batteries for Night time?
If they were in the windows the LEDs on the back side would be easy to see.
Deuem
Quote from: deuem on March 31, 2014, 10:21:08 AM
About 190 sq feet of south windows. So how much power could I get out of 190 sf?
Dunno that would be a techie thing and depend on the panels
QuoteDo I need batteries for Night time?
Most likely
I will see if I can get any new info on those super solar cells I heard about in 2004
Deuem
[/quote]
Quote from: deuem on March 31, 2014, 06:51:07 AM
And for those of us with no Roofs? Got lots of windows 6 foot high. Also got lots of warm walls in the summer.
Windows? Why not cover the walls? :)
Quote from: ArMaP on March 31, 2014, 08:55:55 PM
Windows? Why not cover the walls? :)
Good question, ArMap.
Our cottage was built in 1960 with south facing views, before passive solar was ever a designed in thought. It's a blessing in winter, but late summer is a pretty hot time in the high desert and we keep the windows shuttered. '
I use tall plants to shade the exterior walls in those months, but I could envision covering the walls with solar shingles. Providing of course, that all of the stipulations Bat was proposing have been answered.
Wonder how difficult that might be?
rose
Quote from: zorgon on March 29, 2014, 06:16:55 PM
Okay so... $25K as opposed to $10K for a normal roof
So since I need a new roof soon anyway I did the math
I use an average of $400.00 a month power so that is $4800.00 a year, My roof area allows enough that I would be in the 80-100% range of saving (meter running backwards - no batteries)
Life span of solar panels... 20 years
Power consumption at current rate for 20 years 96,000.00
Cost of standard roof $10.000 Life span about 20 years
Total cost under current setup $106,000.00
Total cost with DOW roof $25,000 + 20% of power bill $19,200 = $44,200
Overall savings over 20 years... $61,800.00
::)
Hmmm okay so... that is a current top system
Now then what can we do that is cheaper? :D
Forget a shingle roof, go snap fit steel roof. That will go 50 years maintenance free.
Solar panels will do nicely on a steel roof.
My shack needs a roof and a steel one it will be. Ya leave the old roof on, rib the roof with 2x4 or 2x6 and lay down the steel and fasten it to the 2x4.
Quote from: ArMaP on March 31, 2014, 08:55:55 PM
Windows? Why not cover the walls? :)
11 stories up, kinda hard to get there from here. They would have to hang on ropes from the top. Ok, Don't want that job, swinging in the breeze. Besides I only lease this place. I need something I can take with me and reshape it at the next place. Like "solar legos". zHummmm! Gotta put that on some list.
Well when Luke finishes that HE3 fusion reactor all will be well :D
AMONIX solar collectors
These are similar to the ones I was talking about earlier at the NTS..but these are not quite the same The other ones were liquid cooled
One of these arrays (that tracks the sun) can produce over 53 KW
(http://www.pv-magazine.com/fileadmin/uploads/bilder/pvi_Bilder_fur_Nachrichten/CPV_Image_amonix-solar-cpv-snwa-henderson-nv-00021a-px2258x1500-cmyk-na.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUg862kK0Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUg862kK0Vg
AMONIX solar collectors
These are similar to the ones I was talking about earlier at the NTS..but these are not quite the same The other ones were liquid cooled
One of these arrays (that tracks the sun) can produce over 53 KW
(http://www.pv-magazine.com/fileadmin/uploads/bilder/pvi_Bilder_fur_Nachrichten/CPV_Image_amonix-solar-cpv-snwa-henderson-nv-00021a-px2258x1500-cmyk-na.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUg862kK0Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUg862kK0Vg