Are solar rooftops practical for Texas homes? Pros of a solar rooftop

Solar rooftops are growing in popularity, and for some really good reasons. “Solar is becoming more and more of a necessity in order for us to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and is now the cheapest form of energy available in developing countries,” said Brandon Weiss, Chief Innovation Officer at Dvele, which builds modern, customizable, pre-fabricated luxury homes. And he says that same paradigm shift will be occurring in the U.S.

But is a solar rooftop right for your Texas home? We spoke with some experts on the advantages of installing a solar rooftop.

“Satellite surveys show that 80% of homes could get at least a decent amount of energy from solar electric panel systems on rooftops,” explained Hannah Wiegard at Ipsun Solar, a residential and commercial solar panels installer. If you want the most accurate projection of your home’s solar potential, Wiegard recommends contacting a local installer for a free consultation.

Weiss explained that there’s more than one way to use solar roofing. “One example of this is a direct application of solar panels to a roofing surface, and some solar companies utilize a CIGS panel technology that is lightweight and flexible.” He said this technology allows direct application to the roofing membrane.

“If a roof has a low slope, the solar can be invisible from ground level, and this appeals to people that may not like the look of solar,” Weiss said. Additionally, some solar panel companies use an aluminum frame that produces more energy when there is low light or poor weather. “In addition, the lightweight panels don’t require any additional structural blocking, and since they are direct applied, do not require additional uplift engineering.”

Bi-facial solar panels are another good use of integrated solar. Weiss explained these panels can be used for building projections, overhangs, and patio roofs. “The bi-facial nature of these panels can allow them to produce energy from sunlight captured from the sun above, but also additional energy from the reflection off of lower surfaces,” he said.

Depending on your location, solar power can handle the majority of your power needs during the day, according to Ramon Rosquete, senior project manager at CREADIS, an engineering consulting firm that specializes in renewable energy. “Also it’s set and forget – the maintenance of this system is next to none, and the warranty is great, as long as the labor is warranted as well,” Rosquete said.

And although solar roofs are maintenance free, they’re providing a lot of benefits to your home. “Solar protects the roof investment by shielding the roof from the harmful UV sun light and weather elements that can deteriorate the roof and shorten it’s life expectancy,” said Andrew Carr at Harvest Power, a solar energy design and installation firm. In addition, he explained that solar helps to insulate your home, and this can make it a little cooler in the summer and slightly warmer during winter months.

The sustainability factors are another advantage of solar rooftop. “You can help the world out by providing energy to your family and your neighbors that is clean and nearly maintenance free, no more coal or peaking plants needed with wide adoption,” said Abe Fouhy, who teaches Renewable Energy at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, OR.

“You can help power your electric vehicle cheaper and provide clean energy to your car, helping the world out on the transportation side, which makes up 25% of our energy usage, and is the main component in the USA for air pollution.”

And that’s not all. Solar rooftops can even aid in national security. “You can help stabilize the utility grid and provide energy security for the nation,” Fouhy explained. “Our grid is old, consumers are increasing the need for more power, with your solar you help bridge the gap between choosing to install larger more vulnerable powerplants to attack versus small decentralized power systems.”

Of course, one of the primary benefits of solar rooftops is cost-savings. “You can think of a solar rooftop as a low-risk long-term investment that generally provides a high return on investment (ROI),” said Joshua M. Pearce, PhD, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Director of the Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Lab at Michigan Technological University.

“Solar photovoltaics (PV) produce electricity silently, last 25 years under warranty and require almost zero maintenance – and building integrated solar even eliminates the need for a roof.”

And since the cost has come down so much, almost everyone will save money compared to the normal charges for grid electricity – and some households will do really well.

“On my home system, my ROI is greater than 10%, and if you live somewhere sunnier you could do even better.” Pearce has even done a study on this for his state.

Homeowners can also get federal tax credit dollars, and among those that do, Wiegard said the system tends to pay for itself in about 11-14 years (depending on space available and energy use patterns).

And when you sell your home, you’ll likely get a boost. “In general, the value of the home is slightly higher with solar panels,” said Rosquette. “Depending on the study the percent changes but it hovers around 3% premium when compared to a similar home without solar.”

If rooftop solar is not available, you may have other options for solar. “Many states allow anyone to subscribe to solar installed somewhere else instead,” Wiegard said. “Shared solar” is an option for customers who can’t have solar on-site. By subscribing, they can use a portion of the electricity generated by an off-site solar installation. Examples include renters and low-income residents.

“Rather than pay a premium, this actually allows for savings, because the rate is cheaper than their normal electric rate,” Wiegard said. She admits that if you use this option, you’ll lose out on the property value increase. “We’d only recommend that course if your home is much too shaded, or have no wide sections of roof to use, or have an HOA that bans solar, if you’re in a state where that’s lawful.”

Terri Williams is a freelance journalist with bylines at The Economist, USA Today, Yahoo, the Houston Chronicle, and U.S. News & World Report. Connect with her on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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