How a GAF Solar Shingle Roof Pays for Itself

solar shingles costSolar power is the wave of the future. It’s renewable, clean, and efficient, and the options for adding it to your home keep expanding. So instead of limiting your options to giant, expensive panels that are difficult to install, it’s time to look at GAF solar shingle roofs. Here’s everything you need to know about the cost of solar shingles.

 

What are GAF Solar Shingles?

 

Solar panels require installation on racks that sit slightly above the surface of your roof. Installation also includes drilling into and mounting on top of the roof material. Solar shingle roofs, on the other hand, replace traditional roofs and the solar shingles only take up a portion. The rest of the material can be asphalt, metal, or another roofing material of your choice. The GAF solar shingle roofs are water-shedding and built to withstand extreme weather, including winds of up to 130 mph.

 

How do GAF Solar Shingle Roofs Work?

 

Known for its traditional asphalt shingles, GAF manufactures their solar shingle roofs by combining the asphalt, which is the top layer, with monocrystalline solar cells, which make up the bottom layer. It’s that bottom layer that generates the electricity. Wiring installed on the sides of the panels connect to your home’s power system to provide the electricity you use daily.

 

How GAF Solar Shingle Roofs Reduce Your Energy Bills

 

Harnessing the energy from the sun reduces your use of expensive and environmentally damaging fossil fuel energy. It’s clean and renewable, with the sun offering an endless supply of solar power. Not only does it cut down on pollution, but it also reduces your dependency on your local energy provider, reducing your energy bills. It can even provide enough energy to your home to use net metering, an option that lets you put energy back into the grid. When your solar shingle roof makes more energy than your home uses, what you put back gets you credit from the energy company. You can even get tax incentives for installing a solar-producing roofing to boost your savings.

 

The Cost of GAF Solar Shingle Roofs

 

The cost of installing solar is usually the biggest stumbling block for homeowners. However, GAF solar shingles cost less than solar panels. The costs are lower due to the installation taking place at the same time as roof replacement. Additionally, it’s part of the roof instead of being a separate component, which is the case with solar panels. With the affordable pricing, roof installation process, net metering, tax incentives, energy savings, and 25-year warranty, it’s worth considering this new technology.

 

GAF Solar Shingle Roof Installation

 

Solar shingle roof installation requires a roofing professional trained to integrate this material into traditional roof replacement. GAF certifies roofers to ensure they understand the technology and the installation requirements of the solar shingle roofs. Roofing professionals installing them during a roof replacement have described it as easy, streamlined, and straightforward.

 

In South Carolina, where sunshine is abundant, GAF solar shingle roofs are a great option to help you reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills. Contact Premiere Roofing, a GAF-certified roofing company, for a free estimate on your new solar shingle roof.

4 Tips to Lower Your Home’s Energy Bill

how to lower energy billIt seems as if everyone is looking for ways to cut household expenses, including how to lower energy bills. With costs climbing on everything from groceries to gas, it seems impossible to get a handle on the budget. The good news is there are ways to save energy and cut your heating and cooling costs. Here are four tips to lower your home’s energy bill.

 

Tip #1: Repair Damaged Windows

 

Did you know that damaged windows can increase energy costs by 25-30%? That’s how much energy your home loses through the windows, and those numbers jump if your windows are older or single-paned. Repairing damaged windows can significantly reduce the heat lost through the glass, cutting down on energy use and bills.

 

Updating old windows to double-paned glass can save you even more and over time will pay for itself in the energy efficiency gained and the reduction in energy lost. Of course, upgrading windows is an investment, but it might surprise you to find how much more consistent the temperature stays inside your house and how much money you save on your heating and cooling bills.

 

Tip #2: Repair Broken Siding

 

Broken siding might not seem like an energy efficiency issue, but it is. Any cracks, breaks, or leaks in the siding material not only allows the AC and heat from inside your home to seep out but also allows the cold and heat from outside to get in. Additionally, the openings can lead to a thermal gap in your walls and living spaces. When this occurs, your HVAC system kicks on more often than it should, raising your energy use and the bills that go with it. Repairing damaged siding can save you significantly when it comes to your energy bills.

 

Tip #3: Take Advantage of Skylights and Sun Tunnels

 

A home with many windows and abundant natural light lets you skip lamps and lighting for much of the day, using less energy. However, if you find the areas you spend a lot of time in don’t get a lot of natural light, adding a skylight or sun tunnel can change that. You’ll gain a lighter, brighter space while seeing a lower energy bill.

 

Tip #4: Consider Upgrading to a Metal Roof

 

It’s a common misconception that upgrading to a metal roof uses more energy because it gets hot and transfers heat to the house. However, metal roofs do the opposite. Instead of absorbing and transferring the heat, they reflect it up and away from your home. Even though asphalt is one of the most common types of roofing material, it is less energy efficient than metal. It takes the heat and shifts it down into the house, making your HVAC system work overtime to cool your home in the summer. Additionally, metal roofs have greater thermal resistance than asphalt, helping to keep the warm air in your home where it belongs in the winter.

 

It’s time to start finding new ways to save energy and reduce your energy bills. Making some overdue repairs and some much-needed upgrades can have a significant impact. Contact Premiere Roofing to schedule a visit from one of our professionals to evaluate your home and provide a free estimate.