Category Archives: Solar Power Systems

Why Standing Seam Solar Metal Roof Blows Tesla Solar Roof Out of the Water!

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Right off the bat, we love Tesla Solar Roof and what Elon Musk is doing to disrupt the solar roofing market.

Tesla smooth solar glass tile roof. Source: Tesla

But, the reality is that despite its revolutionary style, great looks, and the bold promise “to rid your roof of those bulky and unsightly solar panels”, Elon’s new product is way too expensive and unaffordable for a typical American household.

Traditional PV solar panels on an asphalt shingle roof

That’s right, outside of the upper middle class families in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, and other major, affluent tech hubs, most regular people don’t have that extra $50,000 to $65,000 to shell out for Tesla’s new and unproven Tesla Solar Roof.

Furthermore, at this point, the new product from Tesla is completely unproven in terms of the roof’s ability to withstand the elements and remain leak-free for the duration of its intended lifespan.

Granted, every product has to go through a product adoption life-cycle curve, but unless Tesla solar roof pricing changes drastically, we don’t see a mass market adoption of this promising new product happening any time soon.

What’s more, should the government decide to pull a plug on solar tax credits, then Tesla solar tile roof will be dead in the water, again due to its very high cost.

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Top 3 Roof Issues to Address Before Installing Solar Panels

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PV solar panels for residential roofs are in like never before, thanks to the fact that going solar has never been easier or more affordable.

The Price of Going Solar Has Decreased Dramatically Over the Past 10 years

In fact, according to EnergySage, in 2017, most homeowners are paying between $2.87 and $3.85 per watt to install a new solar system, and the average gross cost of a residential PV solar power system before tax credits is $16,800.

Did you know? Less than 10 years ago, in 2008, the cost of a solar power installation was $8.82 per watt.

Using the U.S. average for system size at 5 kW (5000 watts), a new solar system cost will range from $10,045 to $13,475, after tax credits. — That’s a rather attractive price range for residential solar energy compared to the recent past.

historical cost of solar power on a per watt basis

So, should you jump on the solar bandwagon and take advantage of the solar tax credits available to homeowners in 2017 right away, or are there other factors to consider before installing solar panels on your home?

There are several important factors to consider before calling a solar company and getting those panels up on your roof, if you want to ensure a lasting and regret-free solar installation:

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Tesla Releases Price on Its New Solar Roof: $65,550 or $21.85 Sq. Ft.

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“I want a Tesla solar roof. I don’t care what it costs.” When we last visited Elon Musk and his proposed solar roof that was the sort of customer that seemed most likely for Tesla’s great-looking, electricity-generating roofs composed of tempered glass tiles infused with photovoltaic cells.

At the time of Musk’s announcement of the solar roof last year, there was no accompanying price for the project which led to intense speculation and number crunching.

Now that Tesla is officially taking orders (with a $1,000 deposit) the company has released a solar price calculator for anyone contemplating a new solar roof.

Two of the four styles will be available in June, gray smooth glass and black textured glass.

Tesla smooth solar glass tile roof. Source: Tesla

Slate glass and Tuscan glass are scheduled for a 2018 appearance. Now that consumers can crunch their own numbers, has the pool of potential customers for the Tesla solar roof deepened?

Clan Slate. Source: Tesla

The Solar Roof Calculator

To use the Tesla solar roof calculator all you really need is your address (don’t worry – a Tesla roof salesman will not come knocking on your door). The calculator then factors in such variables as the size of your house, the climate in your area, the public utility information for your municipality, a 30 percent Solar Investment Tax Credit and so to arrive at an upfront cost of your new solar roof and the amount of energy savings your solar roof will realize over the life of the roof.

Tesla’s sample home assumed a 3,000-square-foot roof in the Mid-Atlantic region which would require one PowerWall battery used to store the energy generated by the glass tiles.

Cost of Tesla Solar Roof

The cost for that roof would be $65,550 (before adding the cost of the battery at $7,000) or $21.85 per square foot. While that sounds pricey, when the cost of electricity is factored into the equation the Tesla solar roof would save the homeowner over $15,000 in the course of a 30-year life span for the roof. Those savings only escalate from there since a Tesla solar roof is guaranteed for “infinity, or the lifetime of your house, whichever comes first.”

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