Players in the building and construction sectors have continued to embrace new and advanced technology to improve the aesthetic value of properties.
The shift in technology has compelled them to embrace solar shingles which are also referred to as solar roof tiles, made of slim photovoltaic (PV) sheets.
With the solar roof tiles replacing iron sheets, constructors save on the cost of erecting roofs and separately installing solar panels.
File photo of Solar roofing tiles already fixed on a house roof
File
One of the pioneer solar roof tiles projects can be traced to Gaitheri Secondary School in Murang’a County.
The project was undertaken by a Kenyan firm, Strauss Energy, funded by a grant from the United States African Development Foundation.
In Kenya, the price range of each solar roof tile ranges from Ksh2,300 up to Ksh29,500.
Developers were quick to laud the new technology, noting that the solar roof tiles absorb sunlight which they convert into electricity.
The majority of solar roof tiles produce between 13 and 63 watts of power. By relying on green energy homeowners save on monthly bills and eventually recoup their initial investments. The number of tiles in a typical home roof can lower the utility bill by 40 per cent and even increase energy output.
Installation of solar roof tiles, however, can take as much as a week if the roofing was done in a correct manner.
Advantages of Solar roof tiles
A contractor does not need to drill holes in the roof to install the solar roof tiles.
There is no extra strain from natural wind flow as the tiles are not bolted onto the roof, thus performing better than conventional roofing materials.
Additionally, solar roof tiles are fire-resistant, a feature solar panels lack.
They have a sleeker, more attractive aesthetic and integrate well with concrete and asphalt roofs in particular.
Other pros include being easier to maintain than solar panels and being cost-effective when building a new roof.
Disadvantages
Kenya has not yet fully adopted and fully sensitized the technology hence making it harder for developers to access the product.
Furthermore, not all existing roofs are conducive to solar shingle installation—you might have to rebuild the entire roof to install the solar tiles.
A person applying the reflective coat on a roof
Discussion about this post