Dow Chemical to integrate the solar shingle into mainstream home construction products
Residential roof shingles with solar panel-like design have recently been unveiled by Dow Chemical. A solar shingle array is said to be 10 to 15 percent cheaper than standard rack-mounted solar panel system and about 40 percent less expensive than building-integrated photovoltaic products. Although thin-film solar cells have relatively low efficiency versus conventional solar panels, it can still reduce between 40 to 80 percent of a home’s electricity consumption when used. It can be handled like conventional shingles, which means it can be palletized, walked on or dropped from a roof. Costly installation can be offset because these powerhouse thin-film…

