Thinking of putting in solar roofing for your next home improvement project?

Most Bay Area roofing contractors recommend solar shingles instead of traditional solar tiles to achieve a more energy-efficient home. Solar tiles are standalone, which means you can use it as the primary roofing material.

Solar Power Distribution of Solar Tiles

Solar tiles are wired to provide electricity for both off and on-grid systems. Having a solar panel system on an on-grid system allows you to power up homes and commercial establishments. Excess electricity generated from these tiles may be sold to the utility company for a rebate. Off-grid solar systems are more for back-ups in cases of power outages. They can also store energy for future use. Keep in mind that an off-grid system can be more expensive than an on-grid system.

All solar-powered systems make use of a power inverter that converts sun energy to usable electricity. A power inverter typically converts DC electricity into AC electricity for home use. Though solar roofing installation can be costly, the investment is recouped over time. They usually pay for themselves after several years of electricity production.

Solar Tile Pros

Solar roofing shingles are more aesthetically pleasing than their traditional counterparts. Home designers will appreciate the fact that this material enhances your home’s exterior design. You can choose from different sizes or models- from systems that make use of thin films to solid shingle-size tiles that look like any other traditional shingle.

You may opt for a more durable, waterproof solar tile during the time of installation. Bay Area solar roofing contractors will have an easier time during installation- they can just staple the tile directly to the roof. Furthermore, you may be qualified to get tax incentives if you go solar.

Solar tiles are more effective than traditional panels overall. Each shingle can generate up to 17 watts of electricity! Perhaps the most notable benefit of having solar tile roofing is that you won’t have to make room for large flat surfaces to install traditional solar panel systems.

Additionally, solar energy roofing can be constructed in a way that makes them highly resistant against strong winds.

Solar Tile Cons

• Initial installation costs can be steep.
• The roof has to have the right angle to efficiently catch solar energy. Also, the surface area must be sufficient to reliably power your property.
• On-grid systems will have no energy storage, which means you can’t use solar electricity during storms or in the night time.

Solar Energy Roofing in the Bay Area

Century Roof Tile is the go-to Bay Area roofing contractor for solar roofing installations, gutters, re-roofing and roof repair contact Century Roof Tile. At your earliest convenience, call (888) 233-7548 or contact us online for further assistance.

There are a variety of options for property owners who are looking to make their homes, and especially their roofs, more environmentally friendly. Some changes to be made include an entire overhaul and new roof, while some only require adding on to the existing roof. Here are 5 great ways to make your roof more eco-friendly:

White Roof

One of the most straightforward ways to make your roofing more green is to go white. Replace all of your old dark colored roof shingles for white or light tan colored ones. This change is simple but very effective as it results in much lower electricity bills. Not only will the light shingles keep the sun from beating down too intensely on the top of your home, they will also help keep the interior of your home cooler.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are the perfect add-on option if your existing roof is still in good or excellent condition and you would like to keep things as are. The panels can be added by a qualified Bay Area solar company quickly and cleanly right on top of your existing roofing. Solar panels are an excellent way to save money while going green because they have been proven to drastically lower electricity bills. They gather energy from the sun during the day and harness that power for your home.

Metal Roofs

A metal roof is really a great idea for all kinds of homeowners because it comes with so many benefits. Metal roofs last a very long time and are known to be extremely durable. They also reflect the sun, so that your home stays cooler during the day. A bonus is that metal roofs are in-style at the moment, so you can make your house trendier at the same time that you are helping the environment.

Clay Roof Tiles

A clay roof is a roof that is made from clay or slate tiles that are naturally occurring. Spanish style homes often feature this kind of roof, whose benefits include long lasting properties as well as highly desired aesthetic. A Bay Area roofing contractor that is experienced with unique roofing types is essential when implementing something like this to make sure that the job is done well.

Green Roofing

Another add-on option is called a green roof. This option includes installing a garden on the top of your roof, with a variety of plants and flowers to assist in clean-air production and sun management. Though this isn’t a service offered here at Century Roof & Tile, having a roof inspection before starting a green roof is important.

Contact Our Bay Area Solar Company Today

When is comes to things like solar roofing installations and adding re-roofing projects, calling a professional is very important. The team here are Century Roof & Tile will help you through the entire process with ease, making your transition from old roof to eco-friendly roof painless and simple. Contact us today via our online contact form, or give us a call at (888) 233-7548 for more information.

The solar roofing boom is here for real in the Bay Area, and we’re excited to see the solar revolution spread, bringing substantial energy efficiency to thousands of Californians and reducing both carbon emissions and our collective dependence on The Grid. That said, many “solar curious” consumers still feel somewhat intimidated by the prospect of switching over. To that end, we’ve prepared the following brief FAQ about solar roofing installations and system maintenance.

1. Will your system break?

As with any other electronic system, solar roofing can malfunction. However, most solar roofing systems come with lengthy warranties on their most important components. Depending on the company’s policy and the specifics of the part, warranties may last as long as 25 years.

2. What can you do to hedge against problems?

Keep your panels clean of debris, particularly after big storms and during the fall season; spot and repair problems before they grow and spread; and have professionals check your panels on a regular basis to ensure optimum performance.

3. How will you know that the system is working properly?

To prevent problems, you need to monitory your system’s function continuously. Fortunately, most solar companies monitor the systems they install and inform customers when problems occur.

4. What if you need to fix your roof?

Depending on the nature and scale of the damage, the solar panels may need to be removed first. Unfortunately, the solar company will not cover this cost. Thus, if you have an older roof, or you need to make repairs, take care of these issues before you install solar roofing. Another great way to avoid problems with finger pointing as solar and roofing companies claim the other is responsible is to have one company perform both a roof inspection and a solar installation for you, this way you have one party to deal with in the event of an issue and your installer has a greater incentive to ensure a perfect job.

Solar Roofing Puts Money in Your Pocket and Eliminates Green House Gas Emissions

Transitioning to a solar energy household can be exciting but also scary, especially if you’re used to using grid energy, and you’re already engaged in big projects, such as moving into a new home or finishing a big remodel. We can help! Call the Century Roof & Solar professionals at (888) 233-7548 or (510) 780-9489 or contact us from our website to learn more about your roofing options and to price out various energy saving strategies.

Industrial solar power has been in use for decades in discrete industries, but until recently, residential builders shied away from solar. But in 2013, the industry began booming, and America is now poised to surpass world solar leader, Germany, according to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Rhone Resch, the CEO of SEIA, said “without a doubt 2013 will go down as a record-shattering year for the U.S. solar industry… we have now joined Germany, China and Japan as worldwide leaders when it comes to installation of new solar capacity.”

In the third quarter of 2013, the number of megawatts and photovoltaics installed was 35% up from 2012 numbers; and the 2013 Q3 numbers even handily beat the 2013 Q2 numbers, suggesting that momentum may be building.

More excitingly, the number of residential photovoltaic installations is up by 45% from 2012 numbers. Already, solar energy provides enough power to fuel 1.7 million homes in the U.S. This extra “shot in the arm” of 250 megawatts of power is the energy equivalent of taking 2 million vehicles off U.S. highways… or planting hundreds of millions of trees – nearly one tree for every person living in the United States.

So what does it mean for you, if you own a business or home in the Bay Area?

Contact the Bay Area Solar Roof Installers

The popularity of solar means that the technology is becoming more and more affordable, and more and more support services are developing around it. To explore whether solar roofing or another solar solution may be right for you, connect with Century Roof & Solar today for a thorough and free estimate. Call us today at (510) 780-9489.

But how much money can you save going solar? How can you quantify the effects of an upgrade?

1. Use online calculators.

Dozens of online calculators can help you calculate the gist of how much you could save, long-term, based on parameters you input. But if you’re in the earlier stages of the research process, these calculations might confuse more than they clarify.

2. Get a rough estimate using national average.

These numbers change, but let’s just say that the average electricity bill in our region, among homeowners like you, is $120 per month. If you install a 3 kilowatt system and obtain usable 7 hours of sunlight every day, you get around 20 kilowatt hours a day. That means you get about 600 kilowatt hours every month. Of course, you need to “hit at” that number, because not every day will be sunny and beautiful, especially in the Bay Area, where the weather gets crazy.

So let’s say that 20% of the days, rain or fog or other inclement weather prevents your system from extracting usable energy. 20% of 600 is 120, so you might end up with only 480 kilowatt hours a month. If your home or business consumes around 1,000 kilowatt hours per month (a pretty fair estimate), that means that you can supply basically half your energy needs every month. Thus, you save around $60 per month.

3. Put that $60 figure (or whatever you came up with) into context.

Dozens, possibly hundreds, of variables can impact your energy efficiency, costs, etc. These factors include:

• Thermal efficiency of your roof
• Your personal energy needs
• Seasonal changes
• Quality of solar tile installation
• Whether you use “smart” controls or not
• Whether you ever need to repair/upgrade/re-install solar tiles
• Whether you add more solar capacity

4. Simplify your quest for better energy by connecting with experts.

The team here at Century Roof & Solar in the Bay Area has an exquisitely adapted system to help homeowners and business owners like you maximize efficiency and costs. Get in touch with us via our website or call us to schedule a free consultation to solve your solar panel needs.

Whether you’re installing a solar solution for your Bay Area home’s energy needs or you’re just comparing solar with a more traditional energy setups for your San Francisco business, here are ten important solar energy terms to know and understand.

1. Solar array

An array is an assemblage of modules that work together to generate electrical output for your home or business at a particular voltage. Arrays are often customized to maximize the shape of the building and the efficiency of the photovoltaic modules.

2. Solar cell

This is the simplest photovoltaic powerhouse. Much like a standard battery might contain several cells; similarly, a single module usually contains multiple cells. Multiple modules are built up into an array.

3. Photovoltaic (PV)

Much like how plants convert radiation from the sun to usable biological energy via photosynthesis, a photovoltaic cell converts solar light into usable electricity.

4. Net metering

Net metering is a pretty neat concept that demonstrates how solar can be tremendously efficient. A sophisticated meter determines how much power your home uses and then adjusts the extent to which you tap your system based on your energy needs and how much electricity your system is generating. It’s roughly analogous to a buffet restaurant rule: “have all you can eat, but eat all you take.”

5. Irradiance

This measurement of electrical power tells you how much solar energy is bombarding a particular surface, such as one of your photovoltaic modules, over a given time.

6. Peak sun hours

When the sun is bright and shiny, the irradiance can cross over a key threshold of a 1000 watts per metered squared. If the irradiance crests above this number for four hours in a day, that means you get four “peak sun hours” for that day.

7. Photovoltaic module

This is the smallest integrated grouping of parts in solar cells capable of transforming sunlight into power.

8. Energy

In the context of solar power systems, “energy” has actually a very specific definition: it’s a measurement of the ability to perform work, as measured in units called joules.

9. Efficiency of solar cells

No solar cell is 100% efficient – that is, some of the solar energy that hits the unit will be reflected or lost or converted into useless heat energy. Cell efficiency measures what percentage of the sun’s energy can be converted into usable electrical energy.

10. Annual solar savings

A fun number to find out: this is the money you will save every year by leveraging the power that your solar system generates for you or your business.

For help setting up, engineering, or troubleshooting your solar array, connect with the experienced pros here at Century Roof & Solar.

Researchers at the Pacific Energy Center in Northern California, for instance, found that solar panels engineered and deployed during the 1970s (when solar technology was really at the beginning) continue to deliver power today, four decades later, producing power ratings of around 80% of their initial capacity. That’s tremendous efficiency after 40 years of use and abuse – remember, these panels were some of the first ever built and used.

Analysts believe that most solar panels will bleed efficiency at a rate of about 0.5% annually. That means it will take 50 years for your panels to lose just a quarter of their original power.

Factors that may influence the longevity of solar panels:

1. Thin film panels may burn out faster than crystalline panels;
2. Harsh weather conditions (wind, rain, sleet, dust storms, etc) can pummel panels and shorten life expectancy;
3. Dirty, snow covered, scratched up panels are obviously going to get ground up faster;
4. Even after 25 years – a quarter of a century – most solar panels will continue to produce significant power, thus they will almost assuredly easily pay for themselves many times over.

Of course, the quality of your solar panel installation can also be crucial. Trust the team here at Century Roof & Solar to design, test, and engineer the best solar power solution for your home, business, or organization.

We have been the premier solar solution provider for the Bay Area since 1996, and we are masters at installing integrated photovoltaics. Learn about our possible solar solutions for you at www.centuryroofandsolar.com, or call us toll free at (888) 223-7548 to get your project questions answered by our seasoned solar specialists.

Sun image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun

1. CA’s daytime energy needs met?!

If all of California’s commercial and industrial facilities had solar power panels, we could instantly meet all of the Golden State’s daytime energy needs… without a single other source of energy.

2. Silicon packs a punch!

We all know that solar power is “more efficient” over the long-term than fossil fuel burning. But did you know that a single ton’s worth of silicon (processed into solar panels) can generate as much electricity as half a million tons of coal? Pretty amazing.

3. Storied legacy.

John Herschel, a British astronomer who traveled to Africa two centuries ago, cooked his food using solar power. And none other than Albert Einstein himself won a noble peace prize in 1921 for his solar power experiments.

NobelPrize.org

4. Best Solar on Earth?

Guess what country makes the best use out of solar power, objectively speaking? The US? Some place in the Sahara or Caribbean? Not quite. The answer is… Germany! That’s right:even though Germany is covered with forest — and the country gets savaged by debilitating winters – it beats all other countries when it comes to extracting good energy through solar.

5. Massive long term savings?

If you replace your electric water heater with a solar model, you could slice your water bills by perhaps 50% annually. Let’s break down those numbers. Let’s say $400 every year to heat your water. By this logic, you could save $200 a year just on water heating. Over a decade, that adds up to $2,000 of savings. Not insubstantial!

6. (Near) instant gratification.

When solar energy leaves the sun, it takes just eight minutes to travel from the surface of the sun to hit your panel. Physicists would say it takes “eight light minutes” for the energy to get to you. Curiously, it can take the same energy literally millions of years to travel from the sun’s core to the sun’s surface. So it’s a million year journey from the center of the sun to the surface of the sun… and then just an eight minute journey from the sun to your stove!

7. Easy peas-y.

Going solar is far, far, far, far easier (and far more cost-effective) than it used to be, even a few years ago.

Connect with the team here at Century Roof and Solar to discover your solar solution – not just to protect the environment but to generate real, tangible benefits for your pocketbook and your home.

Call our Diamond Certified Company today at 510-780-9489, or learn more about our premium Bay Area business at www.centuryroofandsolar.com.

But while the world has advanced in countlessly diverse ways since the energy crisis of the 70s, the US-Soviet rivalry of the 80s, the roaring 90s and the boondoggle oughts, solar power has yet to have its day in the sun. We’ve been hearing promises of a Solar Revolution since the 1970s (and even before that), but the technology, systems, and processes simply have not aligned effectively with the marketplace.

You might intuitively be led to believe that, because winter months are colder, solar panels won’t get as much “energy,” and thus will not be able to heat your home or run your property effectively.

You might also be worried about the ability of the electronics in your solar panels to function during cold snaps. As a point of fact, most solar panel technology functions better in cold temperatures than it does in overly hot temperatures; your solar panels should be able to collect plenty of usable sunlight, irrespective of what the mercury reads outside.

You can still tap solar energy to power your home, life, and work effectively, as long as you practice some easy maintenance tips.

First of all, recognize that, even when it’s overcast out, your solar panels can still collect energy to help with household needs. Depending on the thickness of the clouds, the presence or absence of precipitation, and other factors, solar panels still gather significant energy.

Some solar panels are even powerful enough to extract usable energy from moonlight, streetlights, or even starlight.

All that being said, gunk, buildup, bird droppings, leaves, debris, and snow can collect on your panels and diminish their capabilities. Most homeowners in Northern California – at least in the regions close to major urban and metropolitan areas – don’t have to deal with massive snowfall cleanup. But even non-snow precipitation, such as winter storms or wind squalls, can knock debris under the panels and diminish their effectiveness.

If your roof collects significant snow piles or debris, you will likely need to remove the contaminants to maximize your panel’s utility. However, you have to be extra cautious when working on roofs. You might want to hire a general contractor or snow removal service to assist you, so that you don’t fall and get injured during the cleaning process.

At the end of the day, the solar panel solution remains ideal for homeowners who are concerned about the environment, about electrical costs, and about long-term, financially sound decisions.

Connect with the team at Century Roof and Solar at www.centuryroofandsolar.com or 510-780-9489 today to get immediate, strategically focused help with your solar panel power needs.