Dow to Sell Solar Powered Rooftop Shingles in Limited Markets

Dow Solar, a division of Dow Chemical Company began selling its Powerhouse Solar Shingle, rooftop solar shingles, this month in Colorado. Next year the company will sell the shingles in targeted states. The solar shingles provide homeowners with rooftop solar power and keep the roof looking attractive.

The solar shingles protect the house with standard asphalt roofing shingles containing thin-film solar cells manufactured by Arizona-based Global Solar, which promises an efficiency of 10 percent. The shingles also include an inverter that converts the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) to power the home, plus a monitoring system with real-time readouts that show the homeowner how much energy their house is using. Certified to withstand rain, hail and wind, the solar shingles come with a 20-year warranty.

National homebuilder, D.R. Horton entered into an agreement with Dow Solar to be the first homebuilders to offer the Powerhouse Solar Shingles on their houses. D.R. Horton will build homes, ranging from 2,205 to 4,115 square feet, with three kilowatts of the solar shingles in West Arvada, located near Denver. The homes will start at $485,950.

"We are excited that Dow has chosen D.R. Horton's Spring Mesa community to launch its POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle technology," said Scott Davis, Division President, D.R. Horton - Colorado. "We believe the addition of solar technology will attract new homebuyers to Spring Mesa who will now have Dow's innovative Solar Shingles available on one of the most scenic and beautiful communities in the Denver area."

Dow Solar chose Colorado to begin selling the solar shingles because the state is a leader in solar energy development. "Colorado is a national leader in solar energy innovation and job creation," said Neal Lurie, Executive Director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. "We have the right combination of public sector support, private sector commitment, homeowner interest and an enthusiastic community of builders and installers."

A press release claims the shingles, which are manufactured at Dow’s manufacturing plant in Midland, Michigan, “can be thousands of dollars less expensive than other integrated solar products installed with high cost tile or concrete roofing materials.” According to Consumer Reports, the average house would need about 200 to 400 shingles, and cost from $10,000 to $15,000.

“The introduction of a differentiated solar product like our POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle, is a significant development for the advancement of alternative energy, homeowners, U.S. based manufacturers, as well as the world’s energy challenges,” Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew N. Liveris said.

Liveris added, “It is also clear that the continued success of the global solar industry will require the kind of technical excellence, market insight, ease of adoption and manufacturing know-how that is embedded in the DOW POWERHOUSE™ product and at the core of Dow’s strengths.”

Photo source: Business Wire