Everybody wants to be green, if the price is right.
Bloomberg Technology reports that, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, an electricity generating solar roof from SolarCity will cost less to manufacture and install than a traditional roof. His claims don’t even account for savings from the power bill.
Tesla, which recently acquired SolarCity, has come out with shingles made of textured glass.The new shingles have been praised for their potential to integrate into a home's design better than raised panels.
Much of the cost savings Musk is anticipating comes from shipping the materials. Traditional roofing materials are brittle, heavy, and bulky. Shipping costs are high, as is the quantity lost to breakage. The new tempered-glass roof tiles, engineered in Tesla’s new automotive and solar glass division, weigh as little as a fifth of current products and are considerably easier to ship, Musk said.
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