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Tesla's Highly-Anticipated Solar Roofs Go Up For Pre-Order Today (inhabitat.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the ready-when-you-are dept.

Kristine Lofgren writes: Get ready: Tesla's ground-breaking Solar Roof tiles are available for order in the U.S. starting today. In typical fashion, CEO Elon Musk announced via Twitter that the anticipated tech would be available to order this afternoon with installation happening later this year. Tesla's tiles look like traditional roof tiles but they soak up all that delicious sunlight in order to power your home. According to the company, the tiles will be more affordable than typical roofing and can be paired with their Powerwall battery to power a home completely using solar energy.

9 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Who the hell... by x0ra · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... would sink USD$70 for a roof ? He's mentioning that it wouldn't cost more than an asphalt roof, but that's only assuming very optimistic energy savings, and government subsidiary. Quote I got for my roof are in the $5k range, for a 20 years lifetime. The tiles are only warranty over 30 years, so an asphalt roof would cost $7.5k over the same period of time...

    1. Re: Who the hell... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      The site quoted me 33K for the roof and 7K for the battery, with 18K worth of electricity generated over 30 years and a 9K tax credit for a net cost of about 13K over thirty years.

      I'm actually in the market for a roof replacement in the next two years, and I'm interested in solar. I have a small house. An asphalt roof replacement is less than four grand.

      This offer is a complete non-starter for me.

    2. Re:Who the hell... by Jeremi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's just Elon doing what he does best. Creating novelty items for rich people.

      Didn't almost every new technology start out as a novelty item for rich people?

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      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    3. Re: Who the hell... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The site quoted me 33K for the roof and 7K for the battery, with 18K worth of electricity generated over 30 years and a 9K tax credit for a net cost of about 13K over thirty years.

      I'm actually in the market for a roof replacement in the next two years, and I'm interested in solar. I have a small house. An asphalt roof replacement is less than four grand.

      This offer is a complete non-starter for me.

      This is where I have a problem. Uber expensive solar roofs should not qualify for tax credits. At least not beyond the amount that would be given for traditional PV panels of the same capacity. Its bad enough that most of these credits are simply helping pay power bills for the wealthy, but now we pay for their roofs as well? Meanwhile low income people have no access to these gifts.

      We should take all the PV tax credits and provide public schools with PV panels. That way we add PV capacity and help lower school energy bills, good for people of all income levels.

  2. Compared to tile roofs by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 4, Informative

    The comparison stands up for a comparison with high end 50 year tiled roofs.

    Not your typical roof retiling with shingles.

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    1. Re:Compared to tile roofs by un1nsp1red · · Score: 4, Informative

      What is the actual price though; the article didn't mention this.

      $21.85 per square foot.

      If they are as expensive as regular tiles, the good news is that you might as well cover the whole roof in these things for a uniform look, not just the side that faces the sun.

      I can't find the price right now, but there is a dramatically cheaper price for the non-solar tiles. i.e., They're anticipating that you cover your entire roof with their tiles (re: uniform look), but the entire roof will not be solar-collecting.

    2. Re:Compared to tile roofs by Namarrgon · · Score: 4, Informative

      $21.85 per square foot.

      That's the "average" price. Active tiles are about $42/square foot, inactive tiles are $11/square foot. Depends on your roof how many of each you need.

      --
      Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
  3. Re:They need to work on the calculator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When I need a new roof, I will strongly consider buying a Tesla roof. Even if it costs slightly more than a normal roof. This may not be the answer to all our energy problems, but it's a solid attempt to try something. I look at it as voting with my dollar, which probably has a much bigger effect than who I voted for for president. You never hear anyone saying "you'll never earn your money back buying a Mercedes", but people still buy them. I'd rather support a company trying to make progress, rather than blatantly pissing it away.

  4. Actual comparison for a 1500 sq ft ranch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Last year I replaced my roof with a conventional asphalt shingle roof. These were timberland lifetime warranty shingles (really a 25 year warranty). Quoted roof size was 21 square (2100 sq ft) at a cost of $12,600. This is on a single story hipped ranch with 4/12 pitch, ice and water up 2 rows, 2 layer tear off (old roof) cutting in a ridge vent, and adding a chimney cricket (use google).

    Tesla quotes $68,700 for this same roof with a 30 year warranty. Run some numbers... (and I'm going to ignore government incentives)

    Tesla claims a $18,600 savings in energy. If I was able to take out a solo mortgage at 3.92% for 30 years on $50k for this roof it'd cost me $85k in the end, well offsetting the $18k savings and putting me $17k in the hole.

    Lets run the numbers the other way. Say I had the difference ($50k) laying around and I wanted to invest that at the rate I'd pay for the roof in the above example ($236/mo for 30 yrs) in a monthly compounded account you'd accrue $142k after 30 years.

    I love the idea of widespread renewables, but I can never get the long term financials to play out in their favor.