The evolution of solar power took off in 2009 with the rollout of solar shingles by Dow Chemical Company; homeowners had been hungry for alternatives to bulky solar panels, and the new concept that presented more like a traditional roofing material took off from there.
In more recent years, homeowners vying for a solar roof have a myriad of product options from different solar companies — the Tesla solar shingle roof wasn't the only product that turned heads. Furthermore, cost reductions and product enhancements. In a study about public sentiment on solar energy, ElectricityRates noted that 58% of its respondents felt that adopting solar power could lead to an increase in property value. And this is true. Another study noted how solar may increase the sales value of a home by 6.9%.
Homeowners who have an eye on the future, remember: The future is solar.
CertainTeed is at the forefront of the clean energy transition, helping homeowners achieve energy independence without sacrificing durability or aesthetics. When it comes to solar, CertainTeed claims to have the "industry's strongest warranty." In its 2024 U.S. Industry Trend Report, CertainTeed highlights:
- 46% of consumers and professionals seek out products with renewable energy sources
- 47% of residential builders and contractors are likely to consider a solar roofing system
- 21% of professionals and consumers alike cite energy cost savings as the main driver for solar product adoption
- Millennials are nearly 2x as likely as Gen X and nearly 4x as likely as Boomers to consider solar roofing systems
How Changes in Solar Credits Affect Consumers
Federal tax incentives towards energy efficient solutions may have ended in 2025, but that doesn't mean there isn't momentum behind owning these systems. Houzz reported this summer that searches for “solar energy” increased 18x and “sustainable” rose 42%, reflecting the interest and importance of responsible, energy-efficient living.
In lieu of the late Federal Tax Credits, homeowners in many areas can still focus on bill credits.
What are bill credits?
"Solar Credits is a broad term that essentially covers the various incentives for homeowners to purchase solar," explained Josie Garcia, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Client Services at Solar Equity Solutions. "Bill credits are often referred to as net metering. Which is essentially selling excess solar energy back to the grid."
Bill credits are a great opportunity for many homeowners, but Garcia does caution that you should pay attention to unannounced changes from your energy company. "Sudden reversals are almost always driven by a specific compliance failure, rule change, or correction rather than pure discretion," she noted. "Most often when a Utility makes substantial changes to their renewable energy program it’s because of regulatory changes or due to a solar company being unable to make their payments to the state and utility. This causes the utility to have to withhold solar credits."
The rippling effect can compromise potential profitability for homeowners if they aren't paying attention. She elaborated, "Most recently a community of 1,800 solar owners in Maine did not receive their bill credits when project sponsors (solar companies) didn’t pay their mandatory fees. This kicked back on the homeowners when the utility cut the solar credits and started charging them full price electricity rates." While homeowners should always be notified of changes like this, it doesn't always happen.
Pay attention:
- If you see changes in your billing statements, contact your solar company for an explanation.
- Also check your original contract for language around credit delivery and program changes.
- If you want to get more involved, contact your state representatives and public utility commission (PUC) to raise awareness and take action. Consumer advocates can also help.
Looking Ahead at an Evolving Industry
“The residential solar industry has grown at a rapid pace over the last decade despite a dynamic and challenging policy landscape," shared Jessie Schiavone, General Manager of CertainTeed Solar Solutions. "Various building-integrated products have come online to challenge the traditional solar panel solution, but always at a price premium and with smaller ROIs than the old rack and panel systems. Looking ahead to 2027, CertainTeed will offer homeowners integrated solar roofing for a similar price as a new roof with a traditional panel system mounted on top."
She adds, "We understand that homeowners across the US are seeing rising utility costs and more power outages. Solar-battery systems increase a home’s resiliency and add long term value. In the near future, homeowners won’t have to sacrifice ROI to get a better looking, higher performing product. Backed by CertainTeed’s 25 year warranty, integrated solar roofing is the smart choice.”
When Solar Isn't an Option, the Industry is Increasingly Creative
Most homeowers are curious about installation costs, recoup costs, and want to know how adopting solar will impact their monthly operating expenses. But not all homes are going to be eligible for solar panels, and that's a challenge the industry has been working to fix, too.
In lieu of solar, electric vehicles may be the solution that works best for your home or multi-family building. "EVs can act as a battery on wheels for homeowners," explains Dan Fletcher, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of dcbel. "Bidirectional electric vehicles, meaning the vehicle can receive and send energy, build energy independence at home and reduce energy bills for homeowners. EV batteries are larger than most residential stationary batteries, so they can help meet a home’s power needs when grid electricity prices are highest, reducing the amount of energy drawn from the grid and offsetting costs." He adds that using an intelligent home energy station (dcbel's product is called Ara Core) ensures that you're charging your vehicle when prices are at their lowest, avoiding peak electricity rates without having to think twice.
"Perhaps most importantly, [an intelligent] home energy station can shield the homeowner and their family from blackouts. During a power outage, an EV battery can be used to keep critical components of a house running, whether that’s health devices, refrigerators or air conditioners.”
