If you’re looking at that house above and thinking, “That doesn’t look all that special,” you’d be completely right, if Elon Musk hadn’t been a part of making it.
The co-founder and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors may be making much more noticeable waves with his SpaceX project or Tesla cars, but Musk’s new solar roof is nothing short of brilliant. Produced by SolarCity, a Tesla partner until it was officially acquired by Musk’s company yesterday, that average-looking roof would be a renewable electricity source for the entire home. Says the renewable energy firm on its website, “The goal was to create the most beautiful and efficient roof ever—one that would make homes look better while reducing the cost of electricity.”
So what’s it made out of and how does it work? Customizable to any sized home, the solar roof consists of uniquely designed glass tiles embedded with high-efficiency photovoltaic cells (these are meant to be invisible, so that your neighbors can also have that “wow” moment, too). You can even designate specific parts of the roof to contain the hidden photovoltaic cells, if you wish.
Aside from providing your home with a constant supply of electricity, the solar roof will also channel electricity to battery storage systems and back into the grid, allowing you to lighten your wallet’s output as well. Coupled with a Tesla Powerwall (the house’s battery charger), the solar roof can provide a home with 100 percent renewable energy.
For more on Tesla’s one-of-a-kind energy solutions, click here. For more on the connection between electric cars and energy-generating roofs, watch how the Bloomberg video below.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
