For the past decade, the popularity of solar energy has been growing rapidly worldwide. Most people have seen solar panels being installed on houses and businesses in their community, usually in the form of large silver rectangular panels spread out across a roof or other free-standing structures, such as a parking cover, or even a car

When it comes to choice, vanity almost always yields to functionality. A few companies such as SunPower have created all black solar panels that blend in a bit more than other models, but this doesn’t change the clunky look of the panels themselves. Fortunately, recent breakthroughs in thin-film design have lead to the more integrated approach offered by solar ‘shingles