Innovative Products: GAF Energy Timberline Solar Shingles
If you haven’t heard of GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar shingles—it may be time to catch up.
The nailable solar shingles are an industry first, and have garnered plenty of attention with accolades such as a Best of Innovation winner at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES); the National Association of Home Builders’ Best of IBS - Most Innovative Construction Tool; and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, among others.
According to GAF Energy officials, the Timberline Solar shingles are integrated into a traditional roofing install, utilizing the same materials and processes. Aesthetically, the shingles are flat and feature less than a quarter inch of depth, allowing the panels to create a seamless, sleek appearance on the roof.
The installation also helps minimize holes drilled into the roofing membrane, improving the durability and strength of a roof, say company officials.
“Solar roofs are the future of clean energy, and Timberline Solar is the game-changing innovation that will get us there,” said Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy. “At GAF Energy, we have the capacity to scale this technology like no one else through GAF, bringing an integrated solar product that is weatherproof, affordable, and design-minded to homeowners across the country. We’re excited to lead the next generation of clean energy adoption.”
Timberline has been recognized as the first UL-certified product for both the categories of roofing and solar energy. The product comes from years of research between leading roofing manufacturer GAF and the US Department of Energy’s research and development lab, Sandia National Laboratories.
Released to the market in January 2022, GAF Energy now sells Timberline shingles in New York, Pennsylvania, California, West Virginia, Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Colorado, Washington, DC, Virginia, New Jersey, and Hawaii.
To meet the growing demand for Timberline, GAF Energy opened its second manufacturing facility in Texas this past summer. The facility will increase capacity by 500%, reaching 300 megawatts annually, according to officials, making GAF Energy the largest producer of solar roofing in the world.
“We launched Timberline Solar because we believed that more consumers would choose solar if they had a more reliable, durable, and attractive option,” said DeBono. “The market has confirmed our belief—now we’re turning that belief into reality and building the future of clean energy here in the US.”