If you live in an area that gets consistent, year-round exposure to the sun, then you may be a good candidate to install a residential solar system. Installing solar panels on your roof is by far the most common way to harness the sun’s energy, but solar shingles are another option that’s becoming increasingly popular.

So how, exactly, do solar shingles work, and how do they compare to traditional solar panels? In this article, we’ll explain the answers to these questions and more.