After the 2021 Winter Storm, a Texas Homeowner Transformed Their Stone Ranch Into a Solar Powerhouse

A big part of moving into a new house is turning the vision of a previous owner into your own—and for tech analyst Robert Gibby, the answer lay in solar roofing.

Gibby moved to a ranch-style family home in Austin, Texas, in 2020 and immediately began updating the exterior to make the home more efficient, from xeriscaping to reduce irrigation needs, to adding Tesla Powerwall backups, a tankless water heater, and smart home upgrades. The biggest change, however, was the innovative new solar roof by GAF Energy, which features nailable, low-profile solar shingles capable of producing for the energy needs of the home. These sleek solar shingles even create enough electricity to charge Gibby’s electric vehicle, without the obtrusive, boxy-panel look of conventional rack-mounted solar systems that awkwardly bolt onto a roof. 

The benefits of switching to solar and battery are well documented—and for Gibby, the ability to maintain power independence was the major driver. "Within 6 months of moving into the house, we experienced Snowmageddon with over a week of snow and freezing temperatures in Austin," he recalls. "We lost water for a week and also lost power for a period of time. This experience, along with the state of the power grid in Texas, went a long way toward expediting moving to a high efficiency setup where we could be off the grid for a period of time if necessary." 

Gibby works in an innovation role at a big tech company, and is fascinated by new technologies. His research led him to the GAF Energy Timberline Solar product, a solar roof made up wholly of shingles rather than panels or heavy tiles. By integrating solar into roofing materials, the Timberline Solar roof requires one installation process that roofers can perform with just a nail gun making it more straightforward and affordable. The solar shingles sit even with the non-solar shingles in the roofline, creating a harmonious, design-friendly look.

"I wanted a shingle application and the initial reception to the Timberline Solar product was solid," he says. "I think the backing from GAF though having been around for as long as they have been and being a trusted leader in the shingle products and all the other roofing products, led to confidence there." 

Most importantly, the new roof system not only provides solar-powered energy, but it also powers Gibby’s lifestyle. "I went with a large array and had to add more solar shingles," he says. "I’m a huge car guy and wanted to be able to charge an electric vehicle to offset the gas-engined sports car that I run as my daily driver."

Gibby’s 2,700-square-foot home is ideally suited for the expansive set of solar shingles he wanted on the roof, with his roof plane boasting considerable space. Additionally, the longest run of the roof is south-facing and benefits from direct sunlight throughout most of the day.

"Being carbon neutral and hopefully generating a bit more power than I use with more efficient electricity is important to me," reveals Gibby. "I want to leave the Earth in a better place than I found it."

See if Timberline Solar might be right for you at www.gaf.energy.

Project Credits:

Solar Roof: GAF Energy

Dwell Creative Services Photographer: Devin Whetsone