I would love to rebuild a 'green' home but like most people I can't afford too. I do use CFL's, buy Energy Star products, and use blinds in the summer. Until solar becomes truly affordable and mainstay then most people won't do it.

Solar shingles typically are photovoltaic, they produce dc power, rather than heating a fluid for heat exchange, like you might find in a water heating solar panel.
Because they produce dc power, and your US household runs on ac power, you need an inverter to change the dc power to ac power, or you need to equip your house with appliances that use dc power. Furthermore, since you won't be getting much output from the shingles during cloudy days and none at all at night, you will need a system to store the power you get at peak times for use when you need it. Typically, that means batteries. Photovoltaic technology and battery technology have both come a long way recently, but the break-even point is still a consideration if you plan to convert to save money. There is also the large initial outlay of capital required, capital that could be producing income otherwise. I would suggest that one seek professional help to determine whether a cost savings would be realized. Certainly don't count on a sales rep of a system - his goal is to convince you so he makes a sale. For those interested in living "off the grid," these systems provide a way to do that.
It seems to be consensus among solar enthusiasts that the most likely breakthrough to come about to make these systems viable to the masses would be in the field of power storage (batteries.)
As a bit of an aside, if you were to consider a photovoltaic system, consider also if your area is suitable for a windmill or two. You would already have the storage and conversion to ac power from the photovoltaic system, that wouldn't need to be duplicated.
_aleph_

they also have a washer that is developed for use in Asia/Europe that utilizes high pressured air to clean the clothes in lieu of water. This means no needing a dryer. That seems much more plausible that a peak power sensitive machine.

Greenwich, Connecticut, Whole Foods stopped taking checks a couple of years ago. Also stopped giving plastic bags some time ago. Whole Foods gives you 10 cents credit for each bag you use. And, Clark, I want to tell you that our Whole Foods is so much cheaper than Stop & Shop and Shaw's -- on everything I buy. Meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy, you name it.

I had a friend/co-worker in the late 1970's, who installed solar panels on her new home in Folsom California.

Her neighbors did everything they could to get her to take them down. She won her battles, and a few years later, almost all the neighbors in her hood, had also installed solar panels.

What makes this so funny is; the solar panels actually increased the value of the homes--and my friends husband was an electrian!