The biggest question surrounding Tesla's new product is what its CEO, Elon Musk, feels is a “regular roof.”

But if Musk was talking about a traditional, shingled roof, Tesla might be on the cusp of an industry-altering achievement.

Early next month, Tesla Solar will begin taking orders on their newest innovation, the solar power roof. Instead of installing huge bulky solar panels, panels that some neighborhoods consider an eyesore,  homeowners will now be able to power their homes without attracting unwanted attention thanks to the new Tesla Solar shingle.

Tesla has developed four roof tile styles: Tuscan glass, smooth glass, slate glass, and textured glass tiles. The new technology makes it nearly impossible for outsiders to know that your home is being powered by the sun and when integrated into your roof, they are invisible when viewed from the street.

The company is selling the solar roofs as a lower cost alternative to traditional roofs, saying that when combined with projected utility bill savings the average homeowner will come out ahead in the cost-savings department.

If you are in a survival situation with a longer term power outage, this type of roof would allow you to power your home without announcing to the world that you have an alternative source of power.

On a more practical level, Tesla estimates the cost of the roof plus savings in power bills will make its product actually cheaper than a traditional roof.

To learn more about this product, including ordering information, check out Off Grid Survival.

Tesla’s solar roof Photo courtesy of Tesla