Photo Galleries: The new solar panels

What's with the darkened roof tiles? They are solar panels, which can provide up to 65 percent of a home's electricity needs. In the last few weeks, California builders have begun to incorporate them into new homes.

The solar tiles are darker because dark absorbs light better. So far, Grupe Homes has sold 23 of the 30 solar homes it has offered up for sale in a development in Rocklin, Calif.