Planning a Home Solar Electric System

A Home solar power system's efficiency depends on the solar panels' exposure to sunlight. The panels should face the sun for an extended period of time to generate maximum energy. To optimize exposure, you can install tracking systems on mounting racks. Another factor affecting a home solar power system's efficiency is climatic conditions. The panels' efficiency will be low in areas where the sun is scarce. On the other hand, their efficiency will be higher in areas with long sunny days.

Investigate Your Home's Energy Efficiency

If you are planning to install a home solar power system, it is a good idea to perform an energy audit of your home first. The audit will help you discover areas of your home that are wasting energy, and will also identify energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and weatherization methods.

Having a home energy audit is an excellent way to determine how much electricity your household uses, and what size system is necessary to meet the average electrical requirements of your home. It will also allow you to determine if you'll be connecting to the grid or using off-grid energy sources. It will also help you decide if a solar power system is right for your home.

In addition to the panels themselves, you'll need to install an inverter and metering equipment. The inverter converts direct current into alternating current. You'll also need various housing components, wiring gear, and cables. You might also want to invest in battery storage. However, this option has traditionally been prohibitively expensive. You'll also need to monitor your electricity bills to make sure the system is functioning properly.

Assess Your Options for Using Solar

There are many factors to consider before installing a home solar power system. First, you should examine your electricity bills to determine how much energy your home uses. You also need to determine your roof's size and whether there are trees in the neighborhood that could shade your solar panels. A professional solar installer can help you decide which solar panels are right for your home. They will also be able to provide you with detailed recommendations, estimates, and equipment expertise.

Using solar power can also reduce your electric bill by a significant amount. A system that supplies 100% of your home's electricity can save your family over $1,500 per year. Additionally, it can increase the value of your home by about $15,000, making it a unique selling point for prospective home buyers.

Estimate Your Solar Electricity Needs

Before choosing a solar panel system, estimating the energy your home consumes each year is necessary. You can do this by examining your past utility bills. You can then divide that number by the number of hours of peak sunlight in your area. The result should give you an idea of how much solar electricity you need to generate on average.

The average energy consumption of an American household is approximately ten thousand kilowatt-hours per year, or about thirty kWh per day. Once you have this number, multiply it by 365 to get your average daily usage. If you do not know the exact amount of energy you use, you can obtain a free estimate from a solar panel manufacturer.

Another factor to consider is the location of your home. For example, residents of the northeast will need more solar panels than those in the sunnier parts of the country. This is because the winter months in the northeast are longer and the days are shorter. In addition, the efficiency of a solar panel depends on its design. It should be high enough to convert at least 12 kWh per square foot of sunlight.

Work with Your Installer and Utility

Before you can start installing a home solar power system, it's important to work with your installer and utility. First, you'll want to get the appropriate approvals from your local government and utility. Next, you'll need to connect your solar panels to the electrical grid. This is done by having a representative of your town's government inspect the solar installation to make sure that it meets all of the local electrical codes.

To make sure that your system is installed correctly, you'll want to work with a licensed installer. Usually, this person will work for your installer, but they can also work for independent providers who are contracted by solar companies. Usually, they'll visit your home shortly after you sign the contract.