Going solar benefits homeowners in a variety of ways. It helps you save money, reduces your carbon footprint, and can boost up your home’s value. Solar panel installation is a sound investment, overall.
But how many solar panels will you need to be installed? You don’t want to pay for more than your home requires. There’s also the issue of how it’ll affect your house’s appearance.
Here’s how to go solar without filling your property with too many panels.
Average Energy Use
The first factor in determining how many solar panels your home needs is your energy usage. Smaller homes that don’t use a lot of electronics will require less energy than larger homes housing multiple people.
According to the EIA, the average annual electricity consumption in 2019 was about 10,649 kilowatt-hours. At that level, you could cover all of its electricity usage with about 25 solar panels.
However, it’s important to note that this average changes depending on other factors, such as location. The type of solar panel you purchase will also affect your solar energy generation.
Solar Panel Type
Which solar panel type you install will affect solar panel installation costs as well as how effective they’ll be.
Monocrystalline panels have the highest efficiency but also the highest costs. Polycrystalline panels have lower costs but have a lower performance. Both come installed on frames that are mounted either on your roof or in your yard.
Thin-film solar panels are the thinnest option and can be stuck onto your roof with an adhesive. Although they’re portable and flexible, they have the lowest performance of the three types.
Although thin-film solar panels may look nicer on your home, they won’t be enough to cover your monthly energy usage.
Location Factors
When you install solar panels on your home, the provider will take into account your home, the size of its yard, and your area’s weather patterns.
If you don’t have a large enough yard space, the solar panels would have to get installed on your roof. The size of your roof can limit how many panels you can install.
A sunny area will have no problems getting enough sunlight to power your house. However, an area that experiences frequent cloudy days won’t run as efficiently. You may also have to remove some trees in your yard if they’re giving too much shade.
If you live in South Carolina and need a home evaluation, visit https://www.blueravensolar.com/south-carolina/columbia/.
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
Deciding how many solar panels your home requires is a complicated endeavor. You have to take into account seasonal changes as well as your own personal energy use. Don’t expect to completely cover your energy needs with solar energy.
With that said, solar panel installation will save you money in the long run and lower your reliance on your city’s electrical grid. If you want to go solar, contact your local solar panel provider to get started.
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