Solar panels what do i need

Determining whether to install a PV solar system may seem like a daunting task, but it is important to remember that such a system is a long-term investment. In many locations, solar power is a good choice from a financial perspective.

Even if the cost of solar power is found to be marginally more expensive than electricity purchased from a utility, homeowners may wish to install solar power to avoid future potential fluctuations in energy costs, or may simply wish to look beyond their personal financial motivations and use solar for "green" living.

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Frequently Asked Questions. The Bottom Line. What Is Solar Power for the Home? Key Takeaways Those seeking to go green may want to consider equipping their home with solar panels. Not only is solar power good for the environment, but you can earn money selling back excess power to the grid. While costs have come down over the past years, installation and maintenance of solar panels can be quite costly. Solar panels are best-suited for homes that receive ample sun exposure throughout the year.

Before committing to solar power, be sure to understand both the social and economic factors. Before getting solar panels, get quotes from several reputable installers to compare. Pros Green energy that lowers your carbon footprint Net metering allows you to sell back excess energy produced You may be eligible for certain tax breaks.

Cons Installation and maintenance costs still high Solar only works when the sun is out Parts of the system need to be replaced every few years Some tax breaks may have expired or will be expiring. Article Sources. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work.

These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

It helps to have a target electric bill in mind to better determine how much solar power you could require to get there. In general, the more solar panels you have on your roof, the more solar power you could potentially generate. Understanding your energy consumption requires more than looking at the wattage on your electric bill—it helps to know where those watts are being used. You can start by looking at the appliances you operate on a daily basis. How often do you wash clothes?

Do you keep your house at a cool temperature year-round? Maybe you have a gaming system that your family plays on the weekend? Here are some appliances that tend to eat up the most electricity:. Like most homeowners, you likely use at least 4 out of the 5 appliances above on a daily basis.

The reality is that modern-day living presents more opportunities to consume electricity than perhaps ever before. Their proposals reflect all the unique circumstances of your home. The first step of the formula is to find your monthly kilowatt-hour usage. You can find this information on your latest power bill. To ballpark this figure, find the average daily peak sunlight hours in your state. North Carolina receives an average of 4.

Since 1 kW equals 1, watts, our next step is to multiply our kilowatt number by Lastly, we must divide the number of watts of the system by the number of watts one solar panel generates. Ultimately, the number of solar panels you could need to see potential savings is unique to you. Request a free quote today to determine how many panels you could need to see potential savings or learn more about how solar panels work on your home.

New customers only. Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of sizing a solar panel array is estimating the annual amount of energy usage for your household.

A number of larger consumer products or add-ons can significantly change your annual kWh requirements and greatly impact how many panels you will need. If your home is small or has an unusually shaped roof, the size of an actual solar panel can be very important to consider. While those who have a large roof may be able to sacrifice some efficiency and buy larger panels to achieve the ideal energy output, homeowners with a smaller roof must be able to use fewer small high-efficiency panels to get an optimal output.

Today, the average solar panel dimensions for a residential home are about 65 inches by 39 inches, or 5. While solar panel dimensions have more or less remained steady over the past several years, the power output with the same area has dramatically increased.

In fact, many manufacturers like SunPower have reduced the size of gaps between panels and use invisible framing and mounting hardware to keep the panels tight, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.

Check out the table below for a ballpark estimate of how many solar panels your home would need based on its square footage. By reviewing the various kWh requirements for everyday household appliances and products, one thing is clear: certain add-ons will dramatically change monthly energy use, and can have an outsized impact on the size of the solar panel system you should install. For example, pairing your electric vehicle with solar panels is a great way to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency; however, it should be planned accordingly considering it could potentially double the size of your PV system.

Though it is certainly possible to install a solar system and then have a solar installer add more panels later to accommodate increased energy needs, the most pragmatic option is to size your system as accurately as possible based on your expected purchases—such as an electric vehicle, swimming pool or central air system.

There are multiple variables to consider when seeking out the best solar panels on the market. Especially if you have added electricity loads since your solar installation like an electric car or some fancy new appliances , your current system size just might not cut it anymore.

Luckily, that problem can be partially sorted with solar energy storage. Check out our article about the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy to learn more. While the initial investment in solar panels is high, they do pay off over time by cutting down on your electricity bill.

For any homeowner in the early stage of shopping for solar that would just like a ballpark estimate for an installation, try our Solar Calculator that offers upfront cost and long-term savings estimates based on your location and roof type.

For those looking to get quotes from local contractors today, check out our quote comparison platform. Thanks for the wonderful information..