Is Solar Right for my Home?

If you are debating is solar right for my home, you may be wondering if you have to live in a sunny, warm climate in order to see significant savings with solar power. We are here to give an insight into how long can a solar panel last and are the lifetime savings really worth the cost?

As it turns out, solar is a smart investment whether you’re soaking up the sun in California or paying through the nose for electricity in the Northeast. Certainly, there are many pros and cons of solar energy and things to consider.

If you are exploring solar options learn whether Is Better to Lease or Buy Solar Panels?

There are a variety of incentives and rebates offered for homeowners switching to solar power. These are available at the federal, state and local levels, but availability varies depending on your region. Incentives and rebates can reward residents with significant cost savings to help with solar project financing, but the steadily falling cost of solar has made these incentives less important in recent years.

A home with a south-facing roof is ideal. However, due to how the home solar power system works, you can still generate sufficient energy with a roof that faces to the east or west.A pitch of 30 degrees is also ideal, however solar can be installed on roofs with angles from 0 to 45 degrees. Do you have a flat roof? That’s ok too! Your installer can mount the panels at the perfect angle to maximize your energy production. As for the age of your roof, it doesn’t have to be brand new, however you shouldn’t be planning on replacing it within the next few years. As a general guide, if your roof needs to be replaced within the next 5 years, it would be best to have your roof replaced before having your panels added.

It’s best if your roof is free from obstructions like chimneys, skylights, and dormers. If these are present on your roof, the installer may be able to design the system around them, depending on the roof layout and size.

You’ll also need to consider how many solar panels to run a house. A general rule of thumb for a solar PV system is to reserve 100 square feet of roof space for each kilowatt. The average system in the United States is between five and seven kilowatts, though your system may be bigger or smaller depending on your electricity consumption. You should also consider the relative efficiency of polycrystalline vs monocrystalline solar system when you’re calculating your needs.

Shadows cast on solar panels from trees or neighboring buildings can significantly decrease their electricity production. While a building’s shadow may not be something you can change, tree branches can be trimmed to decrease their effect on your panel’s production. If there’s simply no way to eliminate shading on your rooftop, another option may be solar panel ground mounting systems.

Ready to See How Much You Can Save with Solar?

So, what are the benefits of solar energy and how do they compare to the costs? You can find out by getting competitive solar quotes from qualified, trusted installers in your area.

To see an estimate for how much you could expect to save and how much a solar system would cost, try our solar calculator.

Learn how solar panels can add value to your home.