Adding solar panels to your home sounds like a no brainer when you consider the possibility of not having to pay an electric bill ever again. However, it’s not as simple as installing panels on your roof and plugging them in. Solar panels are not magic; they require a specific set of conditions to function at their full capacity.\
To find out if solar panels are suitable for your home, ask yourself the following questions.
Does my roof face south?
In the Northern Hemisphere, solar panels can get the most sun on a south-facing roof. Since the sun moves from east to west, having a solar panel face south guarantees that your roof will be generating energy all day long. However, if you do not have a north and south-facing roof, chances are that it will be facing east and west. Some people even prefer placing the panels to face west, since a west-facing panel will be getting the most sunlight at the time of peak electricity use – when everyone comes home from work in the evening.
How much square-footage do I have?
In order to figure out if you have enough space on your roof for a solar system to cover your full electricity needs, start by examining your electricity bill. When you find out how many kilowatts of power you use per month, you can use an online calculator to determine how many solar panels you will likely need to produce the same amount of power. Obviously, the number of panels you will need depends on how efficient the panels will be. But, the average residential home uses 6kw of power and would need about 400 square feet of south-facing roof to generate that.
Is there anything casting shade onto my roof?
Though advancements in solar panel technology have made solar panels much more efficient, they still work best in unobstructed sunlight. Aside from making sure your roof is at the right pitch and facing the right direction, you want to make sure your roof gets as much direct sunlight as possible. If it is shaded by overhanging trees, taller buildings nearby, or any other obstacle, you likely won’t get the most out of your panels. Speak with a solar energy expert to determine if there are any solar solutions, like specialized panels, that would be able to overcome this issue.
Central Florida Solar Panel Installation
Not sure if your home would be a good candidate for solar panels? Let the experts at PES Solar come take a look. We have over 20 years of experience installing solar energy systems at homes across Central Florida, so we know exactly what to look for.
