5 Things to Consider Before You Go Solar

If you are building a new home, you will have to make dozens of decisions about the design. One of the most important choices you will make is adding solar power to your new home. Millions of people are switching to solar to try to maintain a more sustainable lifestyle and a smaller carbon footprint.

If you are thinking about adding solar power to your new home, there are a few things you will need to consider. While you may see solar panels on houses in just about every neighborhood from Texas to Tennessee, your home may not be suitable or manageable for solar.

It’s important to talk to your home designers about whether or not solar power is right for your home. While there are many benefits like savings, you may also want to consider Tennessee or Texas energy plans as an alternative to solar. Let’s take a closer look at a few things to consider before you go solar.

The Location of Your Home

When you install a solar system in your home, you want to maximize the amount of energy that you can produce. Your solar panels will need to be facing in a southerly direction to collect the most amount of energy. Will your home have a southern-facing roof? It’s also important to consider if your home is too shaded by large trees. Homes that are built in a wooded setting are often unable to produce enough solar energy to produce enough power.

How Long Will You Own Your Home?

Installing a solar panel system in your home can be a significant initial investment. If you are only planning on staying in your home for a few years, you may want to reconsider adding this expense. However, if you are building your forever home, you should know that adding solar to your home will generally increase the resale value of your home, making it a wise investment.

Know Your Budget

The largest issue with going solar for most homeowners is the initial cost to set up the system. The panels, battery system, infrastructure, and installation can be a big investment. If you aren’t sure if going solar is within your budget, it’s important to remember that most homeowners have saved enough energy costs to pay off their initial investment in just a few years.

The Amount of Needed Energy

Every home is different and requires different energy to run effectively. If you are designing a home, it’s important to know how much energy will be needed to run all of your house systems. Once you know the amount of required energy, you will need to discuss the suitability of solar for your home. Some larger homes with complex features require more power than can be generated by a solar panel system alone.

Roof Type

Your ability to install a solar panel system will largely depend on the type of roof that you install. Some materials like wood shake or shale tiles may not be suitable for a solar installation.

The popularity of solar-powered homes will continue to increase in the future. Installing a solar panel system in your custom home can have many benefits, including energy savings. Consider these points if you are considering adding solar to your new home.