Everything You Need to Know About Solar Power for Your Home

For over a decade, solar-powered homes have been popping up in every neighborhood. It is now not an unusual sight to see a solar panel array on the roof of any house or as a stand-alone panel in the yard. Millions of people are now taking advantage of the sun’s power to power their homes.

More people than ever before are concerned about living a sustainable lifestyle and reducing their carbon footprint. Adding solar power to your home is one of the most beneficial and effective ways to be more eco-conscious. If you are considering solar power for your home, you probably have many questions.

Installing solar panels in your home is a more straightforward process than ever before. Most states, like Texas, also have programs like the Texas Solar Buyback Company that pays homeowners that are using solar panels to sell their surplus energy back to the grid. Let’s take a closer look at a few things you need to know about solar panels for your home.

How Does Solar Power Work?

Using Photovoltaic panels, you can collect the photons contained in sunlight. These photons are then absorbed by the cells in your panels and converted to electric power. That power is then rerouted to a battery collection system. In essence, you are collecting power to recharge your house batteries.

Is Solar Power Suitable for My Home?

Today’s solar panels are much more advanced than just a decade ago. Solar panels are designed to work efficiently in any climate, but several factors will determine if they will work with your home. Solar panels work the best when installed on a southern-facing rooftop. If you have a lot of tree cover or no roof that faces south, solar power may not be effective on your roof.

The age of your roof, any upcoming roof replacement, and the slope of your roof also may factor into determining if your home is suitable for your home. If it’s impossible to mount panels on your roof, you may choose to go with a free-standing array in your yard.

Can I Install a Solar Power System Myself?

If you have electrical experience, you may install a solar power system yourself. However, it is still recommended that you use a professional solar technician to help you set up your system.

How Much Power Can I Create?

The amount of power that your solar array will create is dependent on several factors. The placement of your panels, the number of solar panels, the size of your home, and your average energy usage will all affect your power creation. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has developed an online application called PVWatts that will help you to calculate your potential energy production.

How Much Will I Save?

The most significant expense when going solar is your system’s initial purchase and installation. You can get a loan to help you navigate the costs or apply for government solar rebates to bring down the expense. In most cases, solar homes start to pay for themselves in about a year. That means that you can eliminate your energy bill in very little time.

Going solar can be intimidating for many homeowners. The process continues to evolve to users’ benefit, and the expense shrinks each year. If you are interested in going solar with your home, talk to your local provider today.