How Many Solar Panels Do I Need for My Home?
As you walk through your neighborhood or drive through the countryside, you notice that many houses have solar panels. Some homes have about a dozen, while others have three times as many.
How many solar panels do you need for your home? It depends on many factors, including how much electricity you typically use per month, the sunlight you expect to receive annually and how much roof space you have for panels. Follow these four steps to calculate the number of solar panels required for your house.
1. Start With Your Utility Bill
If you’re like many homeowners, you want to invest in solar power to offset the costs of paying your electricity provider. Before you contact a solar panel provider, you should ideally have an idea of how much energy you used in the past year. Most solar companies will use your figures as a guideline to see how many kilowatt-hours you use monthly and annually. Remember that your kilowatt-hour usage will depend on more than the size of your property.
In addition, you’ll want to determine how sunny your area is and if your roof is well-suited for solar panels. At KC Green Energy, we have the expertise to evaluate your site and help you determine the right system and number of panels to suit your needs.
2. Determine the Amount of Daily Sunlight
Solar panels work by harnessing the energy of the sun and converting it into usable power. You’ll need to live in an area that receives enough sunlight or daily sun hours. Fortunately, most northeastern locations like Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey get more than enough sun hours to justify installing a solar panel system. At the same time, make sure that your solar panels will not be shaded or hidden by other buildings, structures or foliage.
3. Examine Your Roof’s Size and Shape
Not every home has a roof that faces south and offers an ideal 30-degree pitch. Even so, you’ll need a roof that is an ideal shape and size for collecting solar energy. You’ll also need enough square footage on the roof to install a suitable number of solar panels based on your yearly kilowatt-hour calculation.
If you’re building your dream home and considering adding solar panels in the future, talk with your builder about ensuring your roof is solar panel-ready.
4. Find the Right Solar Panel for Your Home
After determining how much energy you need and where your solar panels can go, start investigating specific solar panel systems. Solar panels come in different sizes, so do your research and enlist the help of a trusted solar panel provider like KC Green Energy. The experts can help you pick the panel type that best fits your circumstances.
Do you have an idea of how many solar panels you need for your house and typical electricity usage? Now it’s time to narrow your choices with the help of a professional. At KC Green Energy, our solar panel experts will evaluate every aspect of your home and give you their recommendation based on years of experience in roofing, solar panel sales and solar panel installation.
Schedule a Site Analysis From KC Green Energy
Why wait to bring the power of solar to your home? Contact our team online or call 855-465-2473 to schedule a site analysis today.