What Are Solar Panels?
Solar panels are rectangular modular pieces and are around three to five inches long. They come in different sizes, different electrical output that’s measured in Watts, and different levels of efficiency. They even come in different colors, where the majority of the panels have either silver or black metallic frames and these cells would appear to look black or dark blue under sunlight. The solar panels can either be fixed on top of a large ground-mount racking structure or they can be mounted on top of a house’s roof structure. These panels consist of silicon cells and when they are exposed to the sunlight, they generate a flow of DC (direct current) electricity.
Once installed, these solar panels will start to create energy, which would require a couple of steps in order to turn it into usable energy for the home. The solar panels generate direct current electricity when the sunlight hits them; that is when the electrons travel in one direction around a circuit. This energy needs to be converted from direct current electricity to AC electricity, meaning alternating current electricity; that’s where the electrons get pushed and pulled. A home that installed solar panels will also need a solar inverter. The job of the solar inverter is to change the solar panels’ DC output into AC electricity, which can be used in the house.
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Run A House?
When it comes to the number of solar panels that are needed to run a house, it usually depends on the house itself. A standard American house is going to need at least fourteen to thirty-six solar panels in order to cover their power bill. Plus, they would need approximately 227 square feet of space on their rooftop in order to put up the solar panels. Moreover, solar panels absorb and produce a certain amount of energy, and this amount of energy is measured in kW (kilowatts). The amount of energy used by a house over a certain period of time, like in a month, will be measured in kWh (kilowatt-hours). In order to figure out the number of kilowatts the solar panels are required to produce, the amount of kilowatt-hours the house uses needs to be calculated first. This information can also be used in order to calculate the number of solar panels a specific house would need.
Also, the amount of solar panels needed does not depend on the size of the house; hence, a bigger house won’t necessarily mean that there is more consumption of energy. In order to truly understand the number of solar panels a solar energy system will need, different factors need to be considered.
Factors such as:
- How much energy does a home use? This can be determined by examining the electricity bill and observing the kWh used per month.
- What is the direction of the roof? Within the northern hemisphere, southern-facing roofs get a lot more sunlight.
- How much sunlight does your local area receive on an average? In the U.S., the southwest region gets a lot more sun as compared to the northeast region, which does get some sun, however, it is mixed with more snow and more rain.
- How much energy, or wattage, the solar panel that you bought is able to produce? In this situation, solar installers are able to help you go through your options.
Moreover, there are solar panel calculators available online that can tell you the precise number of solar panels that your house will need. All you need to do is enter the average amount of the monthly electricity bill and your address. However, make sure you are using an authentic calculator from a reputable website since you will be providing it with sensitive information.
What Are The Benefits Of Adding Solar Panels To One’s Home?
The majority of the people are starting to understand why solar panels are a great option for a home efficiency upgrade. Some people switch to solar either for personal reasons, environmental reasons, or economic reasons. That is because there are several benefits that come with transitioning to this new way of life. Listed below are the numerous reasons why switching to solar energy is great for not only your home but also the world.
1. Your Electric Bill Gets Drastically Reduced
The cost of electricity in the monthly bill can put a major dent in the monthly budget. However, switching to solar will help in reducing the utility bills and saving quite a bit of money, even if you aren’t producing 100% of the energy you’re consuming. Furthermore, sunny areas get an average of almost six hours of sunlight in a day, while cloudy locations receive only two to three hours of sunlight in a day. Of course the sunnier it is, the more solar energy will be produced. However, even on cloudier days, the solar panels are able to draw energy. Diffused, or indirect, sunlight is still able to provide power to a house. Usually, during cloudy days, about 10% to 20% of power is produced as compared to sunny days.
2. This Is An Energy Source That’s Renewable
This is one of the most important benefits of switching to solar energy and installing solar panels in your home. Solar energy is a renewable source and it can be utilized all over the world due to its easy availability. Unlike a couple of other energy sources, solar energy cannot run out and is going to be accessible as long as the sun is there. Not to mention, this is also safe for the environment. Switching to solar energy will greatly reduce everyone’s carbon footprint on the planet.
3. It Doesn’t Cost A Lot To Maintain It
You don’t need to worry about maintenance when it comes to solar energy systems. They just need to be cleaned a few times in a year and that should be enough. There are cleaning companies out there that specialize in cleaning the solar panels if you don’t want to do it yourself. Plus, there is going to be no wear and tear, since there aren’t any moving parts; hence, you don’t have to worry about damaging your solar panels anytime soon.
On the other hand, one of the devices that will require replacement after about five to ten years is the inverter, because it’s working nonstop in order to convert solar energy and provide the house with electricity. Other than the inverter, the many cables are going to need maintenance every now and then to make sure that the solar power system is running at maximum efficiency. Hence, once the initial cost of the system has been covered, you will only need to spend a little amount of money on any repair work or maintenance.
4. It Will Increase The Value Of Your Property
According to several studies, a house that comes with a solar energy system is said to have a higher property value; hence, it is going to sell a lot quicker as compared to non-solar houses. More appraisers are taking into consideration the worth of solar installations whenever they value houses during the time of its sale. Plus, a lot more homebuyers are now aware of the importance of solar; hence, the demand for houses that come with solar panel systems is going to increase.
Are Solar Panels Really Able To You Save Money?
If you are asking yourself this question, then the simple answer would be ‘yes.’ However, this is going to depend on a couple of different factors. For starters, the number of hours where you get direct sunlight matters greatly. Also, the angle and the size of the roof of the house is important as well. In addition to all this, it is the local electricity rates that will play a major part in determining the amount of money you will save by installing a solar power system in your home.
Furthermore, installing solar power systems in your home will end up saving you money and you will get a return on your investment soon enough. Due to the reduced utility costs and rising property values, installing a solar power system will come with eased upfront costs. Moreover, the price of energy is not going to drop anytime soon, therefore, making an investment in solar energy is the right move to make when it comes to saving money. In the long run, saving on the electric bill will end up saving you a lot more money than you would have expected.
How Much Will It Cost To Install A Solar Panel System?
The cost of the solar panel system varies from home to home. However, one way it can be calculated is by looking at the price in dollars/watt, which is fairly consistent all across America. In the year 2020, the cost of installing an average-sized solar power system in the U.S. is around $11,144 - $14,696 after the tax credit, meaning the average cost per watt will be around $2.51 - $3.31. Moreover, the cost of installing a solar panel system in your home is going to depend on the amount of electricity you are willing to produce. Hence, a system that is bigger in size is going to cost you a lot more, since you will be required to purchase more equipment. Plus, you are going to need more labor in order to install the entire system so that it works smoothly when it comes to generating electricity. This is just an estimation, reach out to us to get an estimation.
Conclusion
Installing a solar panel system will truly change the way you live and will make your life a lot easier. If you are looking for the most efficient solar panel in West Virginia then DT Solar LLC is the company for you!
Here at our business, we strive for the satisfaction of our customers and make sure that they are content with our services. If you want to know more details regarding solar panel systems and other related services, then do not hesitate to contact us!