Investigate Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Before starting the process of powering your home with solar energy, homeowners should investigate their energy use and consider potential efficiency upgrades. Homeowners should be well aware of their total electricity usage, and consider low-cost and easy-to-implement efficiency measures before choosing solar.
Explore the following resources to reduce your electricity use:
- Home energy audits: A home energy audit can help you understand where your home is losing energy and what steps to take to improve the efficiency of your home.
- Appliances and electronics: Use your appliances and electronics more efficiently, or consider investing in highly efficient products.
- Lighting: Switch to energy efficient lighting, such as LED light bulbs.
- Heating and cooling: If you use electricity to heat and cool your home, your heating and cooling needs will significantly affect the amount of solar energy you need. Weatherizing your home and heating and cooling efficiently will reduce the amount of electricity you need to produce with solar.
Solar Energy Boom & Benefits
The United States is the worlds second country that is equipped with the most solar power panels in 2021.
Solar energy in the United States has grown exponentially in the last five years.
Solstice reports that in the second quarter of 2021, the United States powered 13.1 million homes after installing 2.1 gigawatts of solar PV that generated almost 69.1 gigawatts of energy.
It also states that the capacity of solar PV will double in the next five years, which means by 2024, more than 15 gigawatts of solar PV will be installed yearly.
Now, lets look at some other interesting facts.
So, what does it mean for the world when one average American family installs solar PV for a year?
The findings based on EPAs Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator states that one family going solar would avoid adding approximately 12,500 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
It also means growing 122 seedlings for more than 10 years, not burning over 8,000 pounds of coal, not charging almost 937,683 smartphones, and driving 18,000 miles less.
A whopping 59 percent of Americans say that seeing electricity savings on their bill is the biggest motivation.
Around 58 percent of Americans are happy and satisfied after installing solar panels, and believe that this effort of theirs would help the world make a better place for future generations.
Installing solar power panels also creates more jobs in the market.
It is the fastest-growing job and has around 242,000 solar workers.
Do Solar Panels Make Sense For My Home
Some factors, like roof direction, roof shading, the solar inverter you choose, and whether or not youre including a solar battery could also influence the number of panels you need. These factors, however, are hard to quantify on your own.
The best way to determine the ideal location for your home solar power system and how many solar panels you need is by getting quotes from qualified local solar companies. Solar installers will also be able to give you an idea of the upfront costs of solar for your home and what rebates, incentives, and tax credits homeowners in your area qualify for.
In the meantime, using the steps in this article can give you a rough estimate of how many photovoltaic solar panels you need to power your home with clean, renewable energy.
Is going solar worth it where you live?
Also Check: How Are Solar Panels Energy Efficient
Different Battery Types To Choose From
Energy harvested from the solar rays will need to be stored somewhere before it can power the appliances of the house. This solar energy is stored in a battery. So, what type of batteries are there in the market and which one you should choose.
Lets see. But before that, you will need to decide the size of a battery which you should have already calculated as mentioned in the last section.
Things To Keep In Mind
Solar panels are a great way to save money and go green. However, they only work effectively when using the correct products and proper installation.
You want to make sure to only use quality solar panels and solar equipment. Using cheap or knock-off brands wont produce as much as quality products.
Ensuring proper installation is key to a solar system. Not having it properly installed can cause ineffective panels, failure, or fires. Make sure to always have a Professional company conduct the install for your home.
Read Also: How Much Does Solar Increase Property Value
Can A House Run On Solar Power Alone
Whether for economic reasons, ecological reasons, or both, getting 100% of your electricity from your own renewable energy source can be powerful. It can make a measurable impact on the environment by keeping CO2 out of the atmosphere. It can also keep money in your bank account by providing you with free electricity for decades.
Meeting 100% of a homes power needs with solar energy is doable. But there are a few factors to consider.
First, youll need to determine how much energy you use, and then assess certain limiting factors for your property. These factors include the space you have available for your solar system. They also include typical weather patterns and shading on your property. Youll need to decide between off-grid and grid-tied, which can influence the need for batteries and the cost of your system.
We’ll take a look at how each of these can impact your solar system. This will give you a better idea of how likely youll be able to power your home entirely with solar energy.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
Although the upfront costs of a residential solar system might seem high, there are a few ways to save money on your investment. For instance, the federal government provides a tax credit on new solar installations, and many state and local governments offer rebates or incentive programs. Alternatively, if you can’t afford to purchase your panels, you can choose to rent them .
Figuring out the number of solar panels you need is only part of the equation. Learn more about the benefits and costs of home solar from CNET:
Recommended Reading: How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Run A House
Lets Say That Youve Decided Not Only To Go Solar But You Want To Go All
If youâve used our solar calculator or looked at the map of solar homes around you, youâll know that going solar is pretty easy and increasingly common. As the price continues to drop, it becomes affordable for more people. But what if you want to go completely solar? What if you donât want to use any fossil fuels at all in your home?
Yes, itâs possible for solar panels to supply all of the electricity your home needs. The first step is to maximize your energy efficiency with insulation, air sealing, and efficient appliances. Then, move off fossil fuel heating to electric heat pumps, and replace gas cooking and water heating with electric. Once youâve done that, a correctly sized photovoltaic system can be used to power everything in your home. But does it make sense?
This guide will explain how you can go completely solar in your home. But before we launch into it, letâs clarify what it really means when we talk about making your house completely solar.
Do you:
- Want to generate all of your current electricity usage with solar, but leave some appliances, like your stove and furnace, using fossil fuels?
- Or do you want to move 100% of your home energy use to solar? This is called net zero.
How Much Does A Whole Home Solar System Cost
A decade ago, an average 6 kilowatt hour residential solar system could cost more than $50,000. Now, the outright cost of a typical home installation ranges from $16,200 to $21,400, which is a 62% average annual decrease. From the price of hardware to ongoing maintenance, learn more about the cost of home solar.
Don’t Miss: Is There A Government Scheme For Free Solar Panels
Disadvantages Of A Solar Generator
Solar generators also have some downsides, which we have mentioned below.
As stated, solar generators have a minimal operating cost, but their initial cost is much higher, more than portable gas generators. So, if you decide to install a solar generator, then you should be ready to make the initial investment.
But it will recover over the years because it has a very low operating cost and a very long lifetime, provided you invest in a good solar kit.
Another major disadvantage of solar generators is their charging speed. It takes its time to get fully charged. Moreover, Sometimes charging will not be possible at all. So, the satisfactory function of solar generators depends on the weather conditions.
During cloudy weather, you wont have power. A single solar panel of 100-watt will charge a medium generator in about 7 to 9 hours, depending on the solar intensity.
Moving on, you cant use the solar generator to power the whole house unless you make the custom installation. A ready-made solar generator wont be able to power the heavy appliances.
Calculate How Much Electricity You Use Per Month
First, determine how much solar energy youll need to produce to power your entire home with 100% solar energy. To do that, youll need to know how much electricity you use monthly on average. This will enable your solar contractor to calculate how much power your panels need to generate to power your entire home each month.
Of course, the amount of monthly usage and potential for solar power production can both be expected to vary through the year. The solution to ensuring a steady power supply for your home is in the reserve capacity of todays state-of-the-art residential solar battery storage. Your solar batteries allow you to store the excess power your solar panels produce on longer, sunnier days for later use anytime you need it during less sunny periods.
Through periods of less direct, intense sunlight, solar batteries ensure you have all the power you need to run your entire home without the system automatically begins to draw from the public power grid.
Don’t Miss: Is Solar Power Worth The Investment
Can A House Run On Solar Power Solely
One of the biggest myths about solar power is that people assume a whole house cannot run on solar power alone. Based on weather and cloud cover, this might be true of homes in some regions, or your house might not be a particularly good fit for solar. But especially in the Tampa Bay area, most homes can run entirely on solar. At Solar Bear Tampa, we assess each home for solar before we install any panels because we want you to feel confident that your home can run on solar power before you make the switch.
So how exactly can solar power an entire home? Lets go through it together. In short: Its all about the batteries.
Solar panels are the first thing everyone thinks of when they picture solar power. Of course, the panels themselves are an important part of solar powertheyre what absorbs the energy from the sun which is then converted into the electricity that powers your home. But even in the best circumstances, solar panels cant function 24/7when the sun goes down, there is no solar power for them to absorb, meaning that they must lie dormant at night by necessity. But this doesnt mean that your home cant run on solar power at night.
So how can you power a house with solar at night? Well, with a solar battery.
Naturally, a home that has more solar panels and more solar batteries will be better equipped to run entirely on solar power, but there are ways to make it work even if this is not necessarily an option for you and your family.
Lets Review Where We Are So Far
We know your consumption because we have seen your bills. We know how much you can produce because weve taken a look at your solar resource and modeled a system for you.
Production / Consumption X 100 = Percent Offset
For example, you consume 4000kWh/yr, and you can produce 3000kWh/yr.
3000 / 4000 X 100 = 75% of your consumption is covered by solar.
Read Also: What Is The Best Retirement Plan For A Sole Proprietor
Maximize Your Home Solar Production With Solarise Solar
We have helped over 15,000 Colorado homeowners get the best value on solar panel purchase and installation. Our systems design specialists will customize a whole-home solar energy system that ideally fits your energy usage needs and budget. Going solar with the right equipment and strategic installation can save you money, increase your property value, and bring you a strong return on your investment. Call Solarise Solar, Colorado Springs, CO, at , or contact us online to schedule your free Home Energy Cost Analysis and no-obligation estimate today!
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For My Home
Its no use installing just one solar panelyoull need more than that to reap the financial benefits of a solar panel system. While the answer isnt always so simple, weve put together some example cases to help you understand, at a high level, how many solar panels you need to install an effective solar array.
Read Also: Do Solar Batteries Qualify For Tax Credit
What Can I Run On A Solar Off Grid System
As the name suggest a solar off grid system is a solar system which is not connected to your utility grid .
In simple terms how off grid solar system works is,during the day your solar panels will produce electricity, you will consume whatever you need during the day and the surplus will be stored in a battery. At night when there is no sun, your solar panel wont generate any electricity, you will use the stored electricity from the batteries to power your home appliances.
The advantages of solar off grid system is that you dont need a grid connectivity to use this system meaning you can be in the most deserted place on earth where there is not even a single electricity pole but you can still produce electricity and light your house provided there is sun light.
The down side of solar off grid system to power your appliances is, you cannot power all your heavy appliances using this for long hours. Technically you can power all your appliances but you will need lot of batteries, to power high power consuming appliances like ACs, water pump, which means more upfront cost and more maintenance cost.
You can read more on solar off grid system over here Everything About Solar Off Grid System.
Ecoflow Portable Power Station $1099
Why did we choose this power station?
ECOFLOWs portable power station is there for you when youre somewhere else. By being a landmark of both design and functionality, this power station can bring you the most power, the fastest recharge, and the least amount of stress while youre at home or away on a trip.
On average, the power station can recharge up to 80% of its battery life in one hour. With a 3300 Watt surge, thats enough power to power a lightbulb for 28 hours, a laptop for 18 hours, or an entire toaster for 45 minutes. With more than one of these solar power stations, you can power your house or tent while saving money and going green. Check it out at amzn.to/35Q7uyT.
What are users saying about this power station?
3300 Watt Surge- Equipped with 110V outlets, the surge allows the power station to power small things like phone chargers and camera batteries, but it also allows for powering up large, heavy-duty power tools and medium-sized appliances like computers, microwaves, and coffee machinesitems that require a lot of energy due to heat.
Compatible With Any Solar Panel- ECOFLOWs power station is compatible with any solar panel up to 400 Watts. With a perfectly perpendicular sunlight path for 4 hours, you can get 1.6 kiloWatt-hours worth of energy which is enough to power 5% of an entire house with just one solar generator in a sixth of a day. Imagine what you can do with 5 generators.
Also Check: What Is The Cost Per Kilowatt Hour For Solar Energy
Is Solar Power Viable
Solar power will become a viable alternative to fossil fuels ahead of coal, hydro and nuclear within a decade, says the International Energy Agency. These lower costs will be magnified by rising prices for carbon-based fuels. The take-off is around 2025 to 2030, the agency said.
How Can Solar Energy Power Your Whole House
So, can a home solar system really power your entire house? As weve stated, yes! But, it does depend on a few variables that youll want to take into consideration when deciding to go solar. Mostly, these variables are used to determine the power output levels and the number of solar panels that your home requires to meet your energy goals. In this case, well explore the goal of running your whole house entirely on solar power.
Every home is different, and every home will require a unique amount of solar panels in order to effectively convert the suns energy into the energy you can use to power your home. At SunPower by BlueSel, we understand how to install your panels at the perfect angle, in the perfect spot, to maximize sun intake. Installing your solar panels in the perfect spot can make a big difference in regard to energy.
HowStuffWorks.com explains perfectly how solar panels can power an entire house:
As solar panels protrude from the precipice at various angles, they capture whatever sunlight is available, and convert it to DC power. An inverter converts the DC power to AC power . And for people who want to completely power an entire home with the suns rays, there are systems available to convert and store extra power in the form of battery energy.
You May Like: How To Make A Simple Solar Panel
