A Guide For Where To Place Your Solar Panels
It is easy to understand that solar panels work best when they can get as much direct sunlight as possible. So, it is no surprise that the position of solar panels can be hugely important to their output. When you also consider that output affects the cost-effectiveness of panels, it is essential to get it right.
Whether you are having domestic or commercial solar panel installation, it is important to understand the ideal location for your panels to be placed in order to get the most out of them. The direction and position of your panels can actually have a remarkably large effect on their efficiency, so this is worth understanding.
Here we have provided a detailed guide to some of the important things you need to know about where you should place your solar panels.
Things To Consider About Going Solar
Does your property get enough sunlight?If your home will have only early morning or late day sun, solar may not be the best option. The same can be said if you have a heavily treed area surrounding the house. The potential must exist for long periods of full sun exposure for the idea of solar to be worthwhile.
If you are building new, are you willing to design the house to take full advantage of the sun? The slope and orientation of your roof will play a very large part in the success of your solar installation. Any new home design should consider the functionality of a potential solar system, and efforts should be made to design the house to take full advantage of the available sun. In addition, the design should consider the weight load of the system, and the wiring needs. Planning ahead for an efficient system will cost no more at the beginning, but will save far more in the end.
How long do you intend to stay in your home?As mentioned above, the costs are all front-end loaded for solar, so if you plan to sell in less than 10 years you will not recoup your costs, and the next owner will reap all of the rewards.
If you have more questions about solar and other clean energy alternatives, we recommend visiting www.solacity.com . They have a learning section that is both highly informative and a really good read. Our recommendation here is limited to the information section only, as we have no experience with the company itself.
Did You Pick The Cheapest Options
Cheaper solar panels rarely translate to better solar panels. While the technology has dropped significantly in price over the past decade, investing in the cheapest models or brands of solar panels can leave you in the dark. Cheaper or low end solar panels are often manufactured in a way that makes them less durable. When solar panels are less durable, it decreases your investment value as well as potential future savings. The scary part is that these lower quality panels can sometimes be dangerous, resulting in safety hazards. The last thing you want is to have a fire start in your home because of low quality solar panels.
As a consumer, it is so important to invest the time and money into installing the right solar panels. In the long run, it they will last longer and give you a much higher return.
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Solar Panels Planning Permission Precedent
Elzbieta Joanna Pasinskas case was a landmark ruling on solar panel planning permission in Ireland. Ms Pasinska installed solar panels on the roof of her house in Limerick without planning permission. However, her system did not qualify for the solar panel planning exemption. This was because she installed about 34 square metres of panels, far above the 12 square metre exemption threshold. Because of this, Limerick county council ordered Ms Pasinksa to remove the solar panels. However, Ms Pasinska appealed the decision to and Bord Pleanála, and won. The Boards decision establishes a favourable precedent for solar panels planning permission in Ireland. See below for a PDF of the Boards decision:
Unhappy With The Utility Company
Not all homeowners are thrilled about their solar panels. Kathy Henderson of Lawrence, Kansas, had solar panels installed four years ago. It was great at first, but then the electric company started charging us a demand fee for electricity used between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.even if were generating the electricity,” she says. “They claim solar customers dont pay as much as non-solar customers, so theyre charging us an extra fee. The demand fee has added as much as $215 to her monthly bill, and Henderson feels shes being punished for wanting to help the environment.
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How Much Money Will You Save With Solar Panels
One of the most common questions surrounding solar energy is: How much will you save with solar? Naturally, this depends on your energy needs, location, solar loan interest rates and budget. However, the average solar panel payback period is between five and 10 years.
When determining whether solar panels are worth it for your home, keep in mind that your savings will be greater if you live in an area where electricity rates are higher by contrast, if you live somewhere with a lower cost of electricity, the money you save using clean energy will be lesser.
Other Planning Permission Exemptions For Solar Panels In Ireland
In Ireland, many extensions up to 40 square metres are planning exempt. You may be able to use this planning permission exemption for solar panels by installing the panels as part of your extension. Similarly, you dont generally need planning permission for garages up to 25 square metres in Ireland. Such a garage could potentially accommodate a large solar panel system without planning permission. Finally, theres an exemption for works of improvement that do not materially affect the external appearance, thus rendering the appearance inconsistent with neighbouring buildings. This could potentially allow you to install solar panels without planning permission, as long as theyre not visible from outside your property.
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How Far Can Solar Panels Be Away From House
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Iterations are fine, we don’t have to be perfect
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Ken Peavey wrote:It’s my understanding that you will lose more power running DC across a distance. If this be the case, and someone will correct me if I am in error, then an inverter with the panels would be desired. AC transmission across that distance will have less power loss.
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Iterations are fine, we don’t have to be perfect
- Number of slices to send: Optional ‘thank-you’ note: Send
Ken Peavey wrote:It’s my understanding that you will lose more power running DC across a distance. If this be the case, and someone will correct me if I am in error, then an inverter with the panels would be desired. AC transmission across that distance will have less power loss.
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off-grid in Northern Wisconsin for 14 years
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Pros And Cons Of Solar Panels For Your Home
Like most things, solar power has its benefits and drawbacks. At the same time, some economic costs may be defrayed by the social benefits to the environment and lowering your carbon footprint, which exceeds pure monetary evaluation.
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Green energy that lowers your carbon footprint
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Net metering allows you to sell back excess energy produced
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You may be eligible for certain tax breaks
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Installation and maintenance costs still high
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Solar only works when the sun is out
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Parts of the system need to be replaced every few years
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Some tax breaks may have expired or will be expiring
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Buying A House With Pace
PACE financing is attached to the property, and not the person who took out the loan since payments are made through property taxes. Therefore, the solar equipment payments become your responsibility when you purchase a home that has PACE financing. If youre thinking about taking on PACE financing payments with the purchase of a new home, you should review the financing terms before you make a purchase.
The Current Financial Benefits Of Installing Now Versus Down The Road
The final thing that influences your timing for installation is the cost of energy versus the amount of savings youd see if you installed now. The section below goes into details with calculation formulas for this purpose.
However, the anticipated increase in non-renewable energy costs is also going up, so that should be included in the estimations.
You can see a Year-on-Year comparison on average energy costs per state here: .
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Government Programs And Financial Incentives Via Rebate And Tax Credit
One of the heftiest savers for solar panel users is the series of government whether local or nationwide incentives for going solar.
You should look into this first in your own city, county, and state to best understand what the incentives are and how much youd save on your costs. This will also factor into the figures of how much of a payoff you get for your investment in solar panels.
How Many Solar Panels Will You Need
To know how many solar panels you will need, you will want to determine how much electricity you use in your home and the solar panel types installed.
The average house in the United States uses about 900 kilowatt hours a monthroughly 11,000 kWh a year. You can easily calculate your actual usage by looking back at your electricity bills. As a general rule of thumb
- A 3-kWh solar panel system will generate about 3,600 kWh 4,800 kWh per year.
- A 5-kWh system produces about 6,000 8,000 kWh per year.
- A 10-kWh system can produce about 12,000 kWh 16,000 kWh per year.
Depending on the size of the system, the solar panels cost would be between $4,000 and $16,000. Add in another $3,000 to $10,000 for other necessary components, such as racks for the panels, wiring, solar inverter costs, and the total solar panel installation cost would now be closer to $20,000.
Talk to Contractors
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Sedas Feed In Tariff Policy And Rates
In order to be able to sell energy produced by your home solar system, you will have to first apply for Feed in Approval. Check out how to this at SEDAs official site here.
Upon approval, you can then sell the energy to SEDA for the next 21 years from the date of FiT commencement! This will be based on the FiT rates, which vary according to the capacity of your solar system. As of 1 January 2016, the FiT rates are as follows:
Are Solar Panels Right For You
Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular, but they are not right for every home or for every budget. Your property may not be able to make the most of solar panels, or the installation process may reveal other problems around your home that need to be addressed. You may also find yourself in a situation where solar panels simply cost too much to make sense for your situation.
But for many, solar panels will provide relief in the form of cheaper utility bills, a smaller carbon footprint, and less reliance on the traditional grid. Read more about solar panels:
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What Do Solar Panels Cost And Are They Worth It
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list ofour partnersandhere’s how we make money.
The rising cost of electricity from traditional sources makes solar installation seem like a no-brainer for many homeowners.
But the true cost of solar panels, and whether they’ll help you save money, depends on a few key factors. On average, installation and the system together can run between $15,000 and $25,000, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy.
Location largely affects electricity rates. The national average is about 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to year-to-date 2021 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Before you make the leap, learn how your electric bill, location and incentives can impact your wallet over time. Here are six steps to take to determine whether youll save more than you spend on solar panels.
» MORE: Find ways to save with NerdWallet
Replacing Your Roof With Solar Panels: What Are Your Options
Have you finally decided to switch to solar with your home? Not only are solar panels environmentally friendly, but you can also save on your electricity bill.
You might be wondering about the options you have when replacing roof with solar panels. Were here to help you figure it all out.
There are a few things that you need to take into consideration before you go on to replace your roof with solar panels. Assess the condition of your roof, look into the different solar options, and dont forget to do a proper cost analysis beforehand.
This may seem like a lot, but dont stress out. Well run you through the details, step by step.
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Pick A Quote And Install
Once you have met with the installers and done all necessary site visits and planning, the actual installation of your home solar energy system will only take a few days of work. The exact time depends on a number of factors. For example, if you are setting up net metering, that process will tack on additional time until your panels are properly connected to the grid. Overall, while the decision process for solar panels can take some time, the installation timeframe is very quick and fairly simple.
Making A Planning Permission Application For Solar Panels
If you still feel the need to get planning permission for your solar panels, then you can make a planning application. This involves submitting drawings of the solar panel system to your local authority and filling out a form. You will be instructed to put a notice in your local newspaper and outside of your house. Then you will have to wait at least five weeks to allow for objections. In total, the planning permission process usually takes upwards of 12 weeks.
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Should You Lease Solar Panels
There are several payment options that bundle solar installation costs into a consumers electric bill, either as a solar panel leasing option or as a power purchase agreement . Solar leases allow the homeowner to install solar panels without paying anything up front reducing the overall solar panel cost. After the panels are installed, the homeowner pays only a flat monthly fee. The fee includes the installation costs, which are spread out over time, and the cost of electricity supply.
Buying A House With Solar Panels Financed Through A Solar Loan
Unlike a lease, if a homeowner installs solar equipment with a solar loan, the loan will always be their liability, even if the property is sold. So, if youre looking to buy a home with solar panels financed through a solar loan, you dont need to worry about making additional monthly payments. Instead, the asking price for the home might be higher to factor in the cost of the solar equipment.
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Reality On The Ground: Solar Panels Planning Permission Ireland In 2021
There are thousands, if not tens of thousands of people, with more than 12 square metres of solar panels on their roofs without planning permission in Ireland. Ms Pasinskas Bord Pleanála case sets a very favourable precedent for these people. Consider that the system in question was very large, covering nearly the entire front roof of the house. Anyone who exceeds the 12 square metre limit but is otherwise reasonable about their solar panel system should be fine.
The Cost Of Solar Panels Vs The Cost Of Doing Nothing
Sticker shock can be common when looking at solar proposals. But it’s important to understand that by purchasing a solar system, you’re essentially paying for 25 years of electricity upfront. So make sure to think about what you’d spend on future utility bills to see whether solar panels are worth it for your home.
For example, taking an average monthly electricity bill of $125 , I could theoretically expect to spend $46,837 on conventional energy over the next 25 years if utility rates continue to increase around 1.8% each year, the current average according to the EIA.
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To put this in perspective, based on the average cost of solar per watt in Louisiana, a solar system that offsets my energy usage would cost around $15,214 after the tax credit .
Granted, not all solar systems will offset 100% of your energy use each month, but a modest solar array can be expected to offset at least 50-75% when properly designed and installed. How does that compare to spending $50,000 on dirty and unreliable energy over the next few decades?
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