So you’ve decided to take the plunge and go solar. Congratulations, you won’t regret it. But now that you’re going through the process, you’ll have a lot of decisions to make – including just how many panels you’ll need for your house.
The number of solar panels needed for your home depends on a number of factors – most important of which is figuring out exactly what your goal is with your panels. Do you want to minimize your carbon footprint? Maximize the return on your investment? Save a lot of money? These are all questions you’ll have to think about.
How much power do you need?
The first step in figuring how many panels you’ll have will depend on what your power consumption looks like. How much power the panels absorb depends on the size of your roof, the amount of sunlight, etc. If you decide to work with us, we’ll help you calculate all that out.
How much sunlight does your house get?
The peak sunlight hours near your home has a huge impact on how many panels you’ll need. For example – if you live in a place like Orlando, you will get a a lot of light for longer periods of time. If you live in Seattle? Not as much. Doesn’t mean the guy living in Seattle can’t have solar – it’s just that they’re going to need more panels.
What affects panel efficiency?
All solar panels aren’t created equal. There are wide variations in the quality and efficiency of panels, so it’s going to depend on your own, unique situation. That being said – you can make a few generalizations about panels. For example, the more efficient a panel is, the more wattage they can produce. That’ll mean the more efficient panels you get for your roof, the fewer actual panels you’ll need.
How big are the panels?
Like everything else on this list, the size and number of panels depends on your house’s unique characteristics. Do you have a big roof? Does it have a dramatic pitch (roof angle)? Which direction does the largest surface area face (Southern-facing is the best for solar)?
For example – if you have a large, usable surface area, you’ll be able to buy larger panels at a lower cost per panel to get to your target output. If it’s smaller, you may have to purchase smaller, but higher efficiency panels.
To learn more about how solar panels can work for your home, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it!
Coronado Solar is one of the best solar companies in Florida. With licenses in general contracting and roofing IN ADDITION to our solar license and an A+ rating with the BBB, we pride ourselves on being one of Florida’s premier solar companies. Our solar panels are some of the best in the business for your home and we even offer commercial solar installation. For a free quote, click HERE. And feel free to VISIT US ON FACEBOOK!