The cost of solar panels has dropped 99% since 1977.
There are many benefits to using solar energy, and as it’s become so much cheaper over the years, it’s become a much more viable energy solution. A solar-powered home system can be very useful, but there are some things you need to do before investing in one.
To find out more, keep reading.
Understand Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
One of the first things you should do is look into the efficiency of your home. There are many ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency, which will make your solar energy system more effective. Some of these include:
- Using more energy-efficient appliances
- Switching from traditional bulbs to LED bulbs
- Weatherizing your home so that you can heat and cool it more effectively
- Have a home energy audit to highlight areas for improvement
The more energy-efficient your home is, the less power your solar energy system will need to produce. Any excess power can be sent back to the grid, and you’ll be paid for it.
Does Your Home Have Any Limitations?
The design and location of your home will determine how much potential it has for solar energy. There are tools and mapping services available that can help you determine this. You may even be able to get an estimate of the system size you’ll need along with how much it will cost, and what it could save you.
Solar powering a home is often very effective, but the overall efficiency can depend on several factors:
- Nearby shade that will stop sunlight from reaching the panels
- The age and state of your roof
- Neighborhood or HOA (homeowner association) restrictions
Factor all of these in when thinking about your system. It can be quite hard to determine all of this, but a solar panel installation company like Blue Raven Solar can give you a much better idea. Head over to https://blueravensolar.com/florida/top-solar-installation-company-in-tallahassee/ to take a look at their services.
Estimate Your Needs
All solar-powered homes have different requirements, and you want to know yours before moving forward with installation. You can get an idea of your energy usage by reviewing your energy bills. It’s best to look at your bills across a whole year, as your usage may vary with the seasons.
Solar panels for homes can be removed, but it’s best to get everything you need installed at once to avoid having to make alterations. Think about changes that you might make in the future which could affect your home solar energy usage. If you think it will increase, you should plan ahead and get any extra panels installed at the same time.
You should also think about any changes you’ll make to improve your home’s efficiency. This will lower your usage, meaning you might not need as many solar panels.
Implementing Your Solar-Powered Home System
There are many advantages to a solar-powered home system. The sooner you get it installed, the sooner you’ll start reaping the benefits. You just need to make sure that you’re fully prepared beforehand to avoid any problems down the line.
For more home-related articles check out some of our other blog posts.
