Can Solar Panels Power a House?
If you’re in a hurry and want a quick answer, then yes, solar panels can power an entire home by themselves. If you want the long answer on the many factors it depends on, then stick around!
Can Solar Panels Power a House?
Installing solar panels can be a great way to reduce your energy costs and help the environment. But can they actually power your entire house? The answer may surprise you! In most cases, solar panels are only able to provide a portion of the electricity a home needs. So how do you make sure your house is completely powered by solar energy? Let’s take a look!
What are solar panels and how do they work.
The basic idea behind solar panels is simple: collect the sun’s energy and turn it into electricity. In order to do that, you need a lot of solar panels arranged in a specific way. Each panel collects sunlight using photovoltaic cells. These work by converting photons from sunlight into electrons.
By arranging these solar panels strategically around your home, you can collect enough energy to power your whole house. However, to get the full benefit of solar panels you need to install a special piece of equipment. This machine transfers the electricity that your solar panels produce into usable energy.
How much does it cost to install a solar panel system?
In many cases, installing a solar panel system can actually save you money. But to do this, you’ll need to have a place where you can mount them at no cost. Solar panels cannot be placed in the shade and even partial blocking from trees or buildings can reduce their efficiency.
With that being said, if your roof is facing southeast, it is probably a good spot for solar panels. The panels will receive the most direct sunlight there, allowing them to produce the most electricity. Of course, you might want to choose a larger system than what your house actually needs. That way, any excess electricity can be sold back to the power company.
Solar panel benefits
Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels is one of the best things we can do for the environment. Solar power works by harnessing energy that would otherwise be wasted. So installing solar panels certainly makes sense for this reason alone.
However, that’s not the only benefit! With a well-designed system, your home will receive around five percent of its energy from solar panels. This may not seem like much, but it can actually save you a decent amount of money. Many families also find that the additional panels help their home’s value and sell faster than comparable homes without solar energy.
Of course, you’ll need to keep up with the maintenance of solar panels over time. They can last a long time, but they aren’t indestructible. Luckily, there is a growing network of solar panel companies in South Florida that can help with repairs and replacements as needed.
What is Your Home’s Energy Usage
If your goal is to drastically reduce the cost of your monthly electricity bill and have your home running off either all solar power or a majority of solar power, then you need to consider how much energy your home uses on a day-to-day basis. Think of all the appliances you have plugged in daily such as your refrigerator, lights, washer/dryer, oven, dishwasher, and of course your television. Now think about all the appliances you only use occasionally like your pool pump, water heater (if electric), air conditioner (if you have one), and finally your dehumidifier if it’s in the summer. All these appliances add up to how much energy your home uses, and this is what you should be basing the size of your solar power system on.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
The next question often asked is how many solar panels do I need to power my house? It depends on how big your house is (or how much energy you use). If you have a 2,000 sq. ft. house and you’re looking to completely power your home with just the sun, then in most cases it would take at least a 6 kW system to power your home. this is typically made up of about 15-25 solar panels, but it depends on the wattage of your solar panels. For example, typical wattage for solar panels is between 200-400 watts, so if you have 300-watt solar panels installed then you would need 20 of those (300 x 20) to equal 6,000 watts which equals 6 kW. Make sense? If not, always feel free to give us a call to answer any questions!
The crucial factors of answering can solar panels power a house come down to how much energy you use, the size of your home, and what type of equipment you have installed. Of course, this can be very hard to assess on your own, especially if you have no prior experience. At South Florida Solar Company, we offer a complimentary estimate on outfitting your home with a custom solar power solution! We come out for a free consultation and take a look at your property along with your electricity needs to help determine what the best solar panel system for your home is.
Why you should invest in solar power for your home now!
With all of these benefits, it makes sense to invest in solar panel systems for your home. And the good news is that you don’t have to pay a fortune for this! Solar power equipment and installation have become much more affordable in recent years.
In fact, new models are designed with easy installation in mind. This can actually make it much easier for people to take advantage of solar power. You can even get free estimates on solar panels without hiring a professional. Many solar companies will visit your home and provide you with all the information you need right away.