Essential Factors to Consider When Building Your Solar-Powered Home

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Solar power is turning into an increasingly popular option for homeowners- and why not? It’s cheap, renewable, and doesn’t weigh on the already depleting natural resources. However, before you go for the installation, you also need to consider if your house is suitable for the panels. There are several considerations to keep in view before embarking on your solar mission and here are the top factors according to the experts;

Current Energy Efficiency

Homeowners should research and consider just how much energy they’re already using. Many people think going solar will reduce their energy bills, but if a utility bill is already extremely low, solar may not be the best move if saving money is the overall goal.

Should I Get A Backup Battery?

Many homeowners think once they go solar, they won’t have a power bill. That’s just not true – systems are almost always grid-tied, but savings on utilities can increase if homeowners decide to buy a backup battery to power their homes throughout the night and bad weather. Otherwise, once the sun goes down, their home will draw power from the grid.

HOAs

Many homeowners think their HOA will not allow them to install solar panels – that’s just not true. Over half the states in the US have laws protecting homeowners’ ability to go solar. HOAs can restrict things like their location on your roof or property, so it’s wise to check their bylaws or restrictions before calling an installer.

The Roof

It’s always recommended to get a roof inspection before having solar panels installed, especially if a home is older, just to make sure the decking can handle the additional weight and that there are no problem areas before the installation happens.

Vince Pisciottano is a Marketing Strategist for the #2 Residential Solar Installer in the nation, according to Solar Power World.

Roof Type

If you’re planning to install solar panels on your roof, this is an important factor to consider. Because different houses have varied roofs, some of them are not suited for quick solar panel installation. Solar panels, on the other hand, may be installed on nearly any style of roof; it simply takes a little more effort and money in some cases. Some businesses refuse to work with Spanish tiles and only install solar panels on composite shingles. If you have a roof with Spanish tiles or normal wood shingles, you will simply need to look for a solar panel expert that is knowledgeable and skilled enough to work with various roof types. 

Dan Close, Founder & CEO at We Buy Houses in Kentucky

Cost

The most important thing to consider when undertaking any project is, first and foremost, cost. Create and manage a budget that aligns with your project’s needs, and solar-powered efficiencies will significantly affect your expenses. Plan for weather patterns and potential climate catastrophes when installing solar panels, as you want to be sure you have power when things go awry.

Leonard Ang, the CEO of iPropertyManagement

Insolation Rating

While building your solar-powered home, you must consider the insolation rating, which is a measure of how much solar radiation strikes the ground in a specific area in a stipulated time period. 

It’s mainly measured in kWh/m2/day, which lets you know how much sunlight will be available for your solar panels to transform into electricity. More the range of insolation value of your location, electricity can be generated accordingly in each of your panels. 

In brief, a higher insolation value implies you can get sufficient power out of fewer panels. On the contrary, a lower value indicates you could end up spending much more to gain a similar power output.

Stephen Curry, Chief Executive Officer CocoSign

Know How Much Energy You Need

The bigger the home, the more energy you need. And so, the number of appliances you will use will determine how much power you need. A good strategy here would be to estimate your energy consumption based on your previous billings and use it to assess how much you might need to power up your new house. 

Make Sure That You Use A Roof That Is Suitable For Solar Installation

When you use a roof that doesn’t support a solar system, you’ll be spending way more than you should. To help you choose the right roof, consult advice from roof experts or manufacturers. 

Make Sure That Your House Has Access To Direct Sunlight

The solar system depends entirely on sunlight, and the amount of sunlight that reaches your home determines the amount of energy you get. So, ensure that the location of your house is away from shades and that it has access to direct sunlight.

Cayla Thurman, Business Reputation Consultant at Rizereviews.com

Building a solar-powered home is quickly becoming more than trendy. It’s intelligent. Lower energy costs, energy independence, and the growing desire for sustainable homes among home buyers are just a couple of the surface reasons that new home builders have for making sure that their new homes are powered by the sun. A couple of things to keep in mind: 

Reduce Before You Produce

Make sure that your home is as energy-efficient as possible. This entails ensuring that your new home is properly sealed, insulated, and ventilated. A couple of factors that you want to pay extra attention to is the utilization of top-of-the-line insulation and a top-of-the-line HVAC system. This will minimize the amount of electricity that your home requires.

Be Sure To Invest In Quality Over Price

Be sure to invest in tier 1 PV systems. Get a couple of quotes to make sure you aren’t overpaying and get help doing a bit of research so you can educate yourself and make a sound choice. I recommend www.energysage.com for an unbiased source that is very informative. It’s wise to pay attention to warranties, track record, degradation, etc. The cheapest DIY panels will rarely lead to a good story. 

Have It Professionally Executed

Your home’s energy infrastructure is a big deal. Make sure it is done properly. Either you or the people you hire need to be properly licensed and insured. More importantly, they need to have a great track record for quality work. 

In a typical project, you will want to ensure that every person that is part of the process is a top-notch professional, from the structural engineer calculating the loads on the roof, master electrician ensuring everything is connected properly, or the construction team properly sealing the roof and also taking the time to measure and level everything with details so that the installation is aesthetically pleasing.

Building a home with solar is a great choice! Make sure you invest the time and money to do it right! Have fun with it! 

Julio Daniel Hernández, CEO EnLight.Energy

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