The most accurate approach to learn that is to hire a qualified solar installation to analyze your house. Using our solar calculator to calculate your power generation and anticipated system cost is a simple, if less precise, alternative to reading your monthly utility statement.
Even if it just takes a few minutes, occasionally, customers only need a quick response on how much electricity, on average, a 2,000 square-foot house uses in the US and how many solar panels are required to power it.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the typical American home between 2,000 and 2,499 square feet uses 967 kWh a month or 11,606 kWh annually.
If the roof of the home faces south and is not shaded throughout the day, it would require between 14 and 22 high-quality solar panels to provide that much power. The greatest efficiency solar panels currently on the market are those with an output rating of 400 watts or greater and are thus referred to as “premium” in this context. The SunPower M Series and A Series, the Q-Cells Q.PEAK G10 series, and the REC Alpha series are a few examples of panels in this category.
Although they cost less, cheaper solar panels provide less power overall. The lowest efficiency panels available have a wattage rating of about 300. For that typical 2,000-square-foot home to meet its whole power demands utilizing 967 kWh each month, between 21 and 33 inexpensive solar panels would be required.
The average 2,000-square-foot home will require between 14 and 22 quality solar panels, depending on where you reside, to completely meet its electrical demands. However, as you can see from the information above, how much power your home needs depends on a variety of factors, including how many televisions you have and your local temperature.
Averages are helpful, but utilize our solar calculator as a starting point if you’re considering installing solar panels on your home. You may either enter your real power consumption or your zip code to automatically learn what the state’s average home electricity usage is.
The direction of your roof and any existing shadowing may also be entered into the calculator, which will have a significant influence on how much power your solar panels will produce.
If you’re unfamiliar with electricity, read our article, which covers fundamental ideas like the distinction between kilowatts and kilowatt-hours. You will learn how to interpret your power bill, which may be a challenging document, in our guide to solar energy cost savings.
A professional solar installer can provide you with a technical proposal that details how many solar panels you will need and how much electricity they will produce. This is the best approach to acquiring an exact estimate of how many solar panels your home will need. If you utilize our solar estimate service, we’ll make sure to put you in touch with capable installers who hold the necessary local licences.
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