If you are thinking about joining the alternative energy movement, you are probably considering installing solar panels in your home. Solar energy is a great way to save money on your current energy costs and the environment, but it does require a financial commitment on your part in order to cover the costs of the parts and installation. If you need more information on solar power and residential solar prices, this article is for you.
Solar power works by converting solar radiation into electrical energy. Like the batteries you use to power up your mobile devices, they produce direct current, which can be used to power up any number of items.
Sunny areas and locations where there is little cloud coverage will have the most luck harnessing the power of the sun’s rays. However, you can increase your ability to capture this energy by installing a larger solar system.
When installing a system for your home, you will need to install an array of panels. Each of these panels will contain cells that are used to collect the solar radiation that will then be converted into electricity. These panels will need to be placed in locations that receive the most sunlight, such as the south facing side of your home.
Your panels will need to be kept out of shady areas. This will ensure that a good amount of radiation is captured by the panels. You should also expect to provide between 100 and 600 square feet for your panels. However, it is generally recommended that 400 to 600 square feet be used in order to produce 4kW of energy to power your home.
The average solar system will cost around $7 to $9 per watt produced, or rather, $20,000 to $25,000 for a 3kW system, depending on different factors, such as region where you live, solar panels you choose to use, inverter, and general difficulty of installing the solar panels on the roof of your house. This cost also includes installation and you should keep in mind that larger houses or those that require more electricity will require larger systems. Calculate solar panel prices with Solar Calculator and estimate you ROI, payback period and monthly payment if you finance the total purchase price of your PV Solar system.
Before you start shopping for a new Residential Solar PV installation, you will need to understand how to plan and design solar system, how solar panels should be aligned to the sun, while not being blocked by shade from trees and nearby buildings, which inverter to choose, etc.
You should also consider installing a solar roofing system which integrate PV solar panels with roofing materials which will usually last a lifetime. There are different types of solar roofing systems for both flat and metal roofs. You can choose between different roofing materials such as standing seam metal roofing, solar shingles and solar flat roofs.
You should always hire a reputable company to do this work for you. They will be able to provide guidance on how large of a system you need for your home. They will also get the job done right and be able to provide you with a more efficient system.
Depending upon where you live, you may be able to save a fair amount of money on your system. For example, some states and cities provide grants to people who install solar panels on their homes. Additionally, the Federal Government may provide tax credits to certain people who qualify.
Over time, your system may be able to pay for itself. This is because it will save you from having to pay for electricity from the electric company. Additionally, you may be able to hook your system up to the grid and get paid for the excess amount of electricity that you do not use. This is because it can then be used by other people.
To help you pay for your residential system, be sure to look into all of the government programs in your area. Also, contact the electric company to find out if you can sell your electricity to them once your system is up and running.