How Much Solar Power Do I Need for My Home?

The average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. household is close to 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year. This is a ton of power consumption.

To ensure that your household has enough energy, you may want to think about solar power. If you are wondering: “how much solar power do I need,” you’ve come to the right place.

This handy guide will help you determine your solar energy needs. That way you can answer the question: “Is solar power worth it?” for your situation. Solar Energy Systems explains that solar electric systems are also called PV systems and they use solar light to produce electricity.

How Does Solar Power Work?

To understand how many solar panels do you need you first need to have a basic understanding of how solar power works. When people refer to solar power for homes, they most often are talking about photovoltaic panels.

These panels produce electricity by using the photovoltaic effect. This phenomenon was discovered late in the 19th century by French physicist, Edmund Becquerel.

Modern solar panels still use the photovoltaic effect to create electricity. They are however far more efficient than the solar panels of past days.

Determining Your Electricity Usage

The first step in determining how many solar panels you will need is to determine your total home energy needs. You can do this by making a call to the power company and asking for monthly and annual billing statements.

Make sure to get your electricity usage information for the entirety of the year as you will want to account for seasonal variations in usage.

How Much Solar Power Do I Need?

Now that you are armed with the info about how much your home electricity needs are you are ready to answer the big question. Determining how much solar power you need depends on a multitude of factors.

The first is your home energy use. The next is how much sunlight your property gets. Another variable to consider is the efficiency of your solar panels themselves.

The final factor to consider is seasonal and climatic variations in sunlight throughout your locale.

Due to the high levels of variabilities for all these factors, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for how many solar panels, or what kinds of panels you will need.

Finding the Answer for Your Home

To find the answer to your unique circumstances about how much solar power you will need, you should seek out a professional opinion.

Only a professional solar company has the knowledge to let you know what it will take to power your home. Find a reputable one in your area to get the answers you seek.

Going Solar Saves the Earth

“How much solar power do I need” is a common question that many homeowners ask themselves before making the solar switch. The only way to get an answer specific to your circumstances is to call a professional.

Call a professional solar installation company today and they can give you an estimate on how much solar power your home will need.

Make sure to come equipped with your monthly and yearly power usage data as well. If you found this article informative, make sure to check back with our website for more like it.