If you are considering solar power for your home but do not know where to begin, this guide should help clear up some confusion about the wide variety of options that Innovative Solar has available for your home.
If you are unfamiliar with the solar industry it may seem intimidating and difficult to navigate but the reality is that solar energy is more affordable than you may think – in fact, many solar systems pay for themselves in as little as five years. Best of all, it is easy to get started.
In simple terms, a solar system absorbs energy generated by the sun. The solar panels provide power to your home during the day in conjunction with traditional power from the ‘grid’ that helps provide extra electricity when needed at night or during times with low sunlight or increased power usage.
The solar system in comprised of the panels you see on the roof along with an inverter which can either be a string inverter attached to a wall or a micro-inverter attached to the back of each individual panel. The inverters are responsible for converting the DC electricity generated by the solar panels into AC electricity suitable for household use.
Choosing the correct system
In order to determine which solar system is most appropriate for your home, you need to start by measuring your current electricity usage. Next you will need to determine how much space is available for solar panels, as well as an idea of how much energy you expect to utilize in the future.
Choosing a solar system for your home is not a one-size-fits-all option because everyone’s power needs are different. The average suitable size for most household solar systems is around 6,000 watts, but customers wanting more power or who choose to go all-electric with battery storage may be better off considering a larger system. In fact, a larger system is likely to bring even greater long-term benefits than a smaller system, which instead usually reaches payback more quickly.
How solar panels harness the energy of the sun to power your home
How much does it cost?
Installing a solar system in your home probably costs less than you think. Especially when you consider that a typical home gets an average of 4-5 hours of peak sunlight per day on an annual basis. Every square meter of solar panel captures, converts, and delivers 0.8 to 1 kWh of energy to your house, so the more panels you have, the more energy you generate.
A typical American home uses about 30kWh of electricity each day, so 30-38 square meters of panels would be adequate for generate enough energy for that home. This system would require between 300-400 square feet, which is roughly equal to one-sixth of the size of the average home. These newest, most efficient solar panels from Innovative Solar require less roof space to generate the same amount of energy, so your installation cost goes down as well.
According to recent research from Lawrence Berkeley Labs, the average cost of solar panels per watt in the US is $3.34 per watt while prices from solar cost comparison marketplaces like Solar-Estimate.org show the actual average residential solar panels cost is now $3.18 per watt. That means a complete 6,000W average-sized residential solar power system will cost about $19,000 to professionally install before the federal solar tax credit which reduces the total price by about $500. The final cost will obviously vary depending on where you live.
The benefits
The are many great environmental benefits of using solar power instead of fossil fuel-generated electricity. Not only is solar energy a 100% renewable resource, it also produces zero greenhouse gas emissions when created. But in addition to the terrific green benefits to solar power, it also makes smart financial sense to consider powering your home with the sun. Most modern solar systems pay for themselves in just five years or less because consumers use less grid-sourced electricity and are also compensated through feed-in tariffs for exporting excess energy back to the grid.
If you would like some more information on powering your home with solar energy, give Innovative Solar Systems a call today at (828) 424-7884 and we will be happy to discuss your options and set up a free estimate.