There are many factors that can play into the performance of a solar panel installation on your home. The best way to determine if it will work for you is to meet with a professional to have them evaluate your property individually. There are a range of things to consider like tree height and potential shading, the pitch of the roof, and the position of your home’s available roof space.
The ideal roof space for solar has the following characteristics:
- Facing near south
- Little or no shading
- Roof slope of 10 – 40 degrees
- New or nearly new roof
If your home has those features, you are typically able to cover a large portion of your electricity bill, if not all of it. Of course, your expected coverage will also be determined by your energy usage in the home, the capacity of the solar panels, the efficiency guarantee by the manufacturer, and the type of system you decide to install.
Now, even if you do not have all the ideal features mentioned above, it is possible to install a system and still achieve the production desired.
The following characteristics would still be acceptable for solar:
- Facing east or west
- Partial shading
- Roof slope of 0 – 60 degrees
- Multiple roof pitches
If your home has those features with a new or nearly new roof, you can still cover a large portion of your energy bill depending on the type of solar panel used in the installation. Each system is unique, so it is important to work with a company who considers all the information when drafting an accurate proposal.
If you want to view your home’s initial potential for solar, a good resource is Project Sunroof using Google maps.
Keep in mind that the analysis serves as a starting point and may not be a 100% accurate estimate of your roof’s potential. When we meet with homeowners to discuss a solar panel installation, we ask a series of questions to develop a long-term strategy for solar and/or storage implementation. Our conversations with potential clients involve a lot of fact-finding, and each system is unique. Our goal is to provide you with a conservative and accurate expectation of production using our software and expertise. If you would like to speak with an energy consultant and learn more about what you can accomplish with solar, please click the “Get Started” button below to start.
