The environment today is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Therefore, the use of renewable sources to meet energy requirements has become a necessity. Among the different options, solar is the most popular. If you have not yet installed solar panels in your home, it is time you do so. But installing a solar panel system may not be as easy as it may seem. One requires adequate knowledge of the topic to make the right decision.
When installing solar panels, the common question among people is—How many solar panels are needed to run a house? To answer that question for yourself, you need to consider some factors. These may include your energy requirements, size of solar panels, amount of sunlight received in your area and many others. This article will help you understand how you can estimate the number of solar panels needed to run your house.
Things You Need to Know to Estimate the Number of Solar Panels
Installing solar panels in your home is a great way to minimize your carbon footprint. It not only helps save the environment but also cuts down your electricity bills, thereby saving you money. If you are wondering how many solar panels I need, here are the things you need to know: –
- Know Your Energy Solution
Switching to solar for your energy requirements is neither easy nor cheap. It is a difficult decision to make. It can be a decision that affects the quality of life you will live in the future. Some of the benefits of going solar that you should know are:
- Solar energy benefits the environment.
- It helps save energy costs.
- Installing solar panels is easy and safe.
- With solar power, one can be independent of the utility grid.
- Solar energy can be used at any time of the day.
- Power Requirement
If you want to know how many solar panels are needed to run a house, you need to understand your power requirement. It refers to the total power required by all the electrical appliances that you need to run during power outages. The devices may include tube lights, television, fan, computer, refrigerator, CFL, etc. The power requirement is basically the addition of power consumed by all such appliances.
- Hours of Sunlight in a Day
The number of hours for which the solar panels can get exposed to the sunlight is a crucial factor in determining the solar panel’s count. Your location will directly impact this factor. For instance, if you live somewhere in the south, you will most likely get a higher number of peak sunlight hours.
- The Efficiency of Solar Panels
The efficiency of solar panels is an aspect you must not ignore while calculating the number of solar panels required. All solar panels are not alike. Solar panels usually come with different wattages, and they may range from 150 to 370 watts per panel. The wattage also depends on the efficiency and size of the solar panels. Efficiency here means how wall a solar panel can convert the sunlight into electricity.
With the variations in efficiency and quality of the solar panels, you may find it difficult to figure out which panel is right for home installation. The key takeaway here is that the more efficient the solar panels are, the more power they can produce and lesser you may need on your rooftop.
- Size of Solar Panels
If your rooftop is unusually shaped or if it is small, the solar panel size is an important consideration in determining the number of solar panels required. In case you have a large-sized roof, then perhaps you can sacrifice the efficiency and purchase larger solar panels to meet your energy requirements. But if you have a limited area to place solar panels, using smaller solar panels of higher efficiency is the best way to sustain in the long term. It will also help you save money.
- Weight of Solar Panels
Wondering how many solar panels are needed to run a house? Make sure to take the weight of the solar panels into account. For a successful installation of solar panels, you must know their weight. The weight of the panel varies with the brand. Get the panels that are the lightest.
If you know the answer to all the above questions, you can easily estimate the number of solar panels you need to purchase to run your house. Also, it is a good idea to seek guidance from a professional who can assess the architecture of your roof, the angle of the sun, and many other factors in determining the right number of panels. If you are planning to go solar and do not know how many solar panels are needed to run a house, reach out to the professional at Luminous India. Visit our official website to know more about our products and services.
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