What to Look for When Buying Solar Panels

Solar Panel Footprint

Solar use is the new carbon footprint for creating a smart home to save you energy and money. The US Energy Information Administration reports that within five years, solar panels can pay for themselves with the help of the federal government providing 30 percent solar tax credits. Solar panels are now the most requested roofing system for new homes and to replace existing roofs.

However, before you invest in or buy solar panels, there are a few things that you must know and questions that you must ask yourself. At the top of your solar panel purchase list is: exactly how efficient are solar panels? How does your home use electricity? For example, what days, times, and seasons does your home use the most electrical power?

Do you know how many watts you will need? If not, use this simple system: divide your watts per day usage by the solar panel wattage. Increase this number by 30 percent to 50 percent just to cover yourself with extra wattage. The mechanics of solar energy begin with how much solar energy is converted into electricity.

Solar cells capture sunlight, and its energy is transmitted through your circuit breaker for use in your home. With this solution, you will get a better idea of the amount of watts of solar panels you will require. Also, be mindful that silicon solar panel crystals only convert between 15 to 19 percent of sunlight into electricity.

Solar Panel Types

To understand the type of solar panels needed, there are two main types of solar energy. These types are photovoltaic and solar thermal. Thermal solar panels ingest sunlight to generate power, while photovoltaic solar panels convert the sun's rays into electricity, which is used mostly on rooftops. Solar panels are made from two types of cells known as monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon.

Silicon is the best material used to convert sunlight into electricity, even though both types of panels work well, depending on several features of your home and your location. Another feature of solar panels is their coloring. The darker the solar panels are (blue is preferable), research states that they have the ability to attract more sunlight, meaning more energy is absorbed, thus making it more efficient.

Using these feature keys will help you make the best options for your solar panel system. This information will also help you from becoming pressured to buy solar panels that will not work for you. Get several quotes, and don't just concentrate on price, even though their prices continue to drop throughout the country. It's important to do all your research before you decide to make a purchase. Make sure that you know what features are best for you and don't be afraid to take some time before you buy.

Solar panels should be judged by their reliability, lifetime usage, and efficiency. The judge of your solar panel options is best determined if your panels are identified with an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) established standard code.

Solar Panel Factors

There are other factors in making the right solar panel solutions for your home, which simply includes knowing how your roof is designed or its angles, how much of your roof is shaded, the type of existing roofing, and how large the roofing area you have is. Solar panel experts understand that if your home faces south, west, or east, your solar panel absorption from the sun is more efficient. Homes facing the north are less desirable for solar panel usage. Keep this in mind when you're deciding where to install your solar panels.

If your rooftop is shaded by a hillside, trees or other structures, these features block the sun from impacting the solar panels. How is your roof angled? Solar panel manufacturers state that solar panels can be easily and efficiently installed on roofs slanted somewhat flat to 45º. Steeply pitched rooftops may be too angled for the sun to reach their far side. The size of your rooftop determines how many panels will save you money and energy. Most residential homes only require between 18 or 20 panels, which equates to five or more kilowatts of energy.

This formula will change depending on your electrical service provider, the type of solar panels that you choose and their panel size. As for the type of existing roof you have, solar panels work great on asphalt shingles or metal roofing. Plus, these roofing materials are less expensive for solar panel installation than slate or tile.