Is My Home a Good Fit For Solar?Serving Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas / Fort Worth TX
To know your home’s solar potential depends on a number of factors, with your home’s current and future energy consumption being one of the most important! Longhorn Solar looks at your past 12 months of energy consumption as a baseline to determine the size of the home solar system you need. Most utility companies offer a detailed look at your past energy consumption as well. Solar panels typically last 25 years or more, so you’ll want to plan well from the get-go.
How many people live in your home and how often are they there? Does anyone else plan to move in or out in the next few years?
- Do you have children living in the home?
- What are your current day and nighttime thermostat settings?
- Do you and/or your spouse work from home?
- How energy efficient is your home and how new/old are your major appliances?
- How old is your HVAC system and what is the SEER rating of your air conditioning condenser unit(s)?
- Are you planning on building an add-on or a pool to your home in the future?
Read on to see if your home is a good choice for solar panels or reach out to our team!
FACTORS AFFECTING YOUR HOME’S SOLAR POTENTIAL
SHADING/OBSTACLES
Objects such as trees, buildings and even chimneys can obstruct sunlight to your solar panels which could affect your solar system’s performance. Our team looks at shading and obstacles around your home carefully to determine the best placement of panels.
ROOF ORIENTATION
Roofs facing south and southwest naturally capture the most sun. Our team will evaluate the orientation of your roof to determine the best placement of panels so that your solar system will generate electricity most efficiently.
ROOF SLOPE
Surprisingly, the slope of your roof can also affect the performance of your home solar system. South-facing roofs with a tilt between 15 to 40 degrees are generally optimal, however sunlight can change throughout the day and even between seasons. Our expert team will design the best layout for your home.
ROOF CONDITION
Solar panels weigh approximately 3-5 lbs per square foot, so you’ll want to make sure your roof is strong enough to hold this weight after install. The Longhorn Solar team will evaluate the condition of your roof to ensure long-term success of your solar system.
Are There Alternatives to Rooftop Solar?
Not every home is a good fit for roof-mounted solar panels, and our team is happy to identify alternative solutions for your property. Ground-mounted solar panels, carports and gazebos can also offer excellent energy production in lieu of roof panels.
Researching local regulations and permitting is also part of our process to ensure solar panels will be a welcomed addition to your neighborhood.
