Get your home ready for summer by harnessing the abundant Texas sun. With over 220 sunny days on average, particularly during the spring and summer months, now is the ideal time to equip your home with solar panels. Discover how to maximize the energy of the sun and power your home sustainably and lower your energy bill.
Deciding on Solar
There are more factors to consider in deciding if solar is right for you. To start, you can try our solar calculator to get an estimate of your home’s energy consumption, the appropriate number of panels, and an estimate of the cost. You can also read more about what to expect with the solar installation process.
A Solar-Ready Home
A solar-ready home is either built to be fitted with solar panels; thus, the direction of the roof and the materials it is constructed with are carefully chosen to accommodate them, or it is retroactively adjusted to better suit solar panels.
A Solar-Ready Roof: Shading, Age, Materials, Azimuth
Most homeowners seeking solar opt to have the panels installed on their roofs. Below are some things to look out for when considering if your roof is suitable for solar panels.
Shading
Solar panels must have direct access to at least 6 hours of exposure to the sun. Some things that could cause shade include trees, vents, chimney’s, or even the house next door. It is also important to understand that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. So if you have sun on your roof in the morning but shade in the afternoon, then an East facing array may still work. The same goes for sun in the afternoon but shade in the morning. In this situation, a Western facing array would be the preferred choice.
Age
If you’re due to replace your roof within the next 5-10 years, re-roofing your home before installing solar panels can save time and money; you don’t want to have to de-install and re-install your solar panels when you finally decide to update your roofing.
Materials
Some roofing materials are more complicated than others for installers. Fragile shingles, like cedar and slate, are not ideal for solar panels. What’s more, materials that are hard to work with can increase the installation cost.
Azimuth
Azimuth refers to the direction that your roof faces. South-facing roofs are more exposed to the sun (in the northern hemisphere), allowing the panels to produce more electricity. Additionally, roofs with greater amounts of continuous space are more effective for energy generation.
A Solar-Ready Electrical Panel
Your electrical panel, not just your roof, must also be solar-ready. An electrical panel inspection may be necessary if your panel is old or is below a 200 amp service. The inverter from the solar panels works directly with your electrical panel, so having a solar-ready electrical panel is essential to the success and efficiency of a solar panel system.
Consider the Alternatives
Not every home is ideal for a roof installation. If your roof is too shaded or isn’t up to snuff, then a ground mounted system, a solar carport, or solar gazebo/deck cover might be a better option.
If your overall house is not compatible for solar or you do not own a home, then several utilities offer an option for “Community Solar.” These are larger solar systems that you can buy a small piece and get the solar credits applied to your bill.
For more information about getting your home ready for solar or pursuing solar alternatives in your area, fill out our solar calculator for a quick estimate or contact us at 512-837-4800.
