Solar power is increasingly popular across not just America, but the whole world. As the technology behind solar becomes cheaper and governments continue to subsidize solar panels, you are going to see an increasing number of solar panels on nearly every roof across the country. What you might not know is that not every roof is suitable for solar power. Luckily, that does not mean you cannot have solar installed, only that you may need to be a bit more creative with how it will work on your particular home. Here is everything you need to know about getting ready for solar power.
Homes Oriented South Work Best For Solar
Something you may not realize is that the way your home is oriented determines quite a lot when it comes to the solar energy it can provide your solar panels. It makes sense when you consider that for the maximum solar power you need maximum sunlight hours, and the best way to obtain that is by having a home-oriented towards the south. Slight variations in direction are fine, but if your home and roof are mostly facing north then you may need to find another way to get the solar power that you want.
Tilted vs. Flat Roofs
While flat roofs are popular in certain areas of America, generally most houses have a tilt or angle on their roof. This helps disperse rain and snow, but it can be frustrating for your solar power production. Tilted roofs reduce the amount of time your solar panels get in the sun each day, and that, in turn, affects your bottom line of solar power generation. On the other hand, flat roofs make excellent candidates for solar panels and also allow you to install a lot more. That is why so many large commercial buildings have solar panels on them.
Install Them On The Ground
If your homes roof is not particularly suitable for solar panels, then do not worry; there is always the secondary option of putting them on the ground. Not only is this cheaper than putting them on the roof, but it is quicker to install and can let you have an almost unlimited amount of panels. The only issue with this is your available space. If you have a small property then having a dozen or so solar panels on the ground is not really feasible. On the other hand, for larger, rural properties, solar panels can be much more easily hidden from view.
To learn more, contact a solar service in your area.
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