The Importance of Hiring A Professional Electrician

How many solar panels are going to be needed to power the appliances in your home? The answer depends on several factors. How many kilowatt-hours do you use in an average month? In addition, what are you going to power with your new investment in solar energy? There are also choices like off-grid solar energy or a grid-tied system. The following guide will help you calculate your energy needs, the type of system to choose and the costs of investing in renewable energy.

1. Calculate Your Solar Energy Needs and Monthly Electricity Consumption

One of the most confusing questions that homeowners look for answers to when considering solar energy is "How much electricity do I use?" Another common question that homeowners ask is "How many solar panels does my home need?" The answers to these questions depend on the rating of your electrical service and the type of system you are installing. An average-sized home will use between 6-to-9kwh, which means that the smallest system needs 6kwh of power production. For the minimal power needs of a small home, you will need a 6000-watt system, which is 30 solar panels rated at 100 watts, or 15 200-watt panels.

2. Consider Your Options for Solar Arrays and Hybrid Systems to Power Your Home with Green Energy

There are also options for different types of solar energy systems, which can be panels alone, hybrid systems that use renewable technology like the wind in addition to solar panels, or systems that use power from the grid. Solar panels alone may not be enough to power all the electrical devices in your home; therefore, it is a good idea to consider in a hybrid system that also incorporates wind energy to produce electricity.

3. Consider Alternative Options like Small Off-Grid Systems, Grid-Tied Systems to Sell Energy and Backup Your Home

Off-grid systems are what you will need if you want to be independent of the utility companies, but they can also be too costly for many homeowners. Therefore, you may want to consider other options, such as a grid-tied system that is connected to the power grid. The grid-tied system will give you the option to sell power back to the grid, as well as have solar energy to backup your home during power outages, and energy from the grid when the panels do not produce enough energy to power your home.

4. Research Smaller Solar Solutions for Green Electricity to Power Your Home and Cut Utility Bills

In addition to large solar panel arrays, there are also options for smaller solar energy solutions around your home. You may want to use green solar power to add an outlet and light to a tool shed, garage or install small solar panels to power landscape lighting and outdoor equipment like a pond pump.

With good planning, your investment in green renewable energy will eliminate your power bills or completely. If you need help with converting your electrical system to green energy, contact electrical companies like Palmer Electric Inc. and talk to them about upgrading your home's electrical service with solar panels and a grid-tied system.