As issues like fossil fuel emissions, as well as climate change, continue to make headlines and take their toll on the environment, the ultimate home improvement project is now centred on making your home as energy efficient and as “green” as possible.
While this does require quite a bit of an upfront investment you shouldn’t be dissuaded by the costs because, in the long run, you’ll actually save money and be more likely to get a higher return on your investment when ready to sell you property. But how exactly does someone convert any home into one that runs solely on clean solar power? Continue reading to learn more.
Installing Solar Panels in Ideal Locations
In order to get as much power from the sun as possible, you have to choose the ideal locations for the panels that will be placed on your roof. According to Flat Roof Repair Dublin | Flat Roof Contractors | Flat Roof Installation | Felt Roof Repairs – Flat Roofing Dublin, the perfect roof for solar panels is south facing and angled between 30 and 45 degrees. Solar panels installed on roofs like this will receive the maximum amount of sunlight. However, east and west facing roofs can also have solar panel installation. The solar panels will be just 15% less effective, so they are still a good option.
In terms of the amount surface area needed to install a large system that will be able to generate enough electricity to power your entire home, you may need up to 93 square metres of space and ample amounts of sunlight throughout the day to achieve the highest benefits. Therefore, if the roof is shaded by obstructions such as trees, the solar panels will be less effective.
Calculate How Many Solar Panels You Need to Install
Another factor to consider is how many panels you need to install in order to address your particular energy needs. Some households consume more energy than others, so you should perform a calculation to figure out the ideal number of panels for your property if you want to run your home completely on solar power though a commercial solar panel installation.
Begin by calculating the daily average for electrical demand for your household. This should be in kilowatt-hours. Then multiply this number by 0.25 to get an idea of the size of the solar array you’ll need to meet this daily demand.
Remember, though, that other factors should be considered as well, including the angle of your roof, how shaded it is, and the climate of your region.
Other Installation Options
For homes that are unable to get enough solar panels on the roof to fulfil energy demands, there are other installation options. These include pergola applications, ground mounts, and trellis options.
Solar Energy to Heat Your Home
If you’re able to carefully and precisely route your home’s plumbing system, you can heat water that can then be used to heat your home as it pumps throughout your property. This would reduce your need to use fuel or electricity to keep your home comfortable when the temperature drops.
Technology That Continues to Improve
The technology behind today’s solar panels is really just the beginning. It’s continually improving, so these panels and the means by which humans can fully harness the energy of the sun’s rays will only get better with time. Take, for example, the news released about fully transparent solar cells that can be used on any screen or window on a variety of buildings, as well as on small handheld devices like smartphones. Researchers want to keep these types of solar cells affordable so more people can employ them for private and commercial uses.
These transparent pieces of glass or plastic would make solar energy production more aesthetically pleasing, drawing in the types of people who’d otherwise avoid the use of solar power because of the unattractive appearance of conventional panels.
There are plenty of great reasons to convert your home into one that no longer relies upon fossil fuels and instead uses clean energy to power your every need. The sun’s rays that shine down onto the Earth every day are strong enough to allow life to flourish all over the planet, so they’re also strong enough to power your appliances and electronics. Taking the step to run your home completely on solar power would be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to boost your property’s value and modernise it for the 21st century.