Solar Power System

Helpful guidelines for adding a home solar system to an existing home.

Well designed solar powered homes use various techniques to keep the cost of the actual array as low as possible.

If you're thinking of adding a solar power system to your existing home you'll find tips to guide you through the process and lots of information on keeping the cost of your solar power house down. If you're building a solar power house from scratch you'll want to check here for information that better applies to your situation.

The first phase is trimming your energy use in every way you can while still living comfortably.

• Passive Solar

  Don't underestimate the power of passive solar concepts. Reducing the actual need for energy in the first place has a dramatic impact on the number of solar panels required to solar power your home.Incorporating as many passive solar techniques as possible in your existing home will go a long way in keeping the cost of your home solar power system down.




• Reduce Your Use

  It's time to take a hard look at reducing your energy consumption. Here are lots of tips for painlessly cutting energy costs at home. If you've looked at the cost of solar energy systems I don't have to tell you that you don't want to buy a huge system to power unnecessary items and wasteful habits.




• Replace Appliances

  Some appliances should be switched to gas (the ones that are not realistic to run on solar power) like a stovetop, oven and dryer. These appliances use huge amounts of electricity and it actually makes more sense to power them with gas. When the time comes to replace your existing appliances like refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, etc., buy the most energy efficient models on the market.









• Solar Hot Water Heater

  As much as one third of your household energy costs result from heating water. Your photovoltaic solar power system will cost less if you use a lower tech solar water heater. No point spending the big bucks heating water when that job can be done relatively inexpensively with a thermal system.




Here are some water heating options available on the world wide web:






The new kid on the block is the tankless water heater that heats only the water you need and never runs out.






Once you've trimmed your energy costs, start looking at prices. Remember there are new technologies being researched every day and it won't be long before lighter weight and less expensive solar collectors will be on the market.





• Look for Incentive Programs

  Many countries, states/provinces and municipalities offer generous incentives for switching to renewable energy. If you live in the US check here for available incentive programs.




• Size Your System

  Sizing a system is just a fancy term for figuring out how many solar panels you require. Here is where you decide if you intend to power all of your household needs with solar or tie into the grid. An independent system should be sized to the month in which you used the mostpower. Make adjustments according to the energy saving changes you made in the previous steps. You can always add panels to your solar array at a later date. Remember that the actual panels represent only about half of the cost of an independent solar energy system. A battery bank, inverter, a variety of installation hardware and the cost of installation will make up the rest.
  No need to size a grid tie system since the grid power picks up where the solar power system leaves off. Check to see if tying into the grid is an option in your area.




• Decide Where to Install Your Solar Power System

  Most homeowners install a solar energy system on the roof of the house although there are lots of other options. Check below for some roof considerations that need a look before you install your solar array.




• Select Your Solar Panel Provider

  There are numerous companies that manufacture solar panels. Many distrubutors deal in more than one brand, particularly on the internet.




• Choose an Installer

  Select 3 installers and make inquiries about cost, when they're available and references. Talk to homeowners who have used them and have a look at a solar power system or two that they have installed if possible.

Roof Considerations

Along with such things as fire resistance, warranty, and aesthetics remember the added weight of a solar array and that repairs to a roof cannot be completed while the panels are in place. Your panels can be expected to last for more than 30 years and removing and reinstalling a solar array while roof repairs are undertaken can be very costly. Examine your roof for worthiness before adding your array. At the moment panels are heavy and cumbersome but new technologies are emerging that promise light weight and more efficient options many of which can be incorporated right into your roofing materials. Check our solar news page for upcoming solar solutions.

• Orientation

  Ideally, you want a roof that faces the sun for most of the day and is not shaded for any length of time by trees or buildings. In the Northern hemisphere the best orientation is South followed by West then East. In the Southern hemisphere it's North then West then East.




• Cant or Angle

  The angle at which the panels are displayed is also important. The solar panels are most effective when canted at an angle that is the same as your latitude plus or minus 15 degrees. The 15 degree adjustment compensates for the change in the sun's angle between summer and winter. In the northern hemisphere add 15 degrees in the winter (the sharper angle follows the low angle of the winter sun). In the summer, subtract 15 degrees to account for the high arc the summer sun makes over your home. Reverse this in the southern hemisphere. If your panels will be permanently mounted and non adjustable most homeowners choose to place the array in the position that works best for the month in which the most power is used. Checking your monthly power bills from last year will tell which month that is. When using solar shingles or solar materials that are incorporated directly into the roofing materials the cant and orientation of your roof becomes more important because you won't be able to adjust the panels or angle them at a better pitch.




• Condition

  How old is your roof? How much time is left on the warranty? What kind of condition is it in? Is your roof structure capable of handling the added weight of a solar array? All of these questions need to be answered before placing your array. Installing a solar array on a roof that is reaching the end of it's life is a poor option and will cost more in the long run.

All is not lost if your roof is less than ideal for the collection of solar rays, there are other options available such as angling the panels themselves, adding a veranda roof, assembling the array on the ground, making awnings out of solar panels, or mounting the panels on poles and adding a tracking system that follows the track of the sun.