In the last few years, the cost of producing solar energy has declined significantly due to advancements in technology and reduced material costs. This means that more and more homeowners are looking to install solar panels on their roofs to generate their own energy supply. And while there are many benefits to installing solar energy, there are also a few things you need to know before you begin.
Cost
The price of solar energy has declined significantly in recent years, and production has become much more efficient. This has made it possible for more and more homeowners to go solar. However, that doesn’t mean going solar is now easy or even affordable. You need to take into consideration several key factors when looking at the total cost of installing solar panels on your roof.
The first and most important factor to consider is the price of the solar panels themselves. The cost of solar panels will vary based on the type of solar array you are looking at purchasing, but it will generally be less than you would pay for traditional electricity generation. In some instances, you can get a full solar system (with solar panels and batteries) for less than what you would pay for one night at a luxurious hotel.
Size
Due to their nature, solar panels are typically designed to fit on the surface that you have available for them to attach to. This means that you need to take into consideration how much roof space you have and whether you want your solar panels to be sitting on top of one another or staggered across the whole surface.
The first option is called array alignment and the second is called grid-tie. The first one is commonly used when the location of the solar panels doesn’t matter and the second one is when the location does matter (like if you have two panels on the south side of your roof and one panel on the north side).
Generally speaking, solar panels in the range of 3 to 5 kw are affordable and easy to install. Anything larger and you will pay more – but it’s still worth it. And don’t worry about the math, the tax rebate makes it all worthwhile.
Repairs
Like anything else you will ever own, solar panels require maintenance to work at their best. Which means you will need to have someone come out once or twice a year to check and tighten up all the screws and bolts that connect the panels to the frame.
To minimize unnecessary costs, you can get the service provider to come out and perform the maintenance for you (which you will need to pay for somehow). Or, you can do it yourself (though it is not recommended to do so without proper training).
Odor
Odor is one of the main concerns when it comes to having solar panels on your roof. The truth is, solar panels create a lot of dust which can then become airborne and cause quite the odor. To avoid having your roof smell like a dust factory, you will need to regularly clean it with a vacuum cleaner.
To be safe, you should always use an odor mask when cleaning the roof and leave at least 10 feet of space between neighboring panels when you are doing the cleaning.
Appearance
Last but not least, we have the issue of appearance. When you have solar panels on your roof, you are going to be displaying a large power station, which is usually not what you want your guests and passersby to see when they look at your home. This is why it is recommended that you cover up the panels when they are not in use.
If you want to display them proudly, you can put up a sign or paint them white (which is the most common color for solar panels).
In Conclusion
Going solar is a fantastic way to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and become more environmentally conscious. But before you dive in, there are a few things you need to know. These are the materials needed to make solar energy, the cost, size, and appearance of the panels themselves, as well as routine maintenance and repairs.