How to Add Solar Panels to a House
- 1). Conduct a solar survey of your home to ensure a solar system will work for you. You'll need to live in an area where there are a good number of sunny days. Solar systems with an unobstructed, south-facing exposure are the most successful. You can obtain the appropriate climate information from the National Weather Service website at www.nws.noaa.gov/.
- 2). Determine how many kilowatt hours of energy the system must generate to power your home. Reference your last 12 electric bills to find the kilowatts used each month. Average these two figures, then divide by the hours of sun per month to get the kilowatt size of the solar system you will need. Use the following standards for hours of sun per month:
* coastal areas = 150
* mountain areas = 155
* sunny areas = 160 - 3). Consult your local planning office to learn any building code requirements and to apply for any necessary permits.
- 4). Devise your solar panel arrangement. If your roof does not face south, or has an obstructed south view which cannot be corrected, consider a trellis or a ground-mounted design. You'll need between 80 and 100 square feet of solar panels to produce one kilowatt of energy. The square footage necessary to meet all your energy needs depends on the use calculated in Step Two. Larger systems may require an experienced architect to create a visually appealing design that will also maximize efficiency.
- 5). Purchase the equipment necessary for your chosen installation method (rooftop, trellis, or ground). You can buy components online or from building or electrical-supply stores. Look for products made by established manufacturers with warranties that meet industry standards. For PV modules, the standard warranty ranges from 20 to 25 years. For grid-tied inverters, it's 10 years.
- 6). Install the solar system. If you don't have much electrical experience or your state or local government requires it, hire an electrician to handle the AC and DC disconnect and installation of the grid inverter and new breaker.
- 7). Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website to learn if your state offers net metering or other incentives or rebates that may reduce the cost of your system, as well as how to apply for them.
