Energy prices continue to soar, leaving many homeowners wondering how they can cut their monthly costs and save money. Knowing that solar power is a renewable resource, many invest in it for their home to drastically reduce their expenses. So can a house run on solar power alone? Can you run your whole house with solar power? Here are all the possibilities!
Can a House Run on Solar Power Alone? Here’s The Answer
The short answer is yes! If you’re wanting to power your home with only solar, it is possible. However, before you begin, it’s important to optimize how much energy you use in the home.
Why is it important to do this? If you optimize how much energy you use, you won’t need as big of a system to completely cover your costs. To save money on your solar installation, make sure you have some great energy-saving habits beforehand. These precautions include:
- Picking energy-efficient lightbulbs and electric appliances
- Only using electricity when you need it and unplugging energy vampires (which continue to use power, even when shut off)
- Setting your thermostat to optimal temperatures that won’t waste energy, or using a smart thermostat
- Make sure your home insulation is in check and fixing air leaks
- Using less hot water
Doing all of these things is a great way to save on energy bills each month. If you use less energy, you may also save money by not needing as many solar panels to power your home. However, it’s important to know the other factors that can affect the size of the system you’ll need.
How Can You Run Your Whole House On Solar Power?
To completely power a home with solar, you’ll need the right size of system and type of panels. This will be a bigger system than one that’s meant to partially power a house. Because of this, it’s important to know how to deal with the upfront cost and how exactly to choose the right system to completely cover energy for your home.
Solar Is An Investment, But You Don’t Have To Break The Bank
We consider solar power an investment. It has a high upfront cost, especially if you want to eliminate your energy bills. However, those slashed energy expenses are the return on your investment.
Even when considering the ROI, it can be hard for homeowners to justify such a big initial expense. However, a great solar installer will work with you to find your most cost-effective option. You might want to start small and anticipate adding on to your solar energy system over time.
Despite paying more upfront than other sources of energy, owners of solar energy systems reap benefits that make the cost worth it. These include tax credits that reduce the cost of installation. Through energy bill savings, solar owners get back the money they paid for the system in an average of 6-7 years. From there, the savings continue on!
To find the correct system that will make these savings a reality for you, follow these next steps, and use our solar calculator for a rough estimate.
Calculate The Wattage You Need to Cover Your Home
To find out how much solar energy you need to offset your energy expenses, here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Know your average monthly electric bill. You can find this out either by using an electricity bill calculator or averaging out previous bills.
- Find out your average daily sunlight hours. You can learn the average number of daylight hours each day for every state. You won’t truly know until you receive a comprehensive inspection, so it’s crucial to keep in mind that your home’s orientation and environment can alter the amount of sunshine you get.
- Know the bill offsetting goal, which may be 100%.
- Enter this information into our solar calculator for an idea of what system you’ll need. The actual size you wind up with will depend on your budget, the amount of energy you need to pay your basic expenses, how much you want to maximize ROI, and how much roof space you have available. You’ll be able to hit your goals if you connect with a reliable solar provider. At Energy Shield, we collaborate with you to identify the best cost-effective choice that results in significant energy savings.
Choose An Efficient System and a Great Company
Not all solar panels are created equal. Top-notch panels will help you gather enough power to run your whole home. That’s why it’s important to choose the best solar panels for your installation and situation.
We at Energy Shield of New Hampshire use and advocate Q CELLS 400 W solar panels due to their high standard of excellence, strength, and affordability. These panels yield high amounts of energy, even under extreme weather conditions, making it easier than ever to provide significant power to your home. Along with Q CELLS, there are plenty of solar brands that can help you get the power you need to completely offset your energy bills.
Along with choosing a great brand of panels, it’s important to work with a local and trusted solar installer. There are plenty of solar scams out there, so it’s crucial to know who to avoid. Any business that must use strong persuasion to get customers to buy its product (regardless of whether it exists or not) is not trustworthy. Always ignore businesses that randomly call or come to your door to try to sell you something.
The best way to go is to do your research and shop around for reputable solar companies. Compare and contrast your best options, and soon you’ll be on your way to starting a relationship with a trusted local business.
Energy Shield of New Hampshire: Your Leading Solar Installers
We established Energy Shield of New Hampshire more than 4 decades ago to offer services for home renovation and sustainable energy to our neighborhood. We are a family-run company that values forming enduring relationships with clients and increasing the magnificence of their homes. Repeat customers, recommendations from home and business owners, and the Better Business Bureau have all praised our work. For a superior NH solar installation, pick Energy Shield!
