How Many Solar Panels Are Needed to Power a Home in New Mexico?
Solar energy is now gaining more relevance and momentum among people and industries worldwide. Why? Because renewable energy sources are seen as better alternatives to energy consumption. Unlike other sources of energy, we aren’t continuously harming the environment or worrying that one day, it will all run out. Since people are intrigued, of course, they want to know more. Thus, more people are asking us: how many solar panels are needed to power a home?
Factors to Consider on Solar Panels at Home
Remember that we cannot just decide that we will be changing to solar power without taking other things into consideration. There are several factors that we need to consider before installing solar panels at home. It is a good thing that many people are seeing the different advantages and perks of using solar energy for their houses. Still, they need to know that they cannot just install solar panels without considering these factors to optimize the usage of the home solar array.
Some of these factors include:
- Goals in using solar energy system at home
- The amount of energy the house uses (also known as home electricity usage)
- The amount of space on the roof that we can use to place solar panels on
- The climate and amount of sun at home
- The wattage the household uses
- Whether or not net metering is available in the state
How Many Solar Panels Should I Install?
With all the considerations being attended to, we can now figure out how many solar panels we should install to power up our homes.
In the United States, the average home consumes 10,400 kWh of electricity per year. If we installed a typical 250-watt solar panel, we would need 28-34 panels to generate enough energy to power our entire home. This is typically the average household in the United States, regardless of the state or the climate present.
Again, this number depends on the number of appliances requiring electricity at home, the frequency of its usage, and other factors, aside from the ones mentioned above. Not all houses can be powered with only 28 panels because some places might have more appliances that consume more electricity compared to the others.
We should consider additional factors so that we know our installation will be worth it. We highly recommend that you do some research first before commissioning a specialized team for solar panel installation. Most teams offer virtual consultations before recommending the best models for your home, depending on your needs.
What Are the Perks of Using Solar Power?
Solar customers enjoy many advantages when they use solar power infrastructures to power their homes and businesses. Most are perks that outweigh the disadvantages, so in short, it is an excellent investment to make a change in using solar energy for their homes. Here are some of the known advantages of using solar power.
There’s No Chance it Will Run Out
The most crucial benefit of using solar panels is that it is a truly renewable energy source. When we say renewable, we mean that it is highly sustainable, and we can access it every day. It can be used in all parts of the world and is available 24 hours a day. Unlike some other energy sources, solar energy cannot be depleted.
According to scientists, solar energy will be available as long as we have the sun, so the sunlight will be accessible to us for at least 5 billion years after the sun dies. The time is long enough to see the return of investment in installing solar panels for their households.
It Requires Little to No Maintenance
In general, solar power systems do not need much maintenance. We have to keep them relatively clean, so we clean them every few years.
We can always rely on specialist cleaners who offer this service from about $35-$50, if in doubt. Most reliable manufacturers of solar panels guarantee 20-25 years.
There is also no wear and tear because there are no moving parts. An inverter is usually the only part to be modified after 5-10 years. Solar energy is continually converted to electricity and heat.
Aside from the inverter, the cables also require some maintenance to ensure the maximum efficiency of the solar power system.
Therefore, we can expect very little maintenance and repair spending after covering the initial cost of the solar system.
As mentioned earlier, people can easily see the return of investment since it never runs out of source energy.
It Helps Reduce the Electricity Bills
Since the electricity generated by the solar energy system meets some of their energy needs, it can have a drastic change in the usual energy bills. The size of the solar system and the energy or heat use will be dependent on how much we save on our accounts.
This switch can have enormous advantages if, for example, a company uses commercial solar panels because large systems can cover a large amount of the energy bills. Since they save a lot of money from the electricity bills thanks to the solar panels, they can spend more on their family or business needs.
Why Make the Much Needed Switch?
Solar energy has many promises compared to its other competitors, and it can deliver on its promises. Many families and industries are now enjoying the benefits of using renewable energy sources such as solar energy.
New Mexico is an excellent state for solar energy. Our climate and overall atmosphere create the best potential for solar power infrastructure, allowing thousands of individuals to experience the advantages of having unlimited alternative energy. This advantage can come in handy in natural disasters, such as the violent snowstorms that crippled neighboring Texas, leaving them with minimal power supply.
Also, the United States is reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to improve the overall state of the environment. What can be a more meaningful contribution to the country as a fellow American if we can commit to preserving our environment. Using renewable sources to reduce our carbon footprint and emissions worldwide, we are showing that we genuinely care for Mother Earth.
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