Is Your House a Good Candidate for Solar Power?

Many people wonder if their houses are good candidates for solar power, and the answer just may convince you to initiate the solar panel installation process. Read on to learn whether your home has what it takes to host solar panels.

Roof Direction

Believe it or not, there is an ideal roof orientation for solar panels. If one side of your roof faces south, or if you have a flat roof—and can thereby angle the panels as you see fit—your home will experience more energy production than homes with roofs angled toward the east, west, or north. This is the case because we live in the northern hemisphere, meaning the sun is always in the southern half of the sky.

Shade

Naturally, the worst thing for solar panel production is shade. If you have tall trees or buildings surrounding your roof, you won’t get the most out of solar panels. Don’t worry, though! A little landscaping is often required to use solar panels effectively, so don’t be afraid to chop down a tree limb or a whole tree to clear space for ideal energy production.

Location

While every location in the United States gets enough sun for solar panels to be worthwhile, some areas are better than others. Installing solar power in Las Cruces, for example, is a fantastic idea because of all the sunny days with cloud-free skies. However, if you live in a rainier location, like Seattle, you may not enjoy the same energy production. While this may not disqualify your home from solar panels, it can make the prospect slightly less appealing.

Now that you know whether your house is a good candidate for solar power, remember that there are plenty of things you can do to improve your home’s candidacy if it isn’t ideal already. There are very few houses in the United States that are a definite no for solar—if you need a little help, call NM Solar Group. We’re happy to take a look at your home and provide you with a quote.