How to Prepare for Your Solar Panel Installation

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How to Prepare for Your Solar Panel Installation

Oct 26, 2022

Thinking about installing solar panels? According to The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, rooftop solar panels can supply the U.S. with about 40% of the total electricity required. There are several advantages to generating your own energy at home. The first is that your electricity bill becomes cheaper. If you have decided to go ahead with solar, there are a few things you should do ahead of time. Here's how you can prepare for your solar panel installation.

Decide How Much Electricity You Need

Before you can install a solar panel system on your home, you should first determine the amount of energy you want to produce. This will help you determine the size of the system you should be getting. To get an idea of how much energy is needed to power your home, you can order a home energy audit. A solar system installation expert can help you determine the size of the solar panel system needed for your home. They can also help you figure out your energy storage needs. Apart from your home's energy needs, you should also consider the amount of space available on your roof.

Consider Where the Solar Panels Will Go

It's important to figure out where your solar panels will go beforehand. That way, you can prepare your roof for the extra weight. It's important to order a roof inspection before the solar panel installation. If your roof is damaged, you should get it repaired first. Installation of solar panels on a damaged roof is not a good idea, and it can even lead to further damage. In some instances, you may also have to do some roof upgrades before you can install solar panels. Find the most reputable roofing contractor around you and tell them the weight of the panels you're considering. They can typically help you select the best spot for solar panels.

Get the Necessary Permits

If you want to put solar panels on your home, you need permits. Fortunately, the majority of solar installation companies will help you get all the necessary permits. Local authorities will require specifications for your equipment. They'll also want to see the system's design and your building plan. This is why it's a good idea for your solar installation company to take the lead. You can also look into opportunities for compensation from your utility company. In some states, you may be compensated for the excess electricity you produce.

To prepare for a solar panel installation, you should think about the permits you need, where the panels are going to go, and how much electricity you need to generate. If you're considering solar panels for your home, reach out to us today at Ethos Green Power Cooperative for a free quote and more information.

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What Is A Watt?

By 7074204880 • 18 Sep, 2024

Understanding Power in Watts Watts are a unit of power often associated with electricity, but watts also describe the power output of all kinds of work performed over time. This includes relatively simple tasks like lifting a bucket, rowing a boat, and riding a bike! Lifting a bucket: The work is done against gravity, and the power of lifting the bucket depends on its weight and how quickly you lift it. The power output to lift a 5-gallon bucket of water 1 meter off the ground in one second is approximately 185 watts Rowing a boat: The work is done by applying force to move the boat through water, and the power output depends on the rate of rowing. On flat water, the average power output of a canoe rower is typically around 200 watts . Riding a bike: The work is done against friction and air resistance, and the power output depends on how fast and forcefully you pedal. An average cyclist could produce about 150 Watts . Keep in mind that power output is measured every second. This means that the work needs to be done steadily and continuously to keep energy flowing. For example, if you want to power a video game console for one hour using a bicycle, you would need to ride the bike at a steady pace for an entire hour. How Many Watts Does A Solar Panel Produce? Solar panels come in different sizes with different outputs. A typical residential panel will produce between 400 - 500 watts. Ground mount and commercial panels can go as high as 700 watts with higher outputs being released every year. The Znshine 410 can produce 410 watts at peak performance. 1 MILLION WATT HOURS The watt is a small unit of power. Therefore, multiples of the watt, such as the kilowatt (1,000 watts) or the megawatt (one million watts), are often used to describe power outputs at larger scales. In fact, your electric bill is based on how many kilowatts you consume per hour. This measurement is known as a kilowatt hour (kWh). The average household in Wisconsin consumes about 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month. The industry rule of thumb is that 1 kilowatt (kW) of solar installed will produce 1,300-kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. So if your home uses 12,000 kWh per year, we'd estimate you need around a 9kW solar system to meet 100% of your energy needs. That’s about 22 410w solar panels. Or you could just plan on riding your bicycle 6,666 hours to generate enough electricity to power your home for one month! FYI, that’s the equivalent of riding 24/7 for over 275 days! Psst...did you know? A hummingbird uses 1.225 watts of power per second to fly? That’s 2% the energy needed to power a 60w light bulb!