Five Steps for Planning and Designing a Residential Solar System in Idaho
Whether you live in one of Idaho’s growing urban neighborhoods or out in
the state’s more rural areas, solar is an increasingly viable way to
power your home or business.
If you’re a Solar Meridian customer or live elsewhere in the state, you’ve likely heard about the myriad benefits of solar electricity. However, the technical side of solar is often less understood by consumers, especially when it comes time to designing and financing a solar system. The age, angle, and direction of your roof, your local climate, HOA restrictions, financing opportunities, and the physical dimensions of your solar system are all factored in the overall design.
Follow these steps from the U.S. Department of Energy when planning your home’s solar system and be sure to work with a reputable solar installation company to see the job through.
1. Look for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
In order to design and install a solar system that can meet your energy needs, first look for ways to eliminate existing inefficiencies, such as drafty windows or attic spaces. A home energy audit can help pinpoint where your home is losing energy and can help reduce the amount of electricity required from a new system.
2. Evaluate Your Sunlight
In order to assess how much sun your roof receives, evaluate nearby shade trees (as well as the trees that are still growing), the number sunlight hours your south-facing roof receives, and whether there are any neighborhood restrictions on solar installations.
3. Estimate Your Electricity Needs
This is where you start to form the base estimate for your new solar system. Review your electricity bills to determine your energy consumption (typically shown in kilowatt-hours), and start to estimate your minimum, peak, and average use. Keep in mind any energy retrofits you make, such as new windows, that will impact your overall electricity needs.
4. Work with a Solar Installation Company to Estimate Your System Size
The size of your rooftop solar system will depend primarily on your square footage and energy use. In order to estimate the size of your solar panel, you will need to know:
· Monthly Energy Use: The average American household uses just under 1,000kWh of electricity per month, though there is wide variation among states. Idaho is actually right around average, at 982kWh per month.
· Current Electricity Rate: Idaho residential customers pay an average of 10.46 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that the average size of a residential photovoltaic system in the United States is roughly 5kW, which requires around 400 square feet of rooftop space.A 5kW system can produce between 400 and 800kWh of electricity each month, depending on the amount of unobstructed sunlight each day.
So, if you use 1,000kWh of electricity each month and your system produces 500kWh per month, your solar system could reduce your monthly energy bill in half (on the low end). While this is just a rough estimate, it can be a useful starting point.
5. Review Your Financing Options
A 5kW solar system can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000, not factoring in any tax credits or rebates. However, Twin Falls solar customers and others throughout the state of Idaho have a variety of financing options, including:
· Paying outright with a cash or loan (i.e., large up-front sum).
· Leasing it from the solar company (i.e., monthly payments).
· Entering into a power purchase agreement, which is legal in Idaho.
You will also want to factor in the levelized cost of power, since your electricity rate from solar will remain level year-to-year, yielding monthly cost savings compared to traditional energy sources.
About EvenGreen Technology
Idaho Solar Installation company, EvenGreen Technology (EGT Solar), is Idaho’s largest solar company by installed volume over their eight-year business history. EvenGreen Technology is an energy management Boise company that provides an education-first approach to clearly educate clients on what will be a best fit for their needs. Offering a wide array of inverter and battery options allows clients to prepare for future needs and modify the system very seamlessly. EvenGreen Technology is the only Idaho-based solar energy company to make the Solar Power World Top 500 Solar Contractor list in each of the last two years.
For more information, visit Evengreentechnology.com
If you’re a Solar Meridian customer or live elsewhere in the state, you’ve likely heard about the myriad benefits of solar electricity. However, the technical side of solar is often less understood by consumers, especially when it comes time to designing and financing a solar system. The age, angle, and direction of your roof, your local climate, HOA restrictions, financing opportunities, and the physical dimensions of your solar system are all factored in the overall design.
Follow these steps from the U.S. Department of Energy when planning your home’s solar system and be sure to work with a reputable solar installation company to see the job through.
1. Look for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
In order to design and install a solar system that can meet your energy needs, first look for ways to eliminate existing inefficiencies, such as drafty windows or attic spaces. A home energy audit can help pinpoint where your home is losing energy and can help reduce the amount of electricity required from a new system.
2. Evaluate Your Sunlight
In order to assess how much sun your roof receives, evaluate nearby shade trees (as well as the trees that are still growing), the number sunlight hours your south-facing roof receives, and whether there are any neighborhood restrictions on solar installations.
3. Estimate Your Electricity Needs
This is where you start to form the base estimate for your new solar system. Review your electricity bills to determine your energy consumption (typically shown in kilowatt-hours), and start to estimate your minimum, peak, and average use. Keep in mind any energy retrofits you make, such as new windows, that will impact your overall electricity needs.
4. Work with a Solar Installation Company to Estimate Your System Size
The size of your rooftop solar system will depend primarily on your square footage and energy use. In order to estimate the size of your solar panel, you will need to know:
· Monthly Energy Use: The average American household uses just under 1,000kWh of electricity per month, though there is wide variation among states. Idaho is actually right around average, at 982kWh per month.
· Current Electricity Rate: Idaho residential customers pay an average of 10.46 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that the average size of a residential photovoltaic system in the United States is roughly 5kW, which requires around 400 square feet of rooftop space.A 5kW system can produce between 400 and 800kWh of electricity each month, depending on the amount of unobstructed sunlight each day.
So, if you use 1,000kWh of electricity each month and your system produces 500kWh per month, your solar system could reduce your monthly energy bill in half (on the low end). While this is just a rough estimate, it can be a useful starting point.
5. Review Your Financing Options
A 5kW solar system can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000, not factoring in any tax credits or rebates. However, Twin Falls solar customers and others throughout the state of Idaho have a variety of financing options, including:
· Paying outright with a cash or loan (i.e., large up-front sum).
· Leasing it from the solar company (i.e., monthly payments).
· Entering into a power purchase agreement, which is legal in Idaho.
You will also want to factor in the levelized cost of power, since your electricity rate from solar will remain level year-to-year, yielding monthly cost savings compared to traditional energy sources.
About EvenGreen Technology
Idaho Solar Installation company, EvenGreen Technology (EGT Solar), is Idaho’s largest solar company by installed volume over their eight-year business history. EvenGreen Technology is an energy management Boise company that provides an education-first approach to clearly educate clients on what will be a best fit for their needs. Offering a wide array of inverter and battery options allows clients to prepare for future needs and modify the system very seamlessly. EvenGreen Technology is the only Idaho-based solar energy company to make the Solar Power World Top 500 Solar Contractor list in each of the last two years.
For more information, visit Evengreentechnology.com
Comments
Post a Comment