Solar systems are not luxury anymore, it’s a necessity of most of the house owners in the USA. People who installed solar panels can generate their own electricity so that they can save their expenses. But that doesn’t mean you install solar panels and get unlimited benefits. Your location can dramatically affect solar energy efficiency. You will notice some houses with solar panels can generate more power than others only because of location. However, solar panels absorb sunlight to receive photovoltaic cells and convert it into electric energy. So, the more sunlight your solar panels will get the more electricity they can produce for your house. That’s why the location is very important for solar panels to perform effectively. How does location play a role in solar energy efficiency? The place you put your solar panels makes a big difference in how much energy they can make. So, it’s important which states you live in and how the environment is. Usually, good locations means long days, maximum time of sun peak hour, and less cloudy and rainy days. If you live in an area which is close to the equator, your solar panels receive more direct sunlight throughout the year. The sun’s path across the sky and its angle relative to the Earth’s surface. This angle is the solar altitude angle which varies significantly with latitude. In the United States, southwestern locations like Arizona and New Mexico receive approximately 6-7 kWh/m² of solar energy per day. But the areas in the Pacific Northwest only receive 4-5 kWh/m². This difference happens only for geographical location and their environments. Climate and Weather Patterns Weather patterns and local climate conditions also significantly influence solar panel efficiency. In the United States, the weather and climate of all states are not the same. Some states […]
Winter is on the way and you are thinking about how to keep snow off your solar panels. Snow can be a big problem for every house owner who has solar panels. Although, during winter season days are pretty good for solar panels to produce electricity, heavy snowfall can block sunlight. As a result, solar panels can’t receive enough sunlight to generate electric energy. However, there are several methods that you can follow to manage snow during winter months. Why is it necessary to remove snow from solar panels? Most of the time snow naturally slides off from solar panels because solar panels are positioned in a certain angle. Still I will suggest it’s better to remove snow from solar panels after a few days during winter. Heavy snowfall can completely block the panels and reduce electricity production. Also, snow accumulation can create several problems that you can’t ignore. Impact on Energy Production Whenever it’s snowfall days I see a big difference in energy production of my solar panels. As we know, without sunlight solar panels are useless, and even a thin layer of snow can impact on their efficiency. If you don’t remove the snow for a couple of days it can turn the electric production to zero. Research from the National Energy Laboratory shows that snow coverage can reduce your annual energy production by up to 15%. Usually, winter days are shorter than other seasons. As usual, solar panels don’t get enough time to charge properly. Also, in winter we need extra electricity especially for heaters to keep our house warm. If solar panels can’t receive proper sunlight it will be challenging to meet the household energy demands. Potential Damage During heavy snowfall days, we are pretty familiar with snow-layered solar panels. Even the sun doesn’t appear for […]
Most people in the USA use solar power systems because it’s a cost-effective way to reduce electricity bills. As we know how expensive electric bills are. In the United States, the average houses are 2500 sq ft. If you install solar power systems instead of the main power grid, you can save your expenses for a long time. Usually, solar panels receive photovoltaic cells from direct sunlight and convert it to electric energy. However, if you are thinking about installing solar panels and want to know how much solar panels cost for a 2000 square foot house, then this guide will help you. First, you have to understand how many solar panels you need for your house. Although, it depends on various factors such as your electricity usage, the number of electronic devices and appliances, and the region you live in. Let’s take a look at how many solar panels do you need first. How Many Panels Are Needed For A 2000 Sq Ft Home? Usually, 2000 sq ft houses need between 17 and 21 solar panels to meet the requirements of power energy. Though most houses in the USA are 2500 sq ft that need typically 15 to 19 solar panels. But the main factor is not how many square feet your house is, there are several things to count. Initially, you have to calculate your annual electricity usage. The more appliances and electronic devices you use the more electricity you need. Also, your house must have a south facing roof where you install solar panels to get full amount of sunlight during daytime. That’s how your solar panels can generate enough electric energy for your house. If you live in a sunny region like Arizona or Michigan then it’s easy to get full sunlight for maximum time in […]
Solar systems are a great way to get electricity, especially when you’re traveling in your RV or Camper. Most RV owners in the United States, choose solar panels to produce their own electricity for their daily needs. Whenever I go out with my RV, I need to use a generator or campground electricity. But once I install solar panels on my RV, I don’t have to worry about my electronic appliances. However, I like solar panels because they are portable and easy to set up. Also, solar power lets me run my electronic appliances and charge my devices. That’s why most RV owners are now interested in installing solar systems due to its ease of use. Hence, RV solar panels are pretty expensive, but it is a lifetime investment that benefits you for a long time. In this guide, I will explain why you need solar panels for RV. Why Choose Solar Power for Your RV? After installing a solar power system on my RV roofs, I found it convenient to keep electronic devices and appliances running anywhere. However, solar power gives me the freedom to produce my own electricity to charge my electronic devices. Using campground electricity requires extra money. Also, every place doesn’t have campground hookups, so I had to use noisy generators sometimes. Thanks to solar power systems, now I can plan to go or stay in a more remote location with my RV. However, solar panel systems are silent and eco friendly, and don’t make noise like generators. If you love peace of nature you should choose solar power over generators. Also, solar panels need little maintenance after installation. RV solar panels are portable and easy to set up, so you can install them on the roof or on the spot where you stay. Usually, solar […]
Solar panels are highly effective electronic devices that can reduce or even waive our monthly electricity bills. Most people are now using solar systems in their houses to cut down electricity bills. Solar panels generate their own electricity by converting photovoltaic cells from sunlight into heat energy. As solar panels are installed on the roofs of the house, it needs to be cleaned after certain periods. Usually, debris and dirt are blown with the wind, and can jam the solar panel. Also, if you don’t clean your solar panels, it can affect electricity production. In this guide, we will explain how often you should clean your solar panels. How often should you clean off solar panels? Experts recommend it’s better to clean solar panels every six months or at least twice a year. Usually, solar panels are installed on the roof of the house or open places where it can get direct sunlight. Roofs are open to debris, air particles, bird droppings, dirt, etc. Thus, solar panels can easily get a layer of dirt that can block direct sunlight. As a result, solar panels can’t work perfectly as before and reduce 20% of electricity generation. So, it’s very important to clean your solar panel regularly. However, you can clean your solar panel when it gets dirty or every six months. Also, it depends on the types of your solar panels. If your solar panels are an old model like you have been using for years, need more frequent cleaning. How do I know if my solar panels need to be cleaned? Solar panels usually get dirty after a few months of installation. Also, it depends on the environment where you live. If you live in a place where the environment is snowy or rainy then your solar panel gets a […]
Electricity expenses are the common concern for most house owners in the USA. That’s the reason people are now using solar power systems to minimize their electric bills. Once you install solar panels you will see a huge difference in your electric bill. Solar panels absorb sunlight and then convert it into heat or thermal energy. Usually, people use their roofs to install solar panels because the place is perfect for receiving direct sunlight. You can reduce your electric bill by using solar power instead of the main power grid. Although installing solar systems is expensive, it’s a lifetime investment. In this guide, we will explain how solar panels work with your electric bill. How Do Solar Panels Work On A House? Solar panels usually work in daylight, they can’t work without sun. When you install solar panels they absorb photovoltaic (PV) cells from sunlight and produce electric energy. That’s why you have to put the panels on the open place like roofs or outdoors. If you have south face roofs, place your panels there to get direct sunlight. First, solar panels produce Direct Current electricity (DC), then an inverter transforms this DC electricity into Alternative Current (AC) electricity. After this transformation, it is usable for your home. You can use this electricity from the power equipment. Also, you can store it in a battery for use later, especially at night or on rainy days. Once you install solar panels, you don’t have to use electricity from the main power grid until the stored electricity runs out. Besides, you can send back extra electricity to the main power grid and make some money. However, how much electricity your solar panels can produce will depend on some key factors. The main factor is your location and the peak hour of the […]