Investing in solar energy is a wise solution for homeowners in Florida. To make the most of your solar panels, you’ll want to know how to accurately size the system to meet your household energy needs. The right size depends on your home’s energy needs, climate, the size of your roof and other factors. Below, we provide guidelines on how to select the right solar panel size for your Florida home.
How To Size a Solar Panel System
If you are considering going solar and are wondering how many solar panels you should install on your Florida home, below are guidelines to help you make the right decision.
Calculate Your Home’s Electricity Usage
The first step in determining the number of solar panels to install in your household is to understand your home’s energy consumption usage. To do this, follow these steps:
- Assemble your electric bills for the past year to compute your average monthly electricity consumption for your household. This will also enable you to identify peaks and valleys in your energy usage over the 12 months.
- Sum up your kilowatt-hour usage for all 12 months and divide by 12 to work out your average monthly electrical consumption.
- Divide your monthly usage by 30 to get your daily kWh usage.
Measure Your Roof
The size of your roof is a key determinant of how many solar panels you will need in your home. While a small house normally requires less energy, this isn’t always true. Measure the length and width of where you want your panels installed, and then multiply them to get the full square coverage. Measuring your roof can help you spot any limitations and establish if you require higher-rated solar panels. It’s best to let a professional solar installer help you with this.
Look at the Solar Panel Wattage
Wattage is a very important factor to consider when determining the size of solar panels to install in your home. Solar power wattage is the total amount of energy a panel can generate. Most solar panels produce between 250 and 400 watts of solar energy. It’s advisable to go for panels with a high wattage rating. While they may be costly in the start, they generate more electricity, making them a worthwhile investment in the long run.
Consider Your Home’s Sunlight and Climate
Florida’s climate is particularly favorable for solar power harvesting. Florida homeowners experience an impressive 237 sunlight days per year, making solar panels worth the investment. Generally, areas that receive sufficient and steady sunlight require fewer solar panels than regions that don’t.
Choose the Right Size Solar Panel System for Your Florida Home
Switching to solar energy will help you protect the environment and save money in the process. Solar panels come in varying sizes, and as explained above, the right size for your home can be determined by many factors.
Instead of handling everything by yourself, team up with a solar energy partner who knows how to size a solar system and can take you through the design process. At Solar Optimum, we assist homeowners in Polk County, Hillsborough County, Orange County, the Greater Orlando area, the Greater Tampa area and Central Florida. Contact us to find out more about the process and what going solar can do for you, and download a copy of the Ultimate Guide to Going Solar.
