Solar panels are an excellent means of offsetting your energy costs. These panels can also reduce your environmental impact and provide you with numerous other benefits, such as contributing to energy independence. If you are looking to power your home with solar panels, you will need to know how many panels it takes to power an average house. 

Factors That Determine the Number of Solar Panels You Will Need

The size of your home is not what determines how many solar panels you will need, which surprises many homeowners. Having a bigger home does not mean you will consume more energy. The factors that do determine how many solar panels your home will need include:

• The direction of your roof
        A roof that faces the south will receive more sunlight than those that face north
• How much energy or wattage the solar panels you purchase can produce
       Different companies construct solar panels using various materials. Depending on the material used will
       give you different energy efficiency levels. With different energy efficiency levels means some panels
       produce more energy than others of the same size under the same amount of sunlight
• Amount of energy use in your home
       To understand how much energy your home uses, check the kWh used on your utility bill
• The average amount of sunlight in your area
       Check with Westhaven Power to learn how much sunlight your area receives or check the map (Global
       Horizontal Solar Irradiance) to locate your region

Calculate the Number of Solar Panels Needed for Average Home

Knowing what the United States electrical use average is will help you in calculating the number of panels your home should have. In 2019, the average monthly consumption was 877 kWh a month for an average home, 29.23 kWh a day, and 10,649 kWh a year. Remember these amounts are an average and your home may be higher or lower than these numbers. Knowing the average will help you through these steps to calculate the number of panels that will work for your house:

1. First Step: Determine the electricity usage in your home. Look at your most recent utility bill to see the amount of kWhs your home uses.
2. Second Step: Determine if your roof faces south and whether or not any objects would block the panels, such as trees. All homes are different and use different amounts of power. Factors that will determine how effective your solar panels will be are which direction your roof faces, and the climate where you live. If your roof faces the south and there are no trees to shade it, go to step 3. If your roof does not face south, or it is shaded, you will want to check with Westhaven Power to determine the best location for solar panels on your house.
3. Third Step: Determine how much sunlight your area receives. The number of solar panels your home will need, or the size of the solar system depends on how much electricity you consume. These amounts will vary by region in the country as some parts of the country have more sun than others. The Global Horizontal Solar Irradiance mentioned above will help you to determine this for your area. 

The numbers will vary by household, your home's energy use could be different than the average. You can check with Westhaven Power to learn what is typical for your area or use the solar calculator here. 

Where to Find Solar Panel Installer

If you are worried about your utility costs, and unreliable power company's service, Westhaven Power can help you determine the effectiveness of solar panels. We work with top brands to provide you with reliable service. Book an appointment today to learn more about your options.