How Many Solar Panels Would I Need to Power My House?

by Aug 14, 2019Solar Panel Tips

Kosmos Solar is your premier solar energy source in Dallas-Fort Worth. There has never been a better time to go solar! Renewable energy usage is up all across the nation, and prices are competitive. If you’ve been thinking of making the switch to solar energy, give us a call or check out our website to see why we’re a trusted name in solar panel installation and maintenance.

People who are considering solar panels usually ask us how many it will take to power their home. This is a great question. A very loose estimate would be a 4,330-12,400 watt array for a 2,000 square foot house. Arrays of this size are typically made up of 14 to 40 solar panels, depending on the panels’ design and usage. This is just a guideline; your household’s actual energy consumption depends on many factors besides your home’s square footage.solar panel installation dfw

Factors to Consider

The number of solar panels you need depends on your lifestyle, your solar energy expectations and goals, and much more. Our team will be happy to consult with you and help you decide on the best solar strategy to fit your needs. Some things to consider include:

Your Energy Consumption. This is perhaps the most important factor to consider when determining how many solar panels you’ll need to power your home. Take a look at your lifestyle. Do you live alone and spend most of your day at work and your evenings out with family and friends? If so, your energy needs are much lower than a family of six who use a lot of electronics and keep their thermostat set low all day and night.

Your Expectations. What are your goals for having solar panels installed on your house? Are you looking to reduce your energy bill a bit, or completely end your reliance on coal-powered energy? Once you decide on a goal, Kosmos Solar can help calculate your projected energy requirements and tell you how many solar panels you will need.

Your Energy Provider. Your energy provider’s records can be very helpful in figuring out how much energy you use. Show us your average monthly bill and we can count how many kilowatt hours of power your solar panels will need to produce, and how many panels it will take to produce that number.

Net Metering. Net metering gives you credit for any excess solar power your home generates. The excess is sent to the utility grid and you are given a credit for each extra kilowatt hour. At night or during cloudy weather, you can use these banked hours in exchange for your credits. We will design a solar array that produces power equal to your annual kilowatt hour usage.

Your Roof. Most roofs are suitable for solar panel installation, but some roofs aren’t efficient for large solar arrays because of their size, slope, or direction. If your roof is too small to support the number of solar panels needed to power your home, we can discuss alternatives such as ground-mounted solar arrays.

Kosmos Solar: We Give You the Green Light

Green energy solutions have surged in popularity for homes and businesses. 2019 saw, for the first time, all combined sources of renewable energy outperform all combined sources of fossil fuels in the US. This is an amazing milestone along the path to 100% renewable energy nationwide. Solar and other green energy sources are more than just a trend; they are necessary and eco-friendly alternatives to coal-powered electricity. When you’re ready to go green, call Kosmos Solar! We serve the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.