Nowadays, it seems like everyone is talking about alternative energy. Many individuals are installing solar panels on their homes to power them entirely off the grid. Will a home solar system be able to meet all of my electricity demands? Let’s look at how much electricity your household consumes every day and what you can expect from your solar panels to answer that question.
What You Need to Know About Your Home’s Electricity Usage
The truth is that your home probably uses more electricity than you think. Several things in your household take energy, including the fridge and freezer, lights, washing machine/dryer, dishwasher, ovens or stoves, water heater(s), computers & monitors (even if they are turned off), TVs, entertainment systems (sound system and television) and any other electronic devices. If you have a big household or many members of your family use electronic devices daily for studying, work, etc., then that number will increase dramatically.
How Many Kilowatts Do I Need?
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the unit that measures your electricity usage. The average American household uses 920 kWh every month, according to the U.S Department of Energy. That means you’re using about 1250 kWh per month if most members of your family are using modern electronic devices. If you’re not, then that number will drop to around 800 kWh per month.
How Much Energy Will My Solar Panels Generate?
This is the most critical question in determining whether or not your solar panels can meet all of your energy demands. This depends on several factors, including The size and type of solar panels you install, how many hours of sunlight your home receives, and what kind of energy demands that you have on a daily/monthly basis.
It’s essential to keep in mind that some days will be cloudy, so the amount of electricity produced by your solar panels may vary from day today. For example, if you live somewhere where the sun shines for about six hours a day, your solar panels will produce around 1800 kWh per year.
However, if you live somewhere where the sun shines between 12 and 14 hours every day of the month (for example, in Mexico or Hawaii), that number can jump to around 3800 kWh per year. In other words, living somewhere where there’s abundant sunlight can increase your solar panel’s production by almost double.
The Best Advice for Solar Power Owners
If you’re still unsure about whether or not a home solar system will produce enough energy to cover all of your electricity demands, then it may be best that you consult an expert in the field. These days, many solar panel installation companies can perform a complete evaluation of the amount of energy you use every day and how many solar panels it would take to produce all of your electricity. They’ll also install them at an affordable rate, which is better than purchasing a home solar system yourself.
It is essential to understand that a residential solar system does not need to provide all the electricity you need to be of great value. A small system that displaces an average of one-quarter to one-half of your average demand reduces your electric bill. It can deliver uninterrupted power to critical loads during utility outages for days or weeks with battery backup. We are happy to provide you with a system that supplies 100 percent of your energy needs, but cutting your electricity by 40 to 50 percent is typically the most cost-efficient approach for home solar power.