If you’re thinking of installing solar panels on your property’s rooftop, you are joining many others on a similar quest. Solar has become increasingly common as solar costs are on the decline, accompanied by strong solar tax incentives.
Over the past decade, over 14,000 commercial spaces and 21,000 residential homes within the United States have installed a solar panel system in place. These numbers are only on the rise as we head into the future.
However, before you go ahead and purchase solar panels for your new residential solar system, here are some factors that you should consider. Read on to learn what qualities might help you out when choosing solar panels for your home.
Solar Panel Physical Characteristics
There are a few physical characteristics that make a big difference in choosing solar panels. Physical qualities you may want to consider when looking for solar panels for your home solar system include:
- weight
- aesthetics
- durability
Depending on the condition of your roof and how much weight it can hold, you may have to rule out certain solar panels that are too heavy for your property’s rooftop.
In addition to the solar panel weight, you want to consider the material of the solar panel and whether or not it is appropriate for your home’s weather conditions. If you live in an area where hurricanes are frequent, a flimsy solar panel may not perform well for your home, whereas a flimsy material may be fine for a generally sunny location.
The last quality to consider when choosing solar panels is aesthetics. While solar has come a long way, certain panels are still primarily concerned with function rather than design.
Your solar panel system will sit atop your house for the next two decades. You might want to get something you actually enjoy (or don’t mind) looking at.
Solar Panel Wattage
A higher wattage solar panel can produce more electricity for your home with fewer panels. Solar panel designs for smaller roofs generally feature higher wattage solar panels as the panels can produce a greater amount of energy than two “average” wattage solar panels.
Solar Panel Performance Years
Every year in use, solar panels lose their efficiency by a little bit more than the previous year. However, most solar panels tend to have a functional expectancy rate of up to 25 years.
You want to use your solar panel budget to purchase panels that have long performance guarantee dates, which guarantee that the panels will be long-lasting.
Choosing Solar Panels For Your Green Home
While there are other factors that you may want to consider when choosing solar panels for your home, this article should have covered the basics.
We encourage you to do more research–consult with our Missouri solar experts to help you find the right solar panels for your home. Here at Browning Electric, we offer solar installation services that make this hefty home improvement project less stressful.
Are you ready to get started? Contact us today!
