7 Things To Bear In Mind When Adding Solar Panels To Your Roof

With electricity and gas prices rising, many are looking for more cost-effective solutions for solving their power issues.

Not only this, but as we are becoming more aware of our impact on the planet, lots of individuals are taking steps to reduce their footprint and be kinder to the earth.

This is where solar panels come in.

With lots of great benefits, you might be thinking about investing in solar panels for your roof this year to make your property a little greener.

But unfortunately, you can just pop to the shop, grab a couple of panels and chucks them up on the roof. There are several things you need to bear in mind when adding solar panels, and these include:

1. If you can improve efficiency first

Before you settle on your solar panels, you first need to understand how much energy you need to run your home. To make sure your panels are effective enough, think about the ways you could reduce your energy usage in the first place.

For example, you could invest in energy-efficient light bulbs and other appliances, set up automated devices like thermostats that can be controlled from outside the home and unplug necessary devices. This will help you determine how strong your panels need to be.

2. Whether you get enough sun

You need to think carefully about the position of your house and, subsequently, where your panels would go. If your home is surrounded by trees and spends most of the day in the shade, panels on the roof might not be very effective.

Alternatively, if half the house is relatively shaded, you might need to think carefully about the placement of your solar panels to snare they get the most sun exposure.

3. The size of your roof

In order to install solar panels on your roof, you need to make sure you have enough space. Your roof must be a certain size and shape for the panels to fit properly, so you need to consider this before buying.

This will also impact how big or small your panels would need to be, as these also come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

4. The different types of solar panels

There are three main types of solar panels that you will need to consider for your property. These include:

Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline panels are made from the highest purity of silicon and are some of the oldest but most developed types of solar panels available. For this reason, these can be some of the more expensive premium panels, but they are also the most efficient.

Polycrystalline

Polycrystalline panels are more of a mid-range panel which makes them a much more affordable option. These are also made from silicon. However, they are made from fragments of silicon crystals that have been melted together. Though these are more affordable, they have lower efficiency and a shorter lifespan than the monocrystalline option.

Thin-film

Thin-film solar panels are more flexible because they are much thinner than monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. These are made from layers of semiconducting materials, for example, silicon and copper.

These have a lower efficiency of around 11%, which means they require a lot more space if you want to generate a large amount of power. Of course, these are much more affordable for those on budget, but they may also degrade quicker than the others.

5. Your budget

One of the most important things you’re going to need to think about is your budget. This will impact the type of solar panels you can afford to buy, as well as how big they are and how many you get.

You will also need to consider the cost of contractors to fit your solar panels, but more on this in the next section.

6. Who will fit your solar panels

You must decide who will fit your panels. This means finding a reliable contractor to get these hooked up properly. After all, these need to be connected correctly for the best results.

Before settling on a contractor, take a look at their website and reviews to see what others have said about their services.

7. Whether you need to be connected to the grid

Finally, you need to think about the logistics of getting your solar panels hooked up to the local utility grid and if there are any fees for doing this.

You might also want to find out how to get credit for the energy you’re generating as this can help to save your money, and you might even be recognised for your green efforts.