To be Solar, or not to be? Part 1: Does solar power make sense for

Solar for my House

Solar Electricity Generation / January 13, 2015

Want to know if your home is a good fit for solar?

A few simple guidelines will help you to identify your home solar viability:

1) South-facing orientation:

For solar installations in the northern hemisphere, the consistent rule-of-thumb is: The more south facing the surface, the more energy the system will produce. Ideally, one would want to install the solar system on a surface within 40 degrees of directly South (180 degrees) to ensure optimal production from the solar system. Systems on flat roofs or mounted on the ground will be tilted to provide a south-facing exposure.

2) Minimal Shading:

Consider the amount of shading from nearby obstructions which may impact your system. If you live in the suburbs, think shading from trees. If you live in the city, look for adjacent taller buildings that may shade the system. Think about anything that might impact the access of the sun on your roof. Would you consider removing an obstruction if it meant the difference between having solar or not?

3) Minimal Obstructions & Surface Area:

How much usable roof space do you have? Is your roof angular or does it have a lot of dormers? The more clear space the better, but we can work around your vent pipes, chimneys, and skylights .

Here is a free, easy way to check if you have a good site for solar:

  1. Type your address into the search bar & hit enter
  2. Switch from road view to birds eye view
  3. Zoom and apply the 3 considerations we reviewed above

Or, let us qualify your site for you.

Not sure what to expect? Here is how the consultation process works:

  1. A SolarFlair employee will call you to pre-qualify your site for solar and review any questions
  2. If your home looks like a good candidate for solar, we will schedule a site visit at your home to gather more information and prepare a proposal for you.

If your home does not seem like a great fit, other options might be available to you. Do you own a barn with better roof exposure, a second home, or a business that may qualify for solar? Additionally, a large, sun-lit yard or piece of land may be a perfect fit for a ground or pole-mounted system.

Source: www.solarflair.com