What's the Best Direction for Solar Panels to Face?
What's the Best Direction for Solar Panels to Face?
In the past, there was only one answer to the question, "What's the best direction for solar panels to be pointed?" In the Northern Hemisphere, that direction was south. Because the sun shines directly over the equator most of the time, south-facing solar panels have an opportunity to collect more sunlight and generate more solar energy.
Every house has a different orientation to the sun, so every solar installation presents its own opportunities and challenges. The trick is to install the solar panels in a way that not only collects the most sunlight but collects it in a way that strategically helps the homeowner save on their electricity bills.
South-facing solar panels have another advantage for homes that have access to net metering, which allows homeowners to get reimbursed for power they send back to the electrical grid. South-facing solar panel orientation collects the most energy around mid-day when there's lots of sun. But that's also when the home's consumption is typically lowest because everyone's off to work, school, etc. That means there's lots of solar-generated power left to go back to the utility.
But not all homes have a southern orientation, and – as Viridis Energy knows – even if they did there are plenty of other variables that can affect which direction solar panels should face.
Viridis Energy will first survey your home for obstacles – like trees, chimneys, power lines or taller buildings – that could block sunlight from reaching your SunPower solar panels. A home facing a less-than-optimal direction or sun-blocking obstacles can still produce plenty of solar power, but it may take more solar panels than a roof with a great orientation and no obstacles at all.
Viridis Energy is up to date on local rules and regulations that can have a big impact on solar panel direction. These regulations might affect a homeowner's ability to take advantage of net metering, among other things.
Viridis Energy knows that solar panel efficiency makes an enormous difference in planning an optimum solar installation. SunPower's technology uses a one-of-a-kind design that captures a broad range of sunlight. Using more efficient panels means fewer panels are needed, and SunPower's high-efficiency panels produce 55% more energy over 25 years than conventional panels within the same space.
Placing solar panels around all the obstructions on a roof can be complex, but Viridis Energy's design software makes it simple. Our software allows the homeowner to be involved in their own design, understanding how many panels will fit and the best places for them to go. That design can be enhanced by SunPower's SunVault storage system, which allows homeowners to save excess power and prepare for emergencies.
Investing in solar power can help your pocketbook and the environment. Let Viridis Energy point your family in this exciting new direction.
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