Imagine a room that is powered entirely by solar energy. In other words, all of the equipment in your house runs from solar energy rather than grid power. Then you'll wonder, "how much does it cost me to power my house? How much do solar panels cost for a 1,500 square foot house?"
For most homes, the amount of usage of electricity you need to offset will help you calculate the cost of solar panels. If you are moving into a new house, you might not have available data to estimate energy costs. If so, you may calculate the cost of solar panels depending on a home's square footage.
Although you should consider installing a solar power system for your home as an investment, some homeowners may find the initial cost daunting. Solar equipment appears quite expensive, and many worry that installation and other related expenses will quickly pile up.
How Much Does It Cost?
A 1,500-square-foot home needs about $18,500 worth of solar panels, with prices typically running between $8,000 and $25,000. Solar panel installation costs approximately $18,500 for a 6kW solar panel system for a 1,500-square-foot home, and the cost per watt for solar panels can range from $2.50 to $3.50, according to Modernize. Typically, from 3kW to 8kW in size, residential solar panels can vary in installation costs from $9,255 to $24,552.
Solar Panels (How Many are Needed?)
Most people automatically assume that the quantity of solar panels needed depends on the room size. However, it may be true for other homes, but generally, it boils down to two factors:
- Appliance (kWh consumption)
- Peak Sun Hours
Solar panel installation has one purpose, to produce electricity through photovoltaic. The PV cells on a solar panel capture the energy from the sun's rays as it shines on the panel. In reaction to an internal electric field within the cell, this energy generates electrical charges that move, which results in the flow of electricity.
Moreover, to determine how many solar panels or what power solar panel system you need to power your room, you must first determine how much electricity each of the equipment in the room uses. The higher the power consumption, the more solar panels are required. That's a general idea, at least.
Power Usage
How much is your power consumption (kWh)? Since the number of panels needed relies mainly on the appliance consumption in your home, we will calculate the power usage.
First, list the appliances found in your home.
For example:
Fridge Electric Oven
Ceiling Light Central Air Condition
TV LCD Clothes Washer
Laptop Clothes Dryer
Next, write the power usage of each appliance in watts. You can look at the consumption of each device on the label found on every item. And estimate (more or less accurately) the daily use of these appliances.
Fridge – 200 watts (8hrs)
Ceiling Light – 20 watts (8hrs)
Central Air Condition – 900 watts (6hrs)
TV LCD – 150 watts (5hrs)
Laptop – 100 watts (5hrs)
Then, calculate your daily consumption by multiplying power consumption per appliance (watt) by the time the item is used in hours and the monthly consumption by multiplying daily consumption by 31 days.
Fridge – 1,600Wh
Ceiling Light – 160Wh
Central Air Condition – 5,400Wh
TV LCD – 750Wh
Laptop – 500Wh
Based on this sample, the total consumption for this house is 8,410Wh/day. So, 8,410Wh x 31 days, we will have 260, 710Wh x 1000 to get 260.71kWh or roughly 261kWh a month. You can also see your monthly electric bill to assess your power consumption.
Peak Sun Hour
Remember that solar panels only generate electricity when exposed to direct sunlight. Once the sun has ceased shining on them, they stop producing energy. Peak sunlight hours change based on where you live and when your solar panels are exposed directly to the sun.
For example, the house is in San Francisco, California. The peak sun hour is 4.982 or almost 5. Multiply the number by 31 days to get peak sun hours per month; that would be 155 peak sun hours per month. Then, to finally get the size of the solar panel system, divide the monthly consumption by the monthly peak sun hour. Thus, the result is 1.68kW rounded to the closest number will give us 2kW.
What's the Cost of Installation?
However, the cost does not end with the solar panel system itself; there is an additional cost for installation. Here are some additional fees to consider:
- 10% – Installation
- 10% – Inverter
- 10% – Balancing of System
- 45% – Operational Costs
Solar panels and other components come in a wide range of prices. Every residence has a different set of energy and wattage needs. Factors like geographic location, solar exposure, family size, etc., influence the exact data on supply and demand. Each state has a different cost for installing solar panels. Additionally, the type of installed panels and labor costs in your area significantly impact this cost.
Things to Think About Before Switching to Solar Energy
The Higher The Bill, The Better
If you are considering installing solar panels, your first concern should be whether you would save money. The advantage of solar panels is that they give you an alternative to your local utility provider. Since some companies are recognized for charging high electricity rates, sustainable energy sources are appealing.
The advantage of solar has never been more visible for some households due to significant rate spikes, including the proposed 14.4% increase by Southern California Edison (SCE). As a result, in 2021, SCE's monthly electricity rates might increase by 14.4%. Solar energy is an excellent solution for most homes due to rising electricity rates, which are currently expensive.
More Sunlight, More Savings
Sunlight is a key component of solar systems; the more sunlight your panels receive, the more energy your solar power system can produce. The solar panels' silicon cells collect sunlight and transform it into valuable electrical energy used to run your home. The amount of sun in your area will determine how many solar panels you can get away with installing to power your home.
Conclusion
The cost of solar power depends on the size and type of your home. If your home is small and you have no plans to expand, a small solar panel system will be sufficient for your needs. However, if you live in a large house with many rooms, you may need an extensive solar energy system with numerous panels to meet your energy needs. Some factors affect the cost of solar system installation. Thus, consider the cost of your electric bill before installing solar power, which may cost you twice your electric bill.
Author: ALYA KOE
