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An overview of a good solar site
At GreenSpark, we’d love it if everyone could go solar, but unfortunately, not every site is viable for a solar array. This blog will cover some things to look out for at your home if you are interested in going solar.
Orientation of Roof
In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is always in the southern sky. Because of this, solar panels will be most efficient if they are on a south-facing roof. If your solar site has a north-south-facing roof, we would only put solar panels on the south-facing side. A north-facing roof will get the least amount of sun, so panels facing north will not generate as much energy. East-west facing roofs are also viable for solar. One thing to note about east-west facing roofs is that one side could be slightly north-oriented. In this case, we would typically only put solar on the slightly south-oriented side.
Age of Roof
Solar panels come with a 30-year power production warranty, so the newer your roof, the better! If your roof is more than 15 years old, we recommend replacing it before going solar. If we install solar on a roof that will need replacing in a few years, we would have to come out to uninstall and reinstall the panels. It will save you money to have solar installed after replacing your roof.
Roof Material
We can install solar on just about any type of roof. Something you may not know is that when you put solar on your roof, the panels could help to protect your roof from the elements, so they can oftentimes increase the lifespan of your roof. Metal roofs typically have the longest lifespan, so they are ideal for solar. You will likely not need to replace a metal roof during the system’s lifetime.
Roof Space
It is essential to have enough space on your roof for solar panels. Roofs with few or no dormers on the side where the solar panels will be mounted are best. If there are a lot of peaks or dormers on your roof, there may not be enough room to put panels. The peaks can also create shadows that can affect the energy production of your array. Vents also impact usable roof space for solar; if possible, group vents together or install ridge vents within 3 feet of the ridgeline.
Shade
Your solar array will produce most efficiently if it is free of shading. Having minimal or no trees shading your roof will make for the best solar site. While we’d hate for our customers to have to cut down trees to go solar, sometimes it is the only way to have a financially viable outcome. In some cases, trimming some branches is all it takes!
Large Yard
If you don’t want solar on your roof, or if your roof isn’t viable for solar, another option is a ground-mounted system. If you are interested in ground-mounted solar, it’s best to have a larger yard, so there is plenty of space for your array. With ground mounts, there aren’t as many limiting factors. As long as there is an open area with little to no shading in your yard, it should be viable for solar. We can orient the panels in any direction on the ground, so there is no need to worry about factors like roof orientation/age. One thing to note is that ground-mounted systems are more expensive than roof-mounted systems, so we always try to utilize the roof if possible, as the payback time and return on investment are usually greater.
Interested in Going Solar?
If you’re interested in going solar, please let us know! One of our specialists will be in contact for a quick chat. They can confirm whether or not your site is viable for solar.
