Rooftop solar panels are the most popular type of home solar system. Rooftop panels operate year-round, increase your home’s value and can help you bring down your monthly energy bill, while reducing your carbon footprint. But while rooftop solar energy panels holds great promise for a sustainable future, not every home is a good candidate for having them installed.

From sunshine to roofline, here are a few considerations to help you determine whether or not your house is a good candidate for rooftop solar panels.

Hello, Sunshine

Just how much sun does your roof get anyway? Whether it’s due to your location, shading from trees, billboards, or nearby buildings, a roof that doesn’t see much of the sun throughout the day isn’t going to provide you with much solar energy.

If your roof could get plenty of sun were it not for some obstructions, you can simply remove the trees or outbuildings responsible. If the shading originates beyond your property lines, however, you probably need to look into another alternative energy source that isn’t the sun.

How’s Your Roof?

Rooftop mounted solar panels are the most popular choice for homeowners looking for solar mounting options. However, when it comes to solar panel installation, not all roofs are created equal.  

For homes in the Northern Hemisphere, a roof with a south-facing surface is ideal as rooftop panels need to be placed on a surface within 40 degrees of due south to work optimally. If your roof is flat but gets good sun, rooftop panels could also be mounted at a south-facing angle.

The Money Factor

Then there’s the money factor. John D. Rockefeller was once asked, “How much money is enough?” He replied as only one of the richest men in history can: “Just little bit more.” Like it or loathe it, a little bit more money is what most of us need. And for almost everyone considering rooftop solar panels, financial savings are just as important as sustainability.

How much money you stand to save with an investment in rooftop solar panels depends on many things. However, the state in which you reside and your current electrical costs are two primary factors to consider. If your state provides incentives and you pay a lot for electricity, you can take one of two views about your savings: the long one or the short one.

In many instances, you can start saving immediately on your current electrical costs. Even if you don’t, however, you stand to make money over time since homes with solar panels list and sell at higher prices than those without.

Is your home is a good candidate for rooftop solar panels? Then what are you waiting for? After all, in addition to the money you’ll save, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and helping to minimize our dependence on fossil fuels.

And even if for whatever reason, your roof is not prime real estate for solar panels, don’t despair. There are many other solar panel options available; including ground-mounted systems, post-mounted systems, and carport systems.

If you want to find out more about whether or not rooftop solar panels might be a good option for your home, contact us today.