DOING a little homework will help you decide which solar system will work best in your home.

With so much information now available about solar systems, it can be difficult to know what's most important to consider before installing a solar system in your home. So this week we look at a couple of basic factors that determine what system will work best for you.

 

One of the first things to consider is whether you'll opt for a 'stand-alone' or 'grid connected' system. Stand-alone solar systems use a battery bank to store electricity and function independently of the electricity grid.

 

For most households however, it makes sense to use a grid connected system which, as the name suggests, feeds power back into the electricity grid. With a grid connected system the electricity you generate is simply credited to your account, thus reducing or even eliminating any amount payable on your bill.

 

 

Determining the right size solar system depends on your household's energy use, your available roof space, and how much mains electricity you would like to offset.

 

 

A good starting point is to work out how much electricity you currently use.

 

You can do this by contacting your electricity provider, or even installing a simple to use monitoring device which measures electricity use minute-by-minute (this is also a great way to find additional ways you can save on electricity).

 

In many instances it's unlikely that your system will account for 100% of your energy use.

 

If your household's energy use is 800kWh (kiloWatt hours) per month, for example, you might aim to offset 50% of your usage by installing a system capable of producing 500kWh per month.

 

This decision depends both on your budget and, as we mentioned, your available roof space.

 

 

Once you've worked out your usage, and how much electricity you would like your system to produce, you'll be in a better position to determine whether your available roof space will accommodate your goals.

 

While panels can be installed on flat roofs, they're ideally suited to pitched roofs with a north-facing orientation. Providing your home has a suitable north-facing aspect, it's likely that there will be enough panel space to deliver your desired amount of electricity.

Putting your solar system together.

 

Simply taking some time to think about how much energy you use, and how much you want (or can afford) to offset will make you much better informed when it comes to discussing installation options.

 

Of course, speaking to a qualified and reputable solar installer will help you put all the pieces together, and know exactly how the system you decide on will deliver the results you want.

 

Click here to find out more about what solar systems you can put on your home.