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Does Going Solar Make Sense In Texas?

When most people think about solar panel installations on homes, images of hippies and environmental movements come to mind. While it may be true that California leads the nation for the amount of installed solar capacity, the solar power movement is gaining momentum all across America. So the question that is often asked is, “Does it make sense to add solar to my home in Texas?”

Becoming energy independent, saving money, and improving the environment are all common reasons for adding solar panels to a home. The limiting factor that prevents many people from actually going solar at home is cost.

But, Texas residents are fortunate to have access to some of the lowest cost home solar panel installations in the nation thanks to awesome local solar incentives and rebate programs. We’re talking solar power installations that pay for themselves in under 10 years, followed by another 15+ years of maintenance-free clean energy and savings while under warranty!

Here’s Why Adding Solar Panels On Your Texas Home Is A Smart Move

So the answer to the above question about whether or not it makes sense to power your Texas home with solar energy is, “Yes!” But before you get too excited and run to the local home improvement store, there are a few things you should understand about the process of going solar at home.

STEP 1: Understand your power bill

How much is your average power bill? $100 dollars? $150? $200? Sure, you can probably rattle off how much money you paid for power last month, but do you know how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use in an average month?

Power is measured in watts, and you are charged for the amount of power you use at home in 1,000 watt-hour units. 1,000 watts burned for an hour is the same as 1 kilowatt-hour (1,000Wh = 1 kWh).

Tip: It’s important to keep track of not just your power bill in dollars, but the amount of kWh you use each month and throughout the year. Knowing specific kWh figures will help you understand how to correctly size a home solar panel installation, and companies from which you receive solar quotes will ask for these numbers.

STEP 2: Know what you’re working with

The next important consideration for determining whether or not you should add solar panels to your home is knowing what space is most suitable for solar, and how much space is available.

Since Texas is in the northern hemisphere, the best way for a home solar panel installation to be oriented for year-round energy production is facing due south.

Tip: Since you can’t rotate your home to give you a south-facing roof, you may be limited to only certain portions of your roof, but east and west-facing roofs are better than north-facing.
Sunlight is a solar panel’s best friend, and darkness is an enemy. When determining where on your home your solar panels will be installed, be sure to take into account shading from nearby chimneys, roof vents, and trees.

Tip: You should also keep in mind that if your roof is not suitable for solar, you can always have panels installed via pole and ground mounts. You can even have a solar canopy or carport designed to shade your deck or automobile from heat!

STEP 3: Contact local solar installers

Getting started with a solar consultation is as easy as doing a quick Google search or contacting your local Chamber of Commerce. Solar installers in Texas will provide you with a free solar consultation, and many of them will even inspect your home for areas where you can improve your energy efficiency.

Tip: You should NEVER pay for a solar consultation!

Step 4: Compare quotes

After you’ve compared quotes and selected your preferred solar company, it’s time to get the installation started! Depending on their inventory levels and number of customers scheduled ahead of you, solar companies in Texas should be able to get started with powering your home with solar in a couple weeks or 1 month maximum.

Do yourself a favor and request more information about solar panels for your home with one of the top solar companies in Texas, Alba Energy!

Alba Energy specializes in the design, engineering and installation of exceptional quality commercial solar solutions and home solar projects across Texas. Our SMART Solar Financing Programs allow you to power your home with solar panel for less than your current power bill! Contact Alba Energy to request your FREE solar savings analysis.

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