There’s no doubt that the use of solar energy is efficient and, quite frankly, scientifically incredible. However, before you pursue this awesome technology for your personal use, there are a few crucial points to consider.
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First, assess your needs and ask yourself exactly why you are considering the use of solar energy. Are you hoping to power all the energy needs of your home or to help provide excess energy for the surrounding area to reduce the maximum amount of energy waste? Or are you hoping to accomplish a smaller task, such as heating your pool? Different types of solar installation will help you to achieve your personal needs for your Bay Area home, so make sure that you understand your goals so that you can choose the right system for you!
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Approximate how much usable solar energy is available for your home. Since the amount of power a solar energy system can generate depends entirely on how much of the sun’s energy reaches your system, take into account the direction your roof is facing, the amount of shade from nearby trees, and the usable hours of sunlight your system will see to each day.
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The U.S. Department of Energy also suggests a couple of basic questions to ask yourself about your current living situation before you proceed too far into pursuing Bay Area solar installation. Will your roof need to be replaced soon? If so, this should be your priority over the installation of a solar energy system. Also, double-check to ensure that you will not be violating any neighborhood or Homeowners’ Association restrictions before proceeding to solar installation.
Once you fully understand your motivations for solar energy and know that it makes sense for your home monetarily and according to the law, get ready for your world to change with the power of renewable energy.
