Is My Home Good for Solar Panels? Here’s How to Find Out

Solar energy can save you an average of $1,380 per year on your electric bill, but only some homes can reap the maximum benefits. You’ll need the right roof, climate, and sunlight exposure to balance out your local energy costs. This guide will help you figure out if your home is a good fit for solar panels. 

Signs Your Home Is a Good Candidate for Solar Panels

Though most homes will see some energy savings by going solar, solar panels are only worth the installation cost in some situations. Savings of up to $100,000 on energy bills throughout the panels’ 25-year life span are possible in ideal conditions. In less suitable conditions, you may only save around $10,000. Here are a few signs that your home is good candidate for solar panels:

• You live in a sunny climate

• You live in an area with high energy costs

• You use a high-to-average amount of energy

• You have a south-facing roof with full sun exposure

• Your roof pitch is 15 to 45 degrees (but preferably 30–45 degrees)

• Your roof is made from a strong material that can support panels

• Your roof has enough unobstructed surface area to fit panels

• Your roof was installed within the last 15 years

If your roof isn’t suitable, you can mount solar panels on the ground if you have a large space on your property with full sun exposure.

How to Tell if Your Home Is Good for Solar Panels

To understand if solar energy is right for your home, you’ll need to consider a number of different factors—from the direction, pitch, and material of your roof to your local energy costs, climate, and sun exposure. 

Consider Roofing

Solar panels are most commonly mounted on roofing, but not all roofs can support the panels. Certain roof materials (like thatch) aren’t sturdy enough to hold the weight of the system. Additionally, solar panels should face the equator. In most of the United States, this means your roof should have southern sun exposure. East-west orientations may still be viable but won’t be as efficient. The ideal roof:

• Faces south

• Has a slope between 30 and 45 degrees

• Has significant unobstructed surface area free from chimneys and skylights

• Is not shaded by trees or tall buildings

• Is made from a durable material

Most solar installers will make sure your roof is in good condition and won’t need a replacement in the coming years. If you have an older roof, consider a replacement before going solar, since removing solar panels costs $3,000 to $12,500 if you need to make repairs not covered by home insurance or warranties.

Look at Your Energy Bills

If your energy bill is already low, solar panels might not be worth the cost. You’ll save the most if your energy usage is high or you live in an area with higher-than-average energy costs. For example, you could save up to $90,000 over the life span of your panels in California, where electricity costs around $0.30 per kWh. In Washington, where electricity costs around $0.11 per kWh, you’ll only save an average of $20,600.

Check Your Sunlight

Your solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to work, but the areas that get the most of it reap the largest energy savings. Wherever you mount your solar panels should have unobstructed sunlight for all (or at least most) of the day. Tall buildings and large trees will eat away at the efficiency, but power optimizers can help mitigate some shaded panels.

Consider Climate

The sunniest climates are the best for solar, while areas with frequent cloudy conditions and regular snowfall will have less output. Solar panels do work during the winter, but certain geographic locations receive less light. For example, some parts of Alaska only get four hours of sunlight a day at the height of winter. Meanwhile, areas of Texas can get more than 10 hours of sunlight. 

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has detailed solar maps to help you estimate the amount of sun your area will get each year. If you live in an area with a lot of sun, it’s a safe bet that solar energy is a good idea for your home.

Check Project Sunroof

An easy way to figure out if your home is a good fit for solar panels is by checking Project Sunroof. This application from Google allows you to search your address and estimate your energy savings. This on-going project hasn’t mapped every roof, but you can still search your area to get an idea. 

Hire a Pro

If you’re considering a swap to solar energy, it’s best to hire a solar panel installer near you. A qualified pro already knows how homes in your area benefit from solar panels (including whether government incentives and net metering programs can help you save). They can inspect your property and determine which system will work best.

If solar panels aren’t a good fit, you can still make use of passive solar energy to cool and heat your home. This can improve your energy savings alongside high-efficiency HVAC upgrades.