In addition to the number of roofs you can fit on your lot, you need to take into account how far your solar panels will be from each other. If you have a small house with very little yard space, that may not be an issue for you.
But if you live in a suburb or townhouse, it may be more challenging to find the space for your panels.
The ideal location for solar energy depends on many factors, such as the orientation and tilt of your roof and the amount of sunlight that enters through windows nearby.
Many factors play into how much space your panels will take up around your home. However, here are some factors that may limit where you can place your solar panels:
Orientation and tilt of your roof
The orientation and tilt of your roof are important factors to consider because they will play a role in the amount of panels you can fit on your roof.
If your roof is oriented at an angle, you will be able to fit more panels on your roof. Orienting your roof at a steeper angle will produce more electricity.
However, it may increase the amount of maintenance you need to do to your roof.
Light availability
Another factor that plays a big role in where you place your panels is the amount of sunlight that enters through windows near your panels. You can use this data to find out how much light your panels will get. You can use a light box to see exactly how much sunlight your panels will receive.
If you’re looking to maximize your panels’ production, you’ll want to make sure that the majority of sunlight that enters your home also reaches your panels. If your windows are too far away from your panels, the panels may receive very little sunlight, and therefore produce very little energy.
This can be a big problem if you’re looking to generate a lot of electricity from your solar panels. Fortunately, you can easily find out how much sunlight your panels will receive by using a light box.
Distance from other property lines
Another factor you should consider is the distance between your panels and your neighbours’ property lines. If you place your panels too close to your neighbours’ property lines, they could claim that your panels reduce the light entering their windows and make it harder for them to use their own solar panels.
This can be a serious problem. If your neighbours are more interested in generating electricity than they are with your comfort, they may try to take legal action against you. This is a serious issue that may require a lawyer to solve.
Weather conditions
The weather also plays a key role in where you can place your panels. If there is a lot of rain in your area, you may want to avoid placing your panels near a roof with a steep slope or on a roof with a high elevation. If a heavy rainstorm is in your area when you’re planning your solar panel location, you may want to avoid those conditions to prevent water damage to your panels.
How you plan to use your energy
If you’re planning to use solar panels to power a small number of appliances, you may want to consider placing your panels on the front or side of your house.
This is because the south-facing panels receive the most sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. This is especially important if your main purpose for installing solar panels is to power your air conditioner during the hot summer months.
Conclusion
There are many factors that will influence where you can place your solar panels. The orientation and tilt of your roof and the amount of sunlight that enters through windows nearby will all play a role in where you can place your panels. Orienting your roof at a steeper angle will produce more electricity.
However, it may increase the amount of maintenance you need to do to your roof. If there is a lot of rain in your area, you may want to avoid placing your panels near a roof with a steep slope or on a roof with a high elevation. If your neighbours are more interested in generating electricity than they are with your comfort, they may try to take legal action against you. This is a serious issue that may require a lawyer to solve.
