Your Current Energy Consumption
The biggest factor to examine when deciding on the number of solar panels needed is your current energy usage. Most homeowners want to produce enough energy to dramatically reduce, if not entirely eliminate, their electric bill. The first step is to determine exactly how much energy your home consumes. Our specialists do this by reviewing your utility bills from the past few months to a year.
We analyze the “Kilowatt Hours (kWh) Used” or a similar measure, noting that the time period represented usually lasts around 30 days. If your bill doesn’t show kilowatt-hours, we calculate usage by subtracting the previous meter reading from the most recent one. This process allows us to accurately gauge your family’s monthly energy consumption.
A small home in a temperate climate might use around 200 kWh per month, while a larger home in the south where air conditioning accounts for the largest portion of energy usage, might use 2,000 kWh or more. The average U.S. home consumes about 900 kWh per month, which translates to roughly 30 kWh per day or 1.25 kWh per hour.
How Many Average Hours of Sun Does Your Area Get?
The number of peak sunlight hours in your state or region determines how much energy your solar system can produce. For example, in Massachusetts, the average insolation is about 4 sun hours per day, ranging from less than 2 in the winter to over 5 in the summer. While this is lower than in some southern and western states, it is still sufficient to supply electricity for most homes.
The Renewable Resource Data Center provides detailed sunlight information by state and major cities, which can help homeowners explore the solar potential of their specific region.
How Much Energy Would You Like to Offset?
This may seem straightforward, but most homeowners aim for a balance between installing too many panels and too few. That’s why we carefully examine sunlight hours, consumption patterns, and the efficiency you’re seeking.
At FPL by BlueSel, we use Maxeon solar technology, which is highly efficient. This means fewer panels are needed compared to conventional systems. Our panels have no grid lines on the front, allowing for greater sunlight absorption and avoiding issues such as delamination. The cells are also stronger, resistant to cracking or corrosion, and each panel includes a microinverter to optimize power conversion at the source, unlike systems with a single large inverter.
By understanding sunlight availability in your region and your home’s energy consumption, our solar specialists can determine the number of panels needed to reduce or eliminate your electricity bills. Additions like carbon credits may further enhance your financial savings.
For flexible financing, Solar Bank Financing options are available to help make the transition easier, while ongoing Operations & Maintenance support ensures your system runs efficiently for years to come.
Doesn’t that sound nice? Call our technicians today or visit our website to learn more about how many panels your home might need.