Imagine, if you will, living free and off the grid from the rest of the world. Living with no reliance on any company with a monopoly on power. Whether it be from renewable or nonrenewable sources.
All that you would need to count on would be the sun itself. You might ask yourself, “Is that possible? Can a house run on solar power alone?”
The answer is yes, but don’t run off to buy as many solar panels as you can fit on your roof yet. You should browse and compare solar panels from top manufacturers before deciding. Take a peek below to see what goes into making a 100% solar-powered home to determine if it is right for you.
How Can a House Run on Solar Power Alone?
We’ve all learned about how plants use photosynthesis to gather energy from the sun in school. On the other hand, how solar power works is a concept that everyone may understand. There’s quite a bit going on behind the scenes, but the basic premise is as follows:
- Sunlight (solar radiation) hits a black solar panel
- Individual cells on the panel capture this radiation
- The radiation moves into an inverter which converts it into electricity
While solar power relies on the sum, not every location benefits from its rays the same. Areas with constant sunlight year-round will benefit the most from solar power. Overcast regions with limited daylight will still benefit, but not as much.
Solar installation services, such as Blue Raven Solar service locations, vary by location. Be sure to research which reputable companies are in your area to determine if such an investment is worth it in your region.
Costs of Whole House Solar Power
The biggest hurdle to switching to solar power alone is the installation fees. The prices of individual solar panels vary, but the amount needed to power an entire home alone can be costly. Even if the answer to “can a house run on solar power alone” is a yes, it is far from a cheap process.
There isn’t one good answer on how many solar panels to power a house or how much the installation will end up being. This is because prices vary not only by house size but by location.
Thankfully some programs can help cut out some guesswork to find the price. Thankfully some programs can help cut out some guesswork to find the price.
SolarReviews is a website that provides resources to help you get your house on solar power. Their calculator is one tool that determines solar power’s costs and monetary benefits.
With this calculator, you can find that if you live in Houston, it will cost around $45,000 to install solar panels to power your entire house. You will have saved that amount in only nine years by relying on solar energy alone.
Is Solar Power Right for You?
Until the 1950’s, the question “can a house run on solar power alone” would have been laughed at.
And today?
It’s a very ordinary premise with countless benefits for your wallet and the world. It is not an easy process with instant gratification. To have a 100% solar-powered home is an investment, but once the rewards begin, they come in en masse.
If you found this article interesting and want to expand your horizons with various money-making topics, check out our plethora of other works!
