size system should I get? A: The size you choose is a trade off between the amount of money you want to invest and the amount of electricity you want to produce. A typical US home uses 5 kWp of electricity or approximately 13,000 kWh per year. You can ask your utility provider or you can look at your old electricity bill to calculate how much electricity your home typically uses. But remember, you do not need to cover all your electricity needs with a solar system to add value to your home. Under the tiered rate structure used by most utilities, the solar electricity generated by the system - even just a few kWp - can remove you from a higher charge bracket. The only other condition in deciding proper system size is the amount of suitable space available on your roof. To be suitable, you must have unobstructed, non-shaded roof area, either flat or a sloped, at an orientation other than North. You need roughly 100 square feet of roof space for each kWp that you wish to produce.
Q: How much does a solar system cost? A: The total cost for purchasing and installing the solar system is based on the size of system you require, the available incentives and subsidies that are available in your area, and the specific details of the layout of your facility.