A tiny house has several benefits, including reduced energy usage and a reduced need for possession materials. Thus, living or building a tiny house is an excellent idea. It will drastically reduce your utility bills, especially if you generate your power through solar panels. Tiny houses are typically off-grid, which makes solar energy an excellent choice of energy source. However, you must consider how much energy you need for your tiny house and how much it will cost to generate it.
Your energy needs will generally depend on the number and type of appliances you have or intend to use, your general power usage, and how much sunshine you receive in your home every day or at least most days. It helps to work closely with a competent solar panel installer to understand your needs and requirements. They will also help with the installation process so you can generate power immediately.
Determining How Much Power You Need for a Tiny House
Your energy needs will guide you in choosing solar panels and other equipment to help you generate sufficient energy for your tiny house. Thus, speak to a skilled solar panel installer about what you need for their insight and guidance.
When evaluating your energy needs, you must consider two main factors:
- Your current power bills
- Energy consumption for anything else you intend to have in your tiny house
Your current power bills will give you an idea of how much power your home needs to run smoothly daily, weekly, or monthly. Once you determine the energy you need, your solar panel installer will help you determine the type and number of solar panels to invest in. That information will also help you choose the battery storage for any extra energy your panels produce daily.
Some of the appliances you must consider in your decision-making include space heaters, AC units, refrigerators, internet routers, laptops, and well pumps.
Reasons To Consider Solar Power For Your Tiny House
Choosing solar energy for a tiny house is an excellent idea, as it has many benefits. Remember that your primary motive for building a tiny house is to save money and reduce environmental impact. These are also some of the reasons homeowners are going solar today. Some of the benefits you will enjoy include the following:
You Will Save on Utility Bills
As the cost of living increases, so do essential services and utilities. The cost of on-grid energy is currently high and continues to rise. Generating your power at home is an excellent way to save a significant amount every month. While living in a tiny house is already a fantastic way to save money, generating solar energy will help you save even more. Remember that tiny houses are typically off-grid. This means that their utility bills are usually minimal. You can reduce that further or eliminate it by using solar energy. This will increase your daily, weekly, and monthly savings, especially if you live in an area with sufficient sunlight.
It Is An Eco-Friendly Way To Live
Living in a tiny house is already an eco-friendly way of life. You are happy doing your part in caring for the environment and choosing an eco-friendly energy source makes it even better. You can enjoy living without worrying about your negative impact on the environment.
Current energy sources, like fossil fuels, are harmful to the environment. As their demand rises, so is their impact on the environment. More people are encouraged to switch to eco-friendly alternatives to reduce that impact. Solar energy is great because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, it reduces environmental pollution and waste since solar power is typically renewable.
Switching to solar energy is an excellent way to save the planet.
You Can Go Off-Grid
Relying fully on a power company is not always a good idea. Blackouts and natural disasters strike when you least expect them. This limits what you can do in your house, primarily if you rely on some of your electric appliances to get by. It becomes challenging to live this way when you are unsure when a blackout or natural calamity will end. Having an alternative source of energy is a lifesaver in those situations. Your life runs smoothly, even when the grid fails to provide sufficient power.
This is even better if you live in a tiny house with reduced energy needs. This is because you can quickly go off-grid. Going off-grid means dealing once and for all with the uncertainties that come with regular power. Once you switch to solar energy, you will rely on the sun to power everything in your home. Investing in a solar battery ensures you have extra power for those days when your panels cannot produce enough. With that, you will no longer rely on the grid for energy needs.
It Will Increase Your Home Value
The value of your home matters a lot when you have to sell it someday. A valuable home will sell quickly and at a higher cost. Homeowners are always looking for ways to improve their home value, and installing solar panels in your tiny house is one way to achieve it. Home buyers are likely to invest in a home that is energy efficient. Thus, investing in solar power is an excellent idea if you intend to sell your tiny house eventually. You will be surprised at how much more home buyers are willing to pay for a home with a renewable energy source.
You Will Benefit From Government Incentives and Rebates
Homeowners who have invested in solar panels are eligible for government incentives and rebates that can significantly increase their savings. Rebates are how the local government reduces solar power costs. You receive a tax credit for installing solar power in your home or workplace. Thus, you save a lot after using a substantial amount to switch to solar energy.
There is More Freedom in Solar Power
A tiny house, especially one on wheels, is highly convenient because you can bring it when you travel. Having solar power in the house makes this even better because you can travel even to remote parts of the country and still be able to use your appliances. Solar power frees you from staying in only one location with an energy source. A house powered by solar power can function wherever you go.
Determining The Number of Solar Panels To Buy For Your Tiny House
You need solar panels to generate solar power in your tiny house. Solar panels are designed to produce a particular amount of energy. Thus, your energy needs will determine how many solar panels you invest in. The number of panels you need will also depend on your roof space, location, and how many people live in your tiny house. A skilled solar panel installer will help you determine the exact number of solar panels you need, depending on your needs. Here are some of the factors they will consider:
Your Power Consumption
Your current energy consumption is the right place to determine your energy needs. This is determined by the kinds of appliances you have. You will need more panels if you have many appliances and wish to add more. If you power many appliances, you could need more energy in a tiny house.
Your House’s Occupancy
The number of people living in your tiny house will also determine your house’s energy needs. If you live alone, your needs will be fewer than if there are other occupants. Different people have varying energy needs. Thus, you must consider the individual needs of the people living with you to make the best decision.
The Roof Space
Remember that you need sufficient roof space to install solar panels for practical energy production. Your solar panel installer will advise according to the space you have on your tiny house’s roof. If your roof is not enough for the solar panels you need, your solar panel installer will advise you on alternative installations, like pole mounting.
Solar Panels Efficiency
All solar panels are not the same. Some are more energy-efficient than others. Your choice will determine how many solar panels you need to power your house. A highly efficient panel will produce more power than an inferior panel. High-efficient panels are highly recommended for tiny homes with more significant energy needs and smaller installation space. Although they are costlier, you will invest in only a few.
Your House’s Location
Your location is also crucial in determining your energy needs and the number of solar panels you need. Additionally, you must carefully choose where to install your panels to maximize the absorption of sun rays.
Building a Solar System for Your Tiny House
The benefits of switching to a solar system make solar panels an excellent investment idea if you live in a tiny house or are planning to build one. In addition to all the decisions you must make for a successful switch, you must choose a competent solar panel installer to work with. Here are some of the steps they will take you through during the installation process:
Choosing The Right Panels
A skilled solar panel installer will explain the different types of solar panels on the market and help you choose the right ones according to your needs and budget. If you have limited space on your roof and need to produce sufficient energy for all your appliances, energy-efficient solar panels will work for you. But if you are working on a strict budget, energy-efficient panels could be out of your reach.
Determine The Location for Your Panels
Your solar panel installer will consider the side of your house that receives the most sunlight. That would be the proper installation point for your panels. Your panels will produce more energy if strategically located in an open space where they receive the most sunlight during the day. An alternative installation point, like ground mounting, will be sought if your roof does not receive sufficient sunlight. Installing the panels on the ground is also advantageous because you can position them at any angle. They are also easily accessible for cleaning.
Choosing the Racking System
Solar panels are generally installed on roofs for maximum sunlight absorption. However, homeowners can use a racking system to have their panels mounted on the ground or roof. In this case, you will need a roof-penetrating rack that your solar panel installer will drill into your roof to attach the panels.
Since your tiny house has insufficient space on its roof for the traditional installation of solar panels, you can benefit more from ground-mount panels. Fortunately, different racking systems accommodate solar panels of various numbers and sizes. Choosing a racking system like a pole mount is advantageous because you can adjust the angle of your solar panels.
Wiring The Solar System
Once you have made all the decisions, your solar panel installer will wire the entire system so you can start producing energy right in your home. The wiring process involves collecting the solar panels for the controller, battery, and inverter. Although you can do this alone, by following the instructions provided in your panel’s user manual, a professional will make it more effective and save you time and energy.
Find a competent Solar Panel Installer Near Me
Switching to solar panels is an excellent way to save more money if you live in a tiny house or are building one in the Bay Area or Northern California. Solar energy is efficient, cost-effective, and clean. It will help you save more money in your tiny house and reduce your reliance on the grid. However, to make the switch effective, you must prepare well. For example, you must first determine what you need and how much it will cost you to switch to solar energy.
Our skilled solar panel installers at Sun Solar Electric can help you with that. We can also help you understand your energy needs so you can choose the number and type of solar panels to invest in. Call us at 707-658-2157 to learn more about our services.
