Getting solar panels installed on your home is a great idea for many reasons. You can make money, do your bit for the environment, and you never need worry about running out of energy, as they still work in cloudy weather (and you can tap into the grid if required!).
But how do you know if your home is suitable for installing solar panels? What direction should your house be facing? Will you need planning permission? Connect Electric are pretty much experts when it comes to solar panels, so they’ve answered a few frequently asked questions for you below.
Which direction does my house need to face?
Ideally, solar panels are best installed on a south-facing roof, but south-east or south-west will also perform well. However, if your roof faces eat or west, it will only lose 15% of the sunlight it would gain if it faces south – so no problem!
How much roof space will solar panels take up?
To install solar panels, you need an area around the size of a parking space. Of course, this space needs to be free from the shadow of trees or other buildings, so to accommodate these potential obstacles, your required space may be much more. You will also need to consider internal space, as the inverter is around 1 metre by 1.5 metres.
Will I need planning permission?
No, unless your house is a listed building or in a conservation area. Legislation passed in 2008 deemed solar panels as permitted development, so you’ve no need to worry! You may need planning permission if your house has a flat roof, and a raised frame needs to be built.
So if you think your house could benefit from solar panels, get in touch with Connect Electric by using the blue box below!
