Solar energy is already a reality for us. We don't need to have a big power generation company to benefit from this kind of power. With new technologies, assembling a solar panel at home is feasible and helps you save money. In addition to supplying energy to your home, you can send extra energy to the energy company that supplies your city so that you still have discounts on your electricity bills. Here are five steps to solar energy at home:
1 – Find out your energy consumption
Take a year's energy bills and compare each month's kWh consumption. Take an average to find out how much energy you consume per month. If it's a new home, talk to an electrical engineer or architect to ask questions about how much energy your home will need. If this is not possible, you can calculate according to how many appliances you have in your home.
2 - Number of solar panels
Solar panels vary in size, so you'll need to research with manufacturing companies to find the ideal size for the size of your home's roof. Depending on the size and according to the calculation of monthly energy consumption, you will find out how many plates will be needed to provide enough energy for your residence, in the total form of its consumption, or in part. Search Google for companies that manufacture photovoltaic solar panels for more information on this step.
3 - Project
In addition to the panels, you will need to install an inverter to transform the generated energy into 110 or 220V. In this step you will need a specialist in the field to install it safely in your home.
4 - Costs
At this stage you will have the budget for the panels and the inverter, in addition to knowing which types and sizes of boards you will use. Having this information, look for companies that install this system for you to compare prices and find the most advantageous and safe option. A complete and installed system can cost from R$ 7 thousand. Do the math to find out how much you will save on your energy bill.
5 – Savings and return on investment
Knowing your consumption and how much the solar energy system will cost, you will be able to calculate how much you will save and how long you will recover the money invested. Solar panels usually last around 25 years. Return on investment takes an average of 10 years, which still gives you another 15 years of use and savings. Remember that the surplus energy generated will be able to be used by you in another residence of yours or converted into credits to be used later.
These are some basic information for those who think about having solar energy at home. For more detailed information, consult a professional or a specialized company.
Written by Ricardo Sturk of the Eu Sem Fronteiras Team
