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What to Plan for When You’re Building Your Solar Dream Home

Dreaming of a new home that runs on the sun? Building solar into your design plans makes sense, more than ever before. Modern technology makes it cost-effective and sensible to build a 100% solar-powered home, with no utility bills and minimal carbon footprint.

We’re learning more every day about the cost and health benefits of building a home that runs on 100% renewable electricity. Planning ahead to make your new construction home powered by the sun is an easily attainable goal, especially when your architect, building company, and solar company all work together from the start. 

Climate Scientist and Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson built this zero-emission ultra-efficient home with the intention of powering his entire lifestyle with the sun. Photo Credit: Dwell

A recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that installing solar at the same time as home construction can significantly cut costs. Whether you’re a builder working on designing a home that’s ready for solar, or a property owner in the midst of construction, there are “solar ready” design guidelines that can make the process easier for everyone.

This guide is designed for those in the process of building a new home, but if you’re thinking about making your current home zero-emission or ultra-efficient, you can absolutely adapt your existing house using the same principles.

Why Solar Now?

First off, it’s important to note that solar-powered homes are more economical than ever before. In fact, the International Energy Agency recently called solar the “King of all Energy Sources.” It’s also important to understand that solar power is essential to help us move away from fossil fuel-based energy sources as quickly as possible in the face of the climate crisis. The data continues to mount, pointing toward solar as a sensible solution both for your wallet and for the health and welfare of future generations:

  • The 30% Federal Tax Credit
     Now is the time to take advantage of this valuable incentive which directly reduces your total federal tax liability, giving you a 30% reduction in the cost of your project.
  • Photovoltaic module prices have declined by 90% over the past ten years, while utility rates continue to rise.
    In our area, utility rates have risen by about 20% in the past year, and are predicted to continue to climb. Natural gas prices are on the rise globally, and this is affecting electricity prices throughout the US.

    The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecast in its latest Short Term Energy Outlook said the average price of electricity for residential consumers could reach $0.1524/kWh in 2023. That would represent about a 3.3% increase from this year — and EIA says prices are already 7.5% higher today than they were in 2021.

  • Solar panels are incredibly reliable.
    Solar panels come warranted for 25 years and are expected to have a service life of 40+ years. Solar panels from the 1970s have tested as still producing most of their original power output, and today’s panels are engineered to a far higher standard. With no moving parts, a solar panel system is one of the most reliable, long-lived mechanical systems you can invest in.
  • Installing solar on your new home will actually increase your property value.
    Research has shown that homes with solar panels sell for significantly more than similar homes without them. In fact, solar panels can add tens of thousands of dollars to your home’s value.

  • Climate scientists are becoming increasingly alarmed at the accelerating pace of the climate crisis.
    The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
    highlights the need for speed, and also emphasizes that the climate crisis can be solved without any new investment in fossil fuel and its infrastructure.

Build Smart from the Start

Choosing to focus on energy efficiency and all-electric appliances are important factors when planning your new solar-powered build. When you plan ahead for a heat pump, electric hot water, an induction stove, and energy efficiency measures, your solar experts can help you size your array correctly so that your solar system can power all of these appliances and functions.

Mark Jacobson kitchen

Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson’s ultra-efficient kitchen features an induction stove, energy-efficient lighting, and heat pump electric hot water. Photo Credit: Dwell

Designing Your Roof for Solar: Optimal Roof Structure and Orientation

When designing a home that is solar ready, pay attention to:

  • Steepness and orientation of your roof. A south-facing roof that is angled at between 30 and 45 degrees is the most ideal for solar. Read more about roof orientation here. 
  • The layout of roof vents, chimneys, dormers, etc. Obstructions like these can limit the number of panels your roof can hold. Ideally, a continuous flat roof surface without vents or chimneys is best for solar. Put plumbing vents and chimneys on the north side of the roof, if possible.

  • Shade trees (or other obstructions) have a serious negative effect on solar production.
  • Roofing Material Additionally, while most roof types are suitable for solar, there are a few materials that can be difficult for solar installers to work with. Slate tiles and cedar shingle roofs are fragile, which means that installing solar on them could require extra equipment (and result in additional costs).

Planning Ahead for Optimal Electrical Wiring and System Placement

There are also important electrical considerations to take into account and plan ahead with your architect and builder, including:

tesla pw layout image

  • Installation of electrical conduit from your main electrical panel location to roof. You’ll need to run a conduit between your solar panels and your electrical panel. Planning ahead with your builder to run the conduit on the inside of the walls can help with the look of the project as well as the efficiency of the system.
  • Space near the main electrical panel for PV inverters and other equipment. While most of your solar panel system is on the roof, there are some components that need to be installed near your electrical panel. Not only is it key to leave adequate space for your solar inverter alongside your main service panels, but if you’re planning to have home battery backup, it’s ideal to plan a space where all of this equipment can reside together. If these items are installed post-construction, often holes in the drywall will need to be cut, but if it’s planned in advance this extra step can be avoided. 
  • Specification of main service panel and circuit breakers. Ensure that your electrical setup can handle a solar panel array and battery backup system by planning ahead for 200 amp main service panels. If your new home requires two main service panels, and if you plan to add battery storage, you can situate all of these with enough space and in the ideal location for wiring and code safety. Additionally, if you don’t want whole-home battery backup, you can pre-arrange the breakers in one service panel to hold the important appliances you’ll want the battery system to back up.

You can learn more about each of the considerations above in greater detail from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.

Give us a shout to talk about planning ahead for your new-build home. When your solar company, builder and architect are all working together to provide you with the best, most cost-effective plan, everyone wins–especially Mother Earth!

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