5 Considerations for Building a Solar Powered Home

When it comes to decision-making, building a new house is challenging to say the least.

Building a solar powered house can feel even more daunting. Endless questions. Technical variables. Analysis paralysis. It’s a lot.

Good news, though. While we can’t help you decide on paint colors or kitchen fixtures (sorry!), we’re sharing a few simple tips here that’ll set you up to power your home with solar.

Whether you install solar panels while you build your home, or you file it under “future upgrades,” here are five important considerations for building a solar powered home.

Build it in the Right Direction

It’s true: if you’re going to put solar panels on your roof, direction matters. You probably know that south-facing roofs drink in the most sunlight year round, which is why it’s a classic orientation for solar.

That said, an east west pitched roof can actually create even more energy because there is typically more room for a larger quantity of solar panels.

Avoid the Shade

However, a perfect south-facing roof or east/west pitch means nothing if it’s shaded. The main guidance for choosing an ideal spot for solar panels: the sunniest, most open space available to you.

For some homeowners, this can simply mean keeping a particular tree trimmed. For others, it could mean choosing a different spot to orient the home if possible. Because regardless how clear the sky is, your solar panels won’t be able to generate energy without abundant sunlight reaching them without obstruction.

Design a Solar-Ready Roof

What about the roof itself? We recommend matching the latitude of the build. Here in Western North Carolina, our latitude is about 35 degrees, which makes an 8/12 - 9/12 pitch the best for getting max energy from your panels.

However, steeper roofs mean steeper costs from roof and solar installers, so installing solar on a 6/12 or 7/12 roof will cost you less, and won’t lose that much energy versus 8/12 or 9/12. Bonus: shallower pitches make it easier to clean the gutters!

Choose Electric

It may sound counterintuitive, but an all-electric house is actually better for the environment, provided you rely on a renewable power source like solar or wind.

Natural gas may sound like a better choice, but that’s only true when compared to other fossil fuels. While it’s true that natural gas emits much less carbon dioxide than coal or petroleum, it does release methane, which is a problematic greenhouse gas.

Building an all-electric house that’s powered by solar will drastically reduce your dependence on fossil fuels. Bonus: as energy efficient technology advances, you’ll need to produce less and less solar to power your home to begin with.

Tie Solar Costs into Mortgage Financing

For some, it makes financial sense to invest in solar in one lump sum, but for many of us, a loan can be smarter.

Tying in the cost of solar with mortgage financing is popular because interest rates tend to be low, and mortgage payments are commonly spread out over a few decades, making the amount that solar adds to monthly bills considerably less than paying for it in a separate loan with a shorter payback period.

Also: since homes with solar sell for 4.1% higher on average in the United States, it can be looked at as an up front investment in your home.

Find an Experienced Contractor

Our last tip? Find a contractor with experience building energy efficient and solar-powered homes. Ask if they’ve coordinated a solar installation during the construction process in the past. If they haven’t, ask them to search for a solar installer that has a lot of experience working with contractors so they can help guide timelines and keep communication clear. And crucially, be absolutely sure the electrician chosen communicates with the solar installer.

The Truth About Building A Solar Powered Home

Building a solar powered home doesn’t have to be complicated.

In fact, with the right team working together on the right home design, solar is beautifully simple to integrate into the building process.

But doing a little research now to understand the full picture before you break ground can save you significant money, time, and headaches when it comes to building your dream home.

Have questions? Send us a message anytime. We’re here to help.