Tiny homes may be small in stature, but they still need plenty of energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances. If you live in a tiny home or are considering downsizing to one, you can use solar panels to reduce your energy bills by generating clean and affordable electricity. The benefits you&#;ll reap are just like those larger homes enjoy, including lower electricity bills, more control over power generation, and contributions to a cleaner environment.
As California&#;s leading solar company, Simply Solar designs and sells systems that work with any size home. We specialize in non-cookie-cutter solar systems that are perfect for a tiny home lifestyle.
Most people who choose to live in a tiny home do so to save money and lower their environmental impact. So, it&#;s no surprise that many of them are also interested in reducing their power grid dependence when powering their homes.
Solar panels will definitely slash your electric bills. A small solar system between 1 kilowatt and 3 kilowatts in size is typically sufficient to power a tiny home. That can translate to significant savings annually in utility costs.
Solar panels also offer a great return on investment, particularly in light of the available rebates and tax credits. Financing options like loans, leases, and power purchase agreements can lower your outlay even more.
Unlike other renewable energy sources like wind and hydro, inexpensive solar panels are the only practical option for renewable energy in a tiny house.
Installing solar panels is a big investment, even for tiny homes. However, you can take advantage of the 30% federal solar tax credit, and, depending on where your tiny house is located, further rebates and incentives could apply.
Also, a solar power system is ideal for keeping the lights on during a power outage &#; but only if you have an energy storage solution to keep everything running. Solar battery storage options meet your energy needs when the sun sets or during a grid failure. Fortunately, solar backup batteries also qualify for solar tax credits and rebates.
Lastly, placing all the solar panels you need on your tiny house&#;s roof can be tricky, so you might need to install them on the ground near your home. Alternatively, you can invest in high-efficiency panels.
Solar power for your tiny home in California is totally within your reach, and Simply Solar would love to show you how! We&#;ll guide you through the process and help you determine your energy needs, the ideal panel placement, and whatever else you need to meet your off-grid electricity goals.
To learn more about using solar panels to build or support an off-grid tiny home, schedule a consultation online or call us at (707) 285- today.
On average, one solar panel can generate 250 to 400 watts of energy in an hour. Of course, this depends on how sunny it is and where exactly you place your panels. For this reason, your tiny home's roof is the best installation spot.
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In any case, let's assume that each of your panels can generate 300 watts per hour. Let's also say that you live somewhere where you can get 5 full hours of sun. In this case, each of your panels can generate 1.5 kW throughout that period.
Now, suppose your tiny home's average daily energy use amounts to 5 kW. If you want to go 100% solar to eliminate your energy bills, you need at least four solar panels. If you use 10 kW of energy each day, then you must have at least seven panels.
Consequently, it's important to calculate your power needs based on what appliances and electronics you plan to use. Many solar companies offer calculators to help you determine how many panels you need, as well as battery storage.
Supposedly, the federal residential solar tax incentive was to drop to 22% by . In December , though, Congress extended the 26% credit for two more years. So, if you get your solar panels before , your legally placed movable tiny house or tiny home on a foundation can qualify for the 26% tax break.
A perfect example is California, home to over 1.2 million solar installations. The Golden State has always had the most solar panel systems installed throughout the US. After all, the state has a bevy of solar programs, such as local permit rebates and net metering.
Another example is Richmond, VA. According to https://blueravensolar.com/virginia/richmond/, the city has local solar rebates, too. For starters, tiny house owners can sign up for net metering offered by utility providers.
Many other states and municipalities run these offers, so be sure to check them out. Your tiny house may qualify for more than just the federal tax break.
Tiny homes often use a lot less energy than average houses so that they can benefit the most from solar energy. Plus, today's high-quality solar panels can now last anywhere from two to three decades. This means you can reduce or even eliminate your energy bills for the next 20 to 30 years!
All that should be enough reason to go with solar, one of the cleanest, most renewable energy sources.
Keep in mind panels are just one piece of a fully-functional solar power system. You need batteries, inverters, etc. Fortunately, you can now find plug-in-play kits to simplify the install.
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