How many solar panels are needed to run a house?

There are several variables that go into determining your specific needs for a solar power system but in general, the typical homeowner requires around 30 solar panels to fully power a house. However, it’s important to note that the exact amount of power you need varies based on your location, as well as what type of solar panels you choose.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the typical American residential customer uses just under 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Some parts of the country receive more hours of direct sunlight per day on average than other regions do, but a solar system consisting of 30 250-watt panels should supply enough energy to power the average American home.

Of course, this number could vary considerably based on the size of your home and how many sun hours your panels receive per day, along with other factors like the quality of insulation in your home, whether or not the home has efficient appliances, etc.

Another variable is the wattage of your panels. These days, you can find solar panels that produce up to 400 watts (or in some cases, even more than that). If you live in an area that receives lots of sunlight — for example, Arizona — and you install 400W solar panels, you could actually power your entire home with around 20 panels.

For further information about how many solar panels you need to power your home, contact one of our LGCY Power representatives today. Our solar experts can help you answer even your toughest questions about solar panel installation.

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