Do you think that if you install sufficient solar panels on your roof, you can surrender your electricity connection and you can fulfill all your electricity needs using solar energy even during the rainy and winter season?

Texans bask in the constant presence of the sun all summer long. But beyond serving as a source of beautiful sunsets and seemingly perpetual heat, we rarely stop to consider other ways the sun affects our lives. The concept of green energy as a way to provide power for our planet without using fossil fuels is increasingly a topic of public discussion. As awareness of green energy options grow, more and more people are looking for alternative energy sources to power their homes, which brings up a multitude of questions. In the case of solar energy, the two most commonly asked questions are: • How much will solar panels cost? • How many panels would I need to power my home? The short answer to both? It depends. It’s based on a host of factors including, how much energy you use in your home and how much sun hits your roof on a regular basis. While itstill may be too expensive for most people to install solar panels on their homes, prices for the panels and installation are coming down. Chariot exists to offer 100% solar energy at competitively priced rates without the need for personal panels. But before you call your nearest solar panel installation company to get a quote for your home, it’s essential you understand some crucial details about solar panels and solar energy. The Falling Price of Solar Energy Currently, solar panels are one of the more easily accessible forms of renewable energy. Solar energy attracts people in large part because of its many This expansion is a...

The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. This compensation comes from two main sources. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles; these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. The Only Solar Shingles Buying Guide You Need Harnessing the power of solar energy is not only good for the environment, but it’s also good for your wallet. While roof panels are what often come to mind, solar shingles are another option for homeowners seeking to ...

Katie Collins is a senior editor for CNET covering home energy and solar power. Katie previously covered personal finance as a senior editor on NextAdvisor with a focus on mortgages and the housing market. She has also been an editor for The Simple Dollar, Reviews.com, Interest.com and CreditCards.com. Katie holds a bachelor's degree deviant behavior and social control from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and spent a decade working with at-risk teenagers and facilitating family crisis intervention and anger management groups. Katie took her counseling skills and passion for helping people into service journalism. Her goal is to help people make important decisions and reach their personal life goals. Katie's free time is spent with her two human children and two fur children. Electricity prices are unpredictable, volatile and expensive. What if you were able to take control by getting solar panels? It's called energy independence -- and it looks different for each person. You may want solar panels to save money on your electric bills, reduce your carbon footprint or protect yourself during a power outage. Whatever your motivation may be, solar panels can produce some or all of your electric needs. The pros and cons of solar panels Pros • Cheaper electric bill • Energy independence • Produce and use clean energy • Improve your home's value • Federal tax credit available • Get paid for surplus energy through net metering Cons • Expensive upfront costs • Long return...

If the sun isn’t shining on your solar panels, they won’t be able to produce energy. When trees or other obstructions are shading solar panels, efficiency losses and reduced power generation may become problematic. In this article we will examine the effects of shade on solar panel production and efficiency. Do solar panels work in the shade? Though the output will be reduce, solar panels will still work in the shade – just at less capacity due to lower sunlight exposure. Though the numbers will vary depending on how much shade the panels are facing, the general rule with clouds and shade is that solar panels will produce about half as much energy as they would with direct sunlight. Where does solar panel shade come from? Shade on your solar panels can come from several sources. Trees: Perhaps most obviously, trees near your solar array can cause shading issues. Many residential properties are situated in green spaces, and constantly growing trees and foliage can encroach on solar panel setups. Other panels: In addition to trees, solar panels can actually be shaded by other nearby panels. Depending on the panel setup, neighboring panels can cast shadows over lower panels in the same system. This issue typically only arises in ground installations. Your roof: Panels can actually be shaded by the roof they are on. Depending on the sun’s angle and the time of day, different parts of a roof (like a chimney or dormer) can block sunlight to certain panels. Use the EnergySage Sol...

The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. This compensation comes from two main sources. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles; these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? Solar panels have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent decades. That’s thanks in part to an increase in environmentally responsible behavior and the desire to reduce energy bills by exchanging traditional sources of heat...