Homeowners typically go solar to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. Coincidentally, tiny homes have these two perks. So if you combine solar panels with tiny houses, you’ll get the best match possible. This article will list the advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels on tiny homes.
The Pros
Customizable:
You can decide the size of your solar panels. They can be as big or small as your home. This is great news for tiny homeowners since they always have to find objects that can fit their home’s limited space.
They’ll show frustration at not finding the preferred items they require from specific brands. With solar panels, it’s easy; you have to reduce the number of solar panels you can fit on the roof, and you’re done.
Increased Energy Independence:
By having a tiny home, you automatically have a smaller carbon footprint. This footprint can be further reduced if you install solar panels. You’ll be completely self-dependent since a tiny home doesn’t have major energy requirements. If you install solar panels, they’ll take care of all the energy needs. There are different levels of energy independence when it comes to solar:
- With a grid-tied solar system, you can cover your home’s needs while feeding extra power to the grid if you have net metering.
- With a solar battery, you can store surplus power in the daytime and use that power at night. This means that you won’t be relying on the grid but solely on the power produced by your solar panels.
- Connected to the last point, you may reach this stage of complete independence from the grid for your energy needs. However, keep in mind that off-grid systems can be expensive.
Renewable and Clean Energy:
Solar power is pollution free and has a negligible carbon footprint. With minimal environmental impact and emission-free, you can pair this renewable energy source with your tiny home and reap clean benefits. Plus, solar panels are versatile and can be used anywhere. They’re pretty affordable too.
Higher Returns on Investment:
You can expect an average overall payback period of 4-9 years for solar panels. This payback period can be easily shortened if you own a tiny house. You’ll also have to invest less in the system. Costs can be further decreased by getting solar financing options.
These can help with power purchase agreements, loans, upfront costs, and leases. The cost depends on how much energy you consume. Since a tiny home won’t have a lot of energy usage, this cost will be kept low.
Reduced Electricity Bills:
Tiny homes have reduced electricity bills because of the space they occupy. With solar panels, you can take this to a new low where you can eliminate most, or even all, of your electricity charges.
You can save $250-$750 annually by installing a small solar system that generates 1-3 kilowatts (kWh) of energy. However, your solar savings will depend on a few factors. Some factors will increase your solar savings:
- Net metering.
- Ample daily sunshine.
- High electricity rates.
Other factors will decrease your solar savings like:
- High energy consumption.
- Low amount of incentives from utility or state.
- Low amount of sunlight.
- Cheap grid electricity.
The Cons
Inverter Placement:
A solar inverter converts the DC electricity from your solar panels into usable AC electricity your home can utilize. You will find three types of inverters in the market:
- Microinverters
- String inverters.
- Power optimizers.
The most cost-effective choice would be to invest in string inverters. However, you should be careful, as placing a string inverter in a constricted space is quite challenging. Take care of the following things if you do so:
- String inverters produce a low hum when working. It could not be very pleasant if you are doing any work nearby. A solution would be to place them in the north or east direction in an outdoor box with minimal sun exposure.
- Try to keep your inverter away from hot temperatures (direct sunlight). They operate best in lower temperatures.
If you don’t want to go for string inverters, then you could try microinverters which are small inverters attached to each panel. However, they are a less popular and expensive option for many users.
Space Requirements:
Tiny houses will have tiny roofs; sometimes, it can be difficult to fit solar panels into that small place. However, if any homeowner feels that they can’t fit the solar panels needed for the energy that their home requires, then they can do three things:
- They can use high-efficiency solar panels, so fewer panels will generate enough power to match their needs.
- They can make their home energy efficient. This means they try to consume less power, so fewer solar panels are needed to meet that need.
- If the solar panels don’t fit on the roof, they can be installed on the ground near a house. However, this type of setup is difficult to relocate.
Many people will have questions about calculating their energy needs and the space the installed solar panels require. To calculate total energy consumption, look at your annual energy bills. Add all of them and divide that number by 12.
You’ll get your average monthly energy consumption. For calculating space, you can either use an online calculator to input your location and energy usage or talk to a solar installer for further details.
Upfront Cost:
Buying a solar panel system is a costly undertaking. It can set you back several thousand dollars. For systems of sizes 1-3KW, the price range can be from $3,250-$9,750. Remember that these prices will be without any rebates or incentives.
However, federal solar tax credits are offered at 30% of the system’s cost if you are a regular taxpayer. This will bring down the price of the solar system to $2,275 for a 1 kW system and $6,825 for a 3 kW system. State rebates or incentives can also reduce this price depending on where you live.
The prices can also be more than normal in some cases. If the system has exorbitant prices, you can consider options such as zero down payments or solar loans. However, there are criteria and a certain score you need to have to qualify for them.
If you want to go more towards the cheaper spectrum, then a DIY solar panel installation is another option. However, that option has its pros and cons.
Solar panels can be a great investment for many tiny homeowners since they can live without bills while protecting the planet. Moreover, their investment in solar panels is returned quickly in only a few years, so they have nothing to lose and so much to gain. It’s a win-win for everyone.