Frequently people want to know how many solar panels they will need based on the size of their home. However, the amount of electricity you use is more important for solar electric system design than the square footage of your home. This is mainly because people’s use of electricity varies in so many different ways. Same House, Different Energy Situations For instance, let’s say two families live next door to each other in 2,000 square foot homes. A young man lives in Home A with his fiancé; they both work long hours and often spend evenings out with friends. As a result, they don’t use much electricity and pay about $40 a month. In Home B, two parents live with their two teenage children. They are either running the heater or air conditioner and use electricity to filter their pool, meanwhile the teenagers are always on their iPads, opening the refrigerator or watching TV. Since more people live in the house and their lifestyle requires more energy, their electricity bills run at about $325 a month.

Importance of Electricity Usage for Solar Panel Design Even though they live in homes that are the exact same size, the family in Home B would most likely need to invest in more solar panels to bring down their electricity usage than the couple living in Home A.  how much is a new furnace and ac unitEven if the households were identical in electric consumption, one home may have better solar exposure or less shade than another, which can mean more or fewer panels.can i recharge my home ac unit Electricity usage is also important because most utility companies in Los Angeles and Orange County limit the size of your solar system based on the amount of energy you currently use. ac window unit how it worksThis number is usually determined by looking at how much electricity you have used in the last 12 months.

Just Moved or Building Your Home? Here’s How it Works Of course, there are always some exceptions to the rule. If you have only lived in your home for a few months or want to install solar panels on a home in construction, then most utility companies let us estimate usage based on your home’s square footage. As an example, LADWP calculates this type of average at 2 watts for every square foot. So, a 2,000 square foot home would be allowed a solar array of 4,000 watts.  Depending on the type of panel that you choose, a system of this size would be anywhere from 12-18 solar panels.  Keep in mind, this formula to estimate consumption varies depending on who provides your electricity. Another exception is sometimes made for people who are anticipating that their electricity usage will go up. If you are planning to buy an EV (electric vehicle) or install central air, for example, we can estimate the additional usage and factor it into the solar panel design and cost.

But, the utilities are sticklers! They will make us submit proof of purchase along with the solar system application. Find out How Much Solar Panels Cost Interested in how many solar panels you will need for your roof and energy situation? , and have your electricity bills handy. We can typically provide a rough estimate based on your usage and a quick glance at your home on Google Earth. For those who would like a more specific price, we can schedule a solar evaluation where we meet at your home and evaluate your roof in person.How do you size a furnace for a house? There are several factors to consider when sizing a furnace for a house, including the square footage of the building and the climate it occupies. A rule of thumb is to allow 25 to 30 BTU per square foot for moderate climates and up to 45 BTU per square foot in harsher climates. For a 2,000 square foot home, the ideal furnace size therefore varies from 60,000 to 90,000 BTU. What size gas furnace do you need for a small home?

How many BTUs do you need to heat your house? Efficiency is an important consideration in selecting the correct size of furnace for a home. Multiplying the BTU output by the rated efficiency provides the effective BTU. A difference of as little as 10 percent in efficiency can have a big impact on the actual output of the unit. Choosing a higher efficiency unit allows an owner to reduce the size of furnace required, according to The Nest. The correct size of furnace improves comfort levels in the home and ensures a longer furnace life. Furnaces that are too small are often overworked to keep a home comfortable, causing additional wear on the components. When outside temperatures drop, an undersized unit can lose its ability to maintain the desired comfort level. However, selecting an oversized unit also causes problems. The unit will then heat the home quickly and shut off. Such short-cycling is hard on the mechanical parts of the furnace and often leads to premature failure.

How big of a furnace do I need for my house? The size of furnace needed for a home depends on the size of the home or the geographic location of the home. The needed BTUs are calculated based on the h... Are calculators available to determine what sized furnace to buy? Calculators to estimate the correct size of furnace for a given space are available. provides a calculator that... Which furnace is the best? The best furnace is one that is the right size for the space, efficient and reliable and has the right features for the specific buyer and home. To determine the size of air conditioner needed in a space, first measure the square footage of the area that needs to be cooled. Determine how many Britis... How big is a regulation size soccer ball? How do you replace a ceiling fan capacitor? Which brands make portable windowless air conditioner models? What features are space heaters rated on? Will it run occasionally or most of the time?