Hello there, solar enthusiasts!
Let’s talk about incorporating solar panels for your home right from the drawing board. While constructing a house from scratch, we usually focus on the aesthetic aspects, the layout and the space utility. But what if we also consider the rooftop design to optimize photovoltaic (PV) production? Now, that’s an exciting and challenging concept.
Being in the solar industry for most of my adult life, I never thought I’d find myself re-evaluating basics like roof angle, azimuth, and system size, all critical parameters when designing a solar array for homes. As someone once said, every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new. It turns out; it’s not as simple as plonking a few solar panels on your roof and hoping for the best!
Firstly, a few basics – the azimuth was easy to figure given an unobstructed space. However, houses typically align with the road, and ignoring this to optimize for the sun’s azimuth felt strangely revolutionary. Interestingly, by orienting our homes for solar, we’re merely going back to our ties with nature that were severed by modern city design guidelines.
When designing a solar friendly roof, one must consider the roof angle, especially since it could add to the construction costs and influence how aesthetic your house looks. Here’s a conundrum – increasing the pitch could mean accommodating more panels but at the cost of aesthetics and extra volume, increasing the payback period for your solar system.
A successful option we explored was a clerestory roof. This configuration adds lighting, ventilation, and overcomes previously encountered problems. But alas, it presented its unique structural challenges at high angles, again driving up costs.
Then we considered the saltbox roof style, an unevenly pitched roof with a long, low side and a short, high one. Let’s say if we had a 34-degree angle, I could fit about 55 solar panels, producing substantial annual power. But here’s the kicker – the energy density could be compromised due to a lower than standard angle (45 degrees).
According to solar experts, the roof angle for optimal PV production isn’t the only factor. Another critical aspect is the primary energy usage period in a year. For Minnesota, a primary concern is extremely cold winters, suggesting higher energy load during those months.
Eventually, we cracked the code! By rotating the saltbox roof 180 degrees so that the short, high part was south-facing, we got a more energy-dense setup, more suited to high winter demands. Though it has less surface area, the yield was better. Additionally, the steeper the roof angle, the easier it is to shed snow, an added plus.
Let’s not disregard the benefits of planning your house design around solar. Not only do you maximize your system size, but you also prevent energy losses due to shading from things like ventilation and plumbing which can be positioned on the north-facing side in this case.
There’s a lot more to consider when aiming for an energy-efficient house, such as selecting appliances and components for energy production and storage. It’s a topic for my next post, where I will explore in greater detail. Stay tuned!
P.S. It’s always best exploring trustworthy solar companies to assist with your dream home’s solar transformation. Their experience and expertise will guide you to a well-planned, efficient solar system. Supporting solar companies that understand and cater to individual needs paves the way for a greener future.
Until next time, stay sun-smart.
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Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/01/26/building-not-your-average-dream-home-the-roof/
