Installing solar panels on your home or place of business in Paradise requires careful planning and consideration. First, analyze your property's energy profile to determine the proper solar system size and capacity. A residential property might have an entirely different energy consumption pattern than a large commercial space, which would influence the kind and scale of solar installation one might choose. Second, pay close attention to your roof's architectural design and solar orientation, as these factors greatly influence solar energy capture and, thus, system efficiency. Sun-seeking south-facing roofs typically are the best solar candidates, but even a roof with an east-west orientation can be well-equipped with solar panels. Engage with trained solar professionals to conduct a thorough site assessment to see which installation type would best suit your property.
In Paradise, the climate significantly impacts the choice of solar roofing systems. Although the area basks in ample sunshine, other weather factors, especially wind, make design and material choices critical to ensuring optimum energy gain. With solar panels being the most widely adopted solar technologies today, their potential to generate electricity in Paradise is most promising. However, because Paradise is a community with a host of different rooftop styles and an abundance of trees (many with the potential to shade), it is just as well to consider alternative solar roofing systems that are less obvious but sometimes more appropriate. Rooftop solar shingles have gained a fair amount of attention lately, but a newer option, solar-integrated roofing tiles, has real potential in a community like Paradise because it can blend in seamlessly with the rest of your roof, providing aesthetic and energy efficiency without begging for compliments from fans of "industrial chic."
When deciding on solar power for use at home, you must first choose between two configurations: a grid-tied system or an off-grid one. If you're looking for a solar power choice that maximizes your energy independence, then you might choose the latter. However, as is the case with most choices that optimize for energy independence, an off-grid solar system coupled with a battery storage solution is likely to be more expensive than a grid-tied system that uses net metering—sending surplus electricity back to the grid for credit. In terms of installation and equipment, both systems offer similar solar technology opportunities.
