Going solar has many benefits, and experimenting with solar power on only your garage can help you determine if it would be worth it to power your entire home with solar energy.
Using solar in your garage can particularly be beneficial if you use your garage on a daily basis for purposes other than just parking – such as using it as a workshop, a fitness room, or an entertainment space.
You can use solar panels on your garage roof to power the lights, the garage door opener, security cameras, and even to charge your electric car battery.
A solar power system consists of these main components:
Solar panels generate electricity from the sun through the following steps:
The average modern solar panel can generate around 350 watts under full sun, and gets between 3-7 hours of peak sunlight per day, depending on where you live and the time of year.
How much does it cost?
The total cost will depend on the number of solar panels it takes to power your garage through solar. However, in nearly every state in the US, the long-term cost of solar panels is less than buying electricity from the grid.
Despite the high initial costs of purchasing and installing solar panels, they have many benefits, and can save you a lot of money in the long run. A few benefits of solar power include:
Going solar doesn’t necessarily make sense for every person in every region. Here are a few things to consider before making your decision.
Electric cars and solar panels are the ultimate combination for reducing environmental impact and energy costs. Adding an at-home charging station can also save you the time and money of looking for a public charging station to recharge at. You can simply plug your car in at night, and it will be ready to go in the morning.
In order to start charging your electric car with solar panels, you will have to install a home electric vehicle charging station. Getting your EV home charger set up will likely require some electrical work in the garage from a certified electrician to provide the charger’s 240-volt power source. Costs of charging stations vary, but the average EV charger installation cost is about $750.
Although the amount will vary depending on the size of your car’s battery, around 10 solar panels should generate enough electricity to charge the average car battery. For more information see How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
Now that you know that it is possible to power your garage using only solar power, you have some things to consider. If you own your home, use a lot of electricity in your garage, want to be more environmentally conscious, and there are significant rebates or incentives available in your area, then getting solar panels installed may be worth it to you.
For additional tips on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and your monthly utility costs in your garage, check out these garage energy efficiency tips. Garage Living can help you get your garage ready for solar panels and EV home charging. Schedule your free design consultation with us today.