How Solar Panels Can Be Optimal in Extreme Heat or Heavy Snow
While our ultimate goal is to fulfill all your power needs in an environmentally sustainable way, the weather and climate in which you live can influence how we customize your solar panel installation. Extreme heat or heavy snow are no obstacles to successful solar panel operation, and they each have their own benefits to appreciate.
How to Take Advantage of Extreme Heat
In extreme heat, the advantage of solar panels comes from how they're positioned on a building. Unlike dark roofing and solar shingles, solar panels are installed a few inches above the roof, acting as a protective shade from the worst of the sun's heat. By reducing the transmission of heat to your roof and attic, a San Diego State University study demonstrated a link between solar panel shade and the lowering of AC loads by around 5%. Overall, the buildings they observed with solar panels showed a decrease of heat to the roof by about 38%.
We can leverage this knowledge by making our installation more efficient for your home or building. Instead of 100% offset, we often size the system slightly below that threshold knowing that energy use will be somewhat reduced. This can achieve an optimal balance of saving you a little money while still producing all the power you need. Of course, you can always choose to oversize your array instead; this makes sense if you're planning on building additions to your home, adding an electric vehicle, or switching any of your gas appliances to electric. While the decision is yours, we'll be with you every step of the way to lend our expertise and help you reach your power goals.
How Does Heavy Snow Impact Solar Panel Roofs
Intuitively, snowy weather sounds like it could shut down solar panels for a while. You might guess that snow would build up and stay all winter! However, roofs with solar panels actually discard snow much quicker than anything but smooth metal roofs. Rest assured that solar panels in snowy weather will not add more weight to your roof. Whether it's a light coating or a heavy blizzard, by the time the snowfall stops, the solar panel melting will occur rapidly within a few hours of sunlight.
Conclusion
No matter the weather, solar panels are highly adaptable to different climate realities; this applies to both residential and commercial buildings. If you want power no matter the season with the unique environmental and energy benefits of a solar panel system, please contact us at Solar 4 Planet A. Call or email us for a quote that accounts for your house or building's specific needs.