Is my home well-suited for solar?

Oregon gets as much sun as the national average—and more than Germany, the global leader in solar installations! The solar resource in southern and eastern Oregon is 20-30% higher than the national average. Thanks to our moderate climate, photovoltaic cells are able to work at or near their peak efficiency.

Before deciding if solar water heating is right for you, you may want to consider factors that will contribute to a successful installation. Ideally, the location where your solar electric system will be installed should be as south-facing as possible and receive unobstructed access to the sun's path from about 9 a.m. until about 3 p.m. year-round. Watch out for buildings and trees that may block the sunlight in different seasons. An Energy Trust trade ally contractor will be able to provide a thorough assessment of the solar access at your site.

You need a good place to mount south-facing solar panels. A typical 1 kilowatt photovoltaic installation requires approximately 100 square feet of space, depending on the type of panel. For roof-mounted panels, Energy Trust requires that your roof have at least 15 years of life remaining. Older roofs should be replaced when the solar system is installed.

 
Image courtesy of Oregon Department of Energy

Photo Top: Warren and Elizabeth Griffin of Salem, OR installed a Solamax solar water heating system and an 80-gallon storage tank.

Photos in body: Left: A domestic water heating system in Bend; Right: A solar pool heating system