How Many Megawatts Does A House Typically Use?
At Solar Bear Orlando, we often get asked about how much energy most homes use, and we get it! Understanding how much power your home uses and how that translates into megawatts is an important aspect of going solar.
Why? Because choosing the right-sized solar system for your home starts with knowing your energy needs, and we’re excited to help you with that!
Understanding Your Home’s Power Usage
On average, most homes in the United States use about 10,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. One megawatt (MW) is equal to 1,000 kilowatts, so this translates to 10.5 megawatts a year.
Of course, this is a generalization, and your home’s specific usage depends largely on several factors, including:
- Size of Your Home: Larger homes require more electricity to run. Simple, right?
- Climate: Homes in warmer climates like ours here in Orlando use more electricity because air conditioning is necessary most of the year.
- Number of People in the Home: The more people that live in a home, the more appliance usage there is.
- Appliances: The number and type of appliances that are used can have a big impact on how much electricity is used.
Now that you know what factors into your home’s energy usage and a general average of how much electricity a home uses, let’s discuss some tips to effectively power your home with solar energy.
Assess Your Energy Needs
We recommend reviewing your past electricity bills to get a better understanding of your monthly energy consumption. This will help you decide how many solar panels you will need in your system.
Calculate Your Solar Requirements
Once you understand your home’s energy usage, you can determine the size of your solar array. Don’t worry; we are here to help with that as well, but keep in mind that each kilowatt of solar panel will typically produce about 1,200 to 1,500 kWh annually.
Consider Future Needs
Things around the home often change, and you may want to account for these home updates. If you plan to charge a solar vehicle or add appliances or a solar pool heater to your home, we recommend sizing your system accordingly.
Consult Professionals
Of course, you don’t have to do all this calculating alone! Our team at Solar Bear Orlando is here to help and can complete a thorough assessment of your home to ensure your solar system is right-sized for your needs.
Read More > What Are My Options for Residential Solar?
Ready to Go Solar?
If you are ready to install a solar system at your Orlando home or business, what are you waiting for? With a little bit of energy usage calculation and the help of our team, you’ll be well on your way to installing solar panels and gaining energy independence!
For any questions or to get started on your solar journey, reach out to our friendly team at Solar Bear Orlando at (727) 471-7442. We’re here to help you harness the power of the sun!