Eco Home Designs with Solar Panels: A Closer Look

Did you know that in 2021, 46 percent of all new electric grid capacity was generated by solar panels?

A modern eco-friendly house wouldn’t be complete without applying renewable energy solutions. As we all strive toward a more sustainable and efficient eco home design, solar is emerging as the leading source of green and clean power.

If you’re planning out to build your eco-friendly house, it pays to do your research before incorporating solar panels into your design. This guide explains how to get maximum efficiency from your array while maintaining a beautiful design of the building.

Read on for our top eco-friendly home ideas for installing solar panels.

Classic Rooftop Solar Panels

Solar energy is a clean, pretty reliable, and sustainable source of energy. By installing solar panels on your roof, you can seriously reduce the carbon footprint of your home.

When choosing the position of your rooftop solar panels, you’ll need to consider the site’s elevation, orientation, natural features and your geographical position. To be sure that you are using your panels at maximum efficiency, you have to place them facing south in the Northern hemisphere and facing north in the Southern hemisphere.

Solar providers can help you position and install your solar panels by first conducting a site survey. They will calculate the prime position for your PV system, ensuring it gets plenty of direct sunlight.

Depending on the shape and size of your roof, consider using hexagonal solar panels to optimize the available area.

Solar Roof Tiles

While classic rooftop solar panels are mounted onto the existing roof of an eco house, solar roofs are made from individual solar tiles, effectively turning your roof into one huge solar panel.

Solar roof tiles are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be integrated into the design of your roof for a functional and aesthetic finish. They can also be used with traditional roof shingles to create an interesting effect.

Many eco home designs favor solar tiles due to their inconspicuous and seamless design. However, they are generally more expensive than traditional solar panels.

Ground-Mounted Solar Panels

Depending on the site of your eco home, roof-mounted solar panels may not be the best solution. If your property doesn’t have a south-facing roof or is naturally shady, consider ground panels instead.

Utilize any sunny spots in your garden by mounting solar panels. Combine them with great landscaping to soften the design.

While a solid block of solar panels might look jarring, you can use terracing and planting to help them blend in. Some ground-mounted panels are even designed as feature pieces.

Going Solar: the Best Eco Home Designs

Solar panels should be a central part of your plan if you’re striving for an eco home. When you go solar, not only will you be making your house more eco-friendly, but you will also see your energy bills slashed.

We hope these eco home designs for solar panels have inspired you to make the next phase of your eco house journey a reality.

If you found this guide informative, check out the rest of our blog for more topics and advice.