Solar Panels Can Save You Money Even in the Winter
Many people ask us, “Will my solar panels get any energy during the winter months?” Solar Me is happy to say that we often see homes and businesses save money all throughout the year. Winter months included!
Honestly, it’s not likely that you’ll have as much solar energy in the winter as you would during the summertime. However, you’ll still see a difference.
Even on the shortest day of the year, residents in New Jersey will still get almost 8 ½ hours of sunlight.
Here are a few other things people may not know about solar energy during the wintertime.
Your solar panels perform best when they’re cold.
Strange as it may sound, your solar panel performs at its best when it’s cold. Remember, solar panels absorb light, not warmth. That means when it’s cold, your panels are able to conduct energy more easily, making the conversion to electricity more streamlined. So there’s even an upside to the cold sunny days you’ll get during the winter. Curious what kind of solar panels we use? Contact us to learn more about our panels and installation.
The winter is not as dark as most people think.
Even in New Jersey, your solar panels will get more sunlight than you might expect. Studies show that if you combined the months of December, January, and February, you’d have at least 24 completely clear days and 443 hours of sunlight. And that’s not including the days the sunlight peaks through cloud cover on an overcast day. So even though it may feel darker, your solar panels work hard to soak up the available sunlight.
You can make sure your solar panes get the most sunlight possible.
There are a few things you can do to ensure your solar panels still get as much energy as possible in the winter. For example, address any nearby trees that could cast a shadow over your roof or solar panel. Moving these out of the way will make sure you have direct access to plenty of sunshine throughout the day. You’ll also want to make sure you keep any excess snow off your solar panels. If your panels are clear of snow, they’ll be able to get sun despite the winter wonderland.
Solar Me can make sure your panels are installed to get the most sun throughout the year. We’ll also review any landscaping that surrounds your panels.
While we may not have an endless summer, homeowners and businesses can certainly save money during the wintertime with solar panels. Solar Me can help you set up a solar energy system that gets optimal sunlight throughout the year.
Contact us today for a customized quote, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Written by Megan Carver | January 15, 2021
