For many homeowners, a rooftop system is the most preferred solar option. However, not every roof is suitable for solar panels. For instance, your roof may be too shady most of the time, meaning the solar panels might not receive adequate sunlight to power your home. Or your roof may be too old or made from materials such as cedar tiles or slate, which are fragile for solar panels.
Fortunately, there are many ways to benefit from solar energy without actually using rooftop solar panels. For instance, you can take advantage of a local community solar project or find a third-party provider and have a purchasing agreement for solar energy. If you’re looking forward to going solar without installing solar panels on your rooftop, below are alternatives:
- Ground-Mounted Solar Systems
Even if your roof isn’t ideal for hosting solar panels, you still have an option for home solar with ground-mounted solar panels. As the name suggests, ground-mounted solar panels are installed at the ground level.
There are two basic types of ground solar panels: standard ground-mounted solar panels and pole-mounted solar panels.
- Standard ground-mounted panels use metal frames inserted into the ground to hold your solar panels at a fixed angle. They can be manually adjusted a few times yearly to account for the sun’s shift.
- Pole-mounted solar panels are supported by a single pole and are elevated off the ground than standard ground-mounted panels. Many pole-mounted panels have tracking systems that automatically tilt the solar panels to capture adequate sunlight.
However, it’s vital to mention that ground-mounted home solar installation in Denver Colorado can be costly compared to installing rooftop panels. For this reason, it might be wise to research different solar installation companies and compare their installation quotation to get a better deal.
Here is some additional information about ground-mounted and pole-mounted solar panels:
Ground-mounted solar panels operate similarly to rooftop solar panels. Still, they are more efficient as they can be adjusted to capture more sunlight as the sun’s position shifts. They’re also considered safer since rooftop solar systems can experience faulty wiring, resulting in a fire accident that can reduce your property to ashes.
On the other hand, as far as ground-mounted systems are concerned, any fire accident that might occur is far from your home, meaning that they don’t pose a greater risk to your property. Ground-mounted systems have independent electrical grounds compared to rooftop systems, where the grounds are bonded to your home.
Additionally, ground-mounted solar panels are easier to access than roof panels; hence they can be easily maintained and repaired when components fail.
Finally, a pole-mounted solar system can double as a solar carport or canopy, thus providing shade and shelter for your vehicles.
- Wall-Mounted Panels
If you don’t have the space to install ground-mounted solar panels, wall-mounted panels can be a great option. However, wall-mounted panels are only installed in south-facing walls to maximize energy absorption.
Since wall-mounted solar panels have high slopes even when tilted, they’re less efficient than ground-mounted or rooftop solar panels. For maximum energy absorption, the panels can be mounted parallel to the wall, tilted away from the wall, or as a canopy that overhangs. Since wall-mounted solar panels fight gravity to stay upright, they should be firmly fastened to reduce displacement, damage, and other accidents.
In terms of cleaning, wall-mounted solar panels are easy to clean and maintain than rooftop and ground-mounted panels. Debris build-up, snow, and other accumulations are not an issue in wall-mounted panels since rain washes down the debris, and gravity doesn’t allow leaves to accumulate on the panels. Additionally, wall-mounted panels are safer and easy to maintain as you don’t have to climb onto a roof which can be dangerous.
- Community Solar
Community solar refers to renewable energy systems shared amongst many electric customers such as homeowners, businesses, organizations, and more. A community solar power plant is so extensive that it can power hundreds or thousands of homes.
There are two main models of community solar projects: ownership and subscription.
- Ownership: This model allows homeowners to buy a certain number of panels or a small percentage of the solar project. When you purchase a portion of the solar project, you get electric bill savings from all the solar energy provided by the solar panels you purchased.
However, owning a portion of the solar project means you should have the upfront capital. The ownership community solar model is similar to buying a rooftop solar system, except the system isn’t installed in your home. In this model, you can only invest in enough shares equal to your annual electric bill, and no more. - Subscription: There’s no upfront capital when subscribing to the community solar project. Instead, you become a subscriber and pay a subsidized electric monthly bill. Subscription-based community solar model is the most common and popular option. Being a subscriber of a community solar project is like joining a solar power program, but you pay a lower price for electricity instead of paying for premium installments.
Nevertheless, each model has pros and cons; for instance, the subscription model is more affordable than the ownership model, but with an ownership model, you’ll generally save more in the long run. Also, if you relocate to a new region that the community solar ownership model does not cover, you must sell the shares. In contrast, with a subscription model, you easily terminate the contract.
- Heat Pumps
A heat pump is another excellent alternative for rooftop solar panels. A heat pump is a system designed to heat, cool, and purify the air in your home. It works by pumping heat out of your house during the hottest months and transferring heat into your house during cold months. Like rooftop solar panels, heat pumps are a great way to lower your electric bills and use renewable energy.
There are two types of heat pumps: air source and geothermal heat pumps.
- Air Source Heat Pumps: During summer, the air source heat pump directs the heat from the air in your home outside. In winter, it transfers heat from outside into your home. An air-source pump has two main components; the indoor air handling and the outdoor condensing unit. This type of heat pump is the most common and popular, as it’s easy to install and maintain
- Geothermal Heat Pumps: Geothermal heat pumps work differently from air-source heat pumps. Instead of moving heat from the air, they are designed to transfer heat to and from the ground or water. Geothermal heat pumps are more efficient as they benefit from the fact that the temperature of your home’s ground and water stays constant.
Generally, geothermal heat pumps are rare in homes as it’s expensive to install and maintain, especially since you must excavate the ground during installation.
- Solar Lights
Instead of connecting rooftop solar panels with your grid system to light up your home, consider using solar lights without mounting solar panels on your roof. Solar lights are designed with extra solar panel, which absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity. Once the lights absorb the sun’s energy, they stay charged even after sunset or during power outages.
Solar lights are ideal for lighting your home’s exterior, such as the garden, pathways, patios, and porches.
Solar lights have numerous benefits besides being eco-friendly. For instance, mounting solar lights around your property increases the property value, thus making it a good investment. Although they have a relatively high upfront cost, they significantly reduce your electricity bills, thus saving you more money in the long run.
Solar lights can also hold an electric charge for a long time, depending on the amount of charge accumulated. Some can last for a week, while others can last a month. Portable solar lights can be used on the go, especially when camping in an off-grid location. What’s more, solar lights don’t require professional installation like rooftop solar panels. Once you buy the lights, you can easily install them with the right tools.
- Solar Shingles
Solar shingles, also known as solar roof tiles, are made of thin photovoltaic sheets that either cover or replace existing roof shingles. The solar shingles absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity for home use. They protect your home from external elements while also providing electricity.
Although solar shingles are more expensive than traditional solar panels, solar shingles improve the overall aesthetics of your home. Also, with solar roof shingles, you get both a photovoltaic (PV) system and durable roofing material. Solar shingles are fire-resistant and more durable than solar panels meaning their investment will save you more money.
The Bottom Line
Based on the information provided in this article, it’s clear you don’t need to install rooftop solar panels to go solar. From community solar to heat pumps to solar lights, rooftop solar panel alternatives are countless.
However, each rooftop solar panel alternative offers distinct benefits and drawbacks; some are more costly than others. Therefore, you should research and compare your options before choosing any alternative. You can also seek professional help in determining the ideal solar panel alternative for your home.
