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Per EnergySage, how many solar panels does it take to cover a typical home? 10 to 15 20 to 24 30 to 35 Five to 10

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Per EnergySage, how many solar panels does it take to cover a typical home?
10 to 15
20 to 24
30 to 35
Five to 10

Per EnergySage, how many solar panels does it take to cover a typical home? 10 to 15 20 to 24 30 to 35 Five to 10

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VaughnElite · Tutor for 8 years

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20 to 24

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To determine the number of solar panels required to cover a typical home, we need to consider the average energy consumption of a household and the average energy production of a solar panel.<br /><br />1. **Average Energy Consumption**: According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average American household consumes about 877 kWh per month, which translates to approximately 10,524 kWh annually.<br /><br />2. **Solar Panel Output**: The output of a solar panel depends on its wattage and the amount of sunlight it receives. A typical solar panel has a capacity of around 300 watts. Assuming an average of 4 peak sunlight hours per day, a single panel can produce:<br /> \[<br /> 300 \text{ watts} \times 4 \text{ hours/day} \times 365 \text{ days/year} = 438,000 \text{ watt-hours/year} = 438 \text{ kWh/year}<br /> \]<br /><br />3. **Number of Panels Calculation**: To cover the annual energy consumption of 10,524 kWh, the number of panels required would be:<br /> \[<br /> \frac{10,524 \text{ kWh/year}}{438 \text{ kWh/panel/year}} \approx 24 \text{ panels}<br /> \]<br /><br />This calculation aligns with the information provided by EnergySage, which estimates that a typical home requires between 20 to 24 solar panels to cover its energy needs.
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