- 1). Get a copy of your home's power bill. Make sure to note the average kilowatt usage per month. This information will be very useful when seeking to find the appropriate solar unit for your home. Also record the energy rating of your appliances. You can find this information in each of your appliance's owner guides.
- 2). Go online and search "globalsources.com" for a domestic dealer of solar energy equipment. Select a self-install kit or choose a dealer that installs the product for you. Please keep in mind that Pennsylvania has many days of heavy cloud cover, reducing total solar energy delivered to your home. This means your solar power system will require a high battery (solar energy storage) capacity.
- 3). Choose a domestic dealer with the option for installation. Call the dealer and provide your energy household information, and make sure the dealer understands that a large storage capacity or hydronic package is needed for a climate with low sunlight for several months of the year. If you are doing a self-installation go to the next step.
- 4). Size the unit you need using the your home kilowatt rating and appliance ratings. Order your unit from a domestic dealer. Show a preference for those closest to your location. These units can be very heavy, and picking up a unit will save on shipping. Make sure that you consider every single device you want to run on solar power. Sunlight will vary widely at different points of the year in Pennsylvania. Build this variation into your power calculations.
- 5). Install the solar power plant in your home. Some units are small and only involve placement and securing to the roof. Other units are free-standing and only require the assembly of panels and securing to the ground. Make sure you locate underground lines before digging.
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