Installing solar panels onto your home’s roof is a great way to offset expensive energy bills while investing in renewable and green technology. To get the most out of your solar panel system’s energy production, there are several things that a homeowner should keep in mind.

1. Solar panels should be installed where they will receive the most amount of light for the longest time. Rooftops are an ideal location because they are not often shaded by trees. Installing a solar panel system on the ground is also an option, as long as it is in an area exposed to plenty of sunlight, such as an open field.

2. In an ideal situation, solar panels should be facing south (if you’re in the Northern hemisphere). As the sun rises and sets, panels facing the south will always be facing the sun throughout the day because the sun is always in the southern part of the sky. Even if your solar panels don’t face south, they will still generate electricity.

3. Be aware of the angle of the solar panels. According to EnergySage, setting solar panels with a tilt of 30 degrees is the optimal angle for electricity production when the panels are facing south.

4. Solar panels work in any state. Solar panels will still generate electricity even if it is cloudy, just not as much as a sunny day. If solar panels are installed on a home that experiences winter weather, the homeowner may have to clear snow off of the solar panels in order to keep them working efficiently.

5. Because solar panels are a long-lasting investment, your roof must be in good shape if you choose to install the panels there. If your roof needs to be replaced, do so before the installation of the panels so that they don’t have to be removed in the future to replace the roof.

Even if your location does not meet all of these suggestions, your home still may be a good fit for a solar panel system. Generating electricity with solar panels is a great way to practice sustainability in your everyday life.