Installing solar panels to face south has been long assumed the best way to capture the sun’s rays all day long. However, as Green Building Advisor‘s Scott Gibson reports, a new study conducted by Opower, a company that analyzes energy data for utilities, finds contradicting evidence that supports west-facing solar panels. The case: the sun is stronger in the late afternoon and provides more energy, and some utilities are offering financial incentives for those who make the switch. Offering a handsome incentive for well-timed solar power (or well-timed reductions in usage) can be a smart play for any utility seeking to avoid high marginal costs to source electricity from power plants.
Read the entire article here: The Case for West-Facing Solar Panels