Resources > Solar-ready buildings: Design tips

Solar-ready buildings: Design tips

• Factsheet

Why build solar ready?

Building a solar-ready home can lower future installation costs, increase your home value, and provide energy independence.

Design tips

• Orient to the sun: Position the home so that the largest roof section faces south for maximum sun exposure.
• Optimize roof design: avoid hip roofs where all sides slope down. Gable (roofs with two sloping sides) or single-slope roofs can increase usable area for solar. Choose solar-friendly roof material. For sloped roofs, use standing seam metal roofs, and for flat roofs, use TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) membrane when possible.
• Rooftop layout: Position chimneys, vents, dormers, or skylights away from south-facing roof space. Group these elements together when possible.
• Roof load capacity: Design the roof to handle between 3 and 6 lb/ft² for panels on racking or more for systems that use ballast systems.
• Add a conduit path: Install a conduit chase from the attic/roof to the circuit breaker panel.
• Preserve sunlight access: Plant low-growing trees or shrubs to prevent shading.