This essay is based in part on my book, Hope in a Jar: The Making of America's Beauty Culture (New York: Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt, 1998), as well as a reading of the innovative new scholarship on the history of American consumer culture.
Again referencing the latest US Solar Market Insight report, the average installed cost of a residential solar panel system was $4.72/watt. However, prices vary tremendously by region. âCommon residential system prices ranged from less than $3.00/W to just above $7.00/W,â the Solar Energy Industries Association writes.
Again, the point is that the cost of a solar panel system is directly tied to how much electricity a homeowner uses, not the size of a roof. The typical 5 kilowatt system will take up between 350 and 400 square feet.Since the average American rooftop is at least 1,500 square feet, most homeowners have more than enough space for a solar panel system that will fit their energy needs.To sum up, the main cost determinant when buying solar panels is average yearly energy usage, not roof size.ince the average American rooftop is at least 1,500 square feet, most homeowners have more than enough space for a solar panel system that will fit their energy needs. To sum up, the main cost determinant when buying solar panels is average yearly energy usage, not roof size.