Solar power gives you the chance to not only power your home with an alternative energy source, it also allows you to store energy for future use.

But not every home is able to have a solar array installed on the roof; here are some options if that is your case.

Solar Sheds, Barns, and Carports: Use Alternative Roof Space to Host Your Installation

The roof is the most common place for a home solar installation, and for good reason. Your roof is elevated, so it’s typically exposed to the sun for most of the day. It’s also an existing structure, which can reduce your installation costs. Many homeowners who can’t install panels on the roof of their home will build a solar energy system on another building on their property. Sheds, garages, greenhouses and barns can all offer suitable locations for solar installations.

Solar carports and patio covers are another increasingly popular rooftop solar alternative. If you construct a carport or patio cover, you have an installation that both generates zero-emissions electricity and provides shade. As an added bonus, both options can be installed so that they capture sunlight at the perfect angle to maximize your solar energy production.

Ground Mounted Solar Systems: All the Benefits of Rooftop Solar, With Less Maintenance

Even if you don’t have any roof space that can host a solar energy system, you still have options for home solar. Ground mount solar panels offer all of the benefits of a rooftop system, plus a few additional advantages. In many cases, a ground mount system will actually produce more electricity than rooftop solar, because it can be adjusted to capture more sunlight throughout the year as the sun’s position changes in the sky. Additionally, while a rooftop solar system will be restricted by the size of your roof, a ground-mounted system can be sized to meet your exact needs.

If your homeowner’s association has rules against solar panels for aesthetic reasons, or if you live in a historic neighborhood, ground mount solar panels can offer a good solution. In most cases they don’t violate aesthetic regulations as long as you install them so that they can’t be seen from the street.

Unfortunately, attaching a solar array to your home is not always possible or the most optimal way to harness the sun's energy.

These options, however, will allow most people to harness the sun's energy and convert it into electricity – even if you live in an urban or suburban environment.

To see other options for using solar energy, please check out Mother Earth News.

Featured Image via www.solardave.com