Environment & Energy

It's much easier to conserve electricity than it is to produce it yourself.

Insulation, good windows, proper orientation of the house for your location will reduce how much solar you need.

Take a look at a passive solar design for the structure.

https://sustainability.williams.edu/green-building-basics/passive-solar-design/

If as suggested that you put your solar on the ground, consider building it high enough that it would provide shade for a garden that might get burned out from a hot summer sun. Or maybe as a carport?

I will also 2nd Hunter's recommendation that you have a licensed electrician do the hookups. Make sure everything is to code - you have to have an emergency cutoff switch in case of a fire to keep the fire dept safe.

RE: used panels - current panels have a warranty that guarantees 80% output after 25 yrs so a10 old panel would have plenty of life left.

Also, something I didn't realize before I had my system installed - if you are connected to the grid you have to have some type of battery storage for the system to work if there is a power outage. Of course Powerwall is a possibility but there are also some modular batteries that would allow you to start with enough to keep the essentials working but then add more as needed.

Good luck.