Architects and panel installers for solar panels in the northern hemisphere have been facing the panels south so they would get the most light all day. Turns out, they've been doing it wrong. They should be facing west instead.

Researchers at the Pecan Street Research Institute did a study of homes with solar panels in Austin, Texas and found that when homeowners faced solar panels west they were able to generate 2% more electricity in a day.

2% a day may not seem a lot but add it up over the life of solar panels and it's a lot. Reducing grid dependance during peak hours by 65% as opposed to 54% for south-facing panels could provide widespread efficiency implications.

Makes you wonder if every solar panel installation around the world has been done right or not. [Quartz via Digg]