In recent years, greater numbers of home owners have considered investing in the installation of a solar energy system for their property. This is an excellent way to generate clean renewable energy using sunlight. Although, there is an initial outlay for the installation of the equipment, it is considered very reliable and requires very little maintenance to indefinitely generate free energy. However, there are a number of ways to maximize the cost effectiveness of your solar energy system.
Understanding the basics:
Solar panels located on the roof of the home collect sunlight. This is then converted by the solar cells into energy that can be used immediately or alternatively stored in deep cycle batteries for later use. These batteries are used when there is little or no natural sunlight, such as during the night or on days which are very heavily overcast.
Many people opt for a mains electricity connection, which can mean that there may be times when you are using mains energy and times when you may actually be providing surplus solar energy to the grid. In this instance the utility company will pay you for the electricity you generate or use the amount they have taken to offset the cost of your energy bill. You can use this system to your advantage with some basic energy saving etiquette that will maximize your energy savings and lower your bills.
Consider your energy usage:
The majority of homes were designed to be run using mains grid power. Energy companies are happy to provide as much energy as you can possibly use and will simply send you a large bill as a result. If you have a solar energy system, you can minimize this by carefully considering the energy usage in your home. Adopting good energy habits can save energy, which is good for the environment and your finances. There are a number of basic ways to save energy throughout your home. These include:
Lighting: Is the lighting in your home energy efficient? There have been significant developments in the energy efficiency of lighting over the last few years. It can be extremely beneficial to switch to energy efficient bulbs or led fittings to save energy. Additionally, you should make sure that you’re not lighting rooms unnecessarily. Ensure that if no one is in the room, the lighting is turned off.
Insulation: A great many homes lose heated or cooled air through poor insulation or air leaks. This means that your HVAC system is working extra hard to maintain the temperature of your home. Ensuring your home is well insulated can represent a significant reduction in energy consumption.
Appliance usage: Many people have bad energy habits regarding their appliances. Are you one of those people who boils a full kettle when they only need a single cup of hot water? Do you leave your appliances turned on unnecessarily? These small bad habits can mount up into large energy consumption.
Upgrading appliances:
There may be a great number of energy hungry appliances in your home. Clothes dryers, refrigerators and HVAC systems are notorious for consuming a large amount of energy. While upgrading your appliances may seem like a costly step, there has been a great deal of development in appliance technology over the last few years. Older appliances will have a tendency to use far more energy than their newer counterparts. If you are getting ready to upgrade your appliances, try to choose the model with the best energy efficiency rating possible. This may be a little more costly initially, but over the lifespan of the new appliance, the energy savings could be tremendous.
Adopting small changes to your lifestyle can have a large impact on your energy consumption. This will allow you to use the energy generated by your solar energy system without excessively relying on the mains electricity grid. This can not only save you money but can dramatically improve the environmental impact of your home.