Solar panels are a great way to save money on electricity bills and reduce the carbon footprint of your household. However, there is still room for improvement when it comes to getting the most out of residential solar systems. If you have solar panels installed on your home and would like to see your energy consumption reduced, there are some changes you could make around the home to save even more money and use your solar energy more efficiently.
Use LED Bulbs
One of the largest energy consumers in your home is light. Light is used for almost all activities in the home, so it’s suggested that you switch to more energy efficient bulbs to reduce the cost of energy and improve the light in your home. Switch to LED light bulbs, which use less than half of the energy a typical light bulb does. You might also be able to use your air conditioning unit less, as older bulbs produce heat that could be making the home warmer. LED light bulbs last longer as well, saving you even more money in the long run.
Disable Standby Mode
Many of the electric devices in the home can consume electricity even when they are not being used. A home can have many different devices plugged in at one time, using a substantial amount of energy throughout the day and night. To reduce the energy consumed by these devices, unplug them and keep them unplugged until you or a family member is ready to use them. Such devices can include TVs, game consoles, computers, and more.
Heat Water with Electricity
You can heat the water in your home using solar electricity by transforming your hot water system. By using electric hot water heaters, you can control the temperature of hot water in your home without using a hot water heater, saving you money on electricity and reducing the amount of wattage used by solar panels. If you take advantage of heating water using solar systems for houses, you can meet your hot water demand entirely by solar power during certain months.
Use Devices That Consume High Electricity During the Day
The appliances in your home that typically run the most electricity are your stove, the dryer, the dish washer, and the washing machine. In order to reduce the amount of energy your home is using, try to do your laundry and cooking in the morning, avoiding using the dishwasher and other appliances at night if possible. By doing so, you can allow the big appliances to run when your residential solar system is getting the most sun.
If you’ve switched to solar systems for houses and would like to further reduce the amount of energy you or your family consumes, the tips above are a great start. You can find even more ways to reduce your energy use and use your solar panels more efficiently by getting creative and looking around the home for changes you can make.
