Four Ways To Maximize The Efficiency Of New Solar Panels
Solar panels are a big investment and have the potential to make a noticeable difference in how much energy you use. Once you've decided how you're going to have them installed, you can make use of energy storage, energy monitoring, and smart systems to make your home as efficient as possible.
Decide on Leasing vs Buying
When looking to install solar panels, you have two main options: buying and leasing. Each comes with its own pros and cons. Buying, for example, involves a high up-front cost but lets you benefit from tax incentives and rebates and will provide bigger savings over time. Leasing can let you start with a much lower up-front cost, but another company will still own the panels, and it may impact your ability to sell your home. If you don't have a big budget, leasing may be your best option, but if you have some flexibility, it's worth exploring which option is best for you long term.
Install Batteries
One way to drastically increase your energy independence is to install batteries along with your solar panels. These will also require some flexibility in your budget, but you get benefits like keeping your power on during outages or being able to use battery power during the night, so you can still use your own power when your panels aren't generating energy.
Batteries come in all sorts of storage capacities and configurations, so it's best to get professional input on what system would fit your solar setup best.
Make Use of Energy Monitoring
After you have solar panels installed, a good way to make them as efficient as possible is to regularly monitor your energy use. Your solar provider may have an app you can use, but if not, you can use other apps that keep track of how much energy your panels generate, how much power you use, and when you tend to use the most power. You can use this information to make changes to how you use your energy. For example, you may find that you can shift your periods of high electricity use to an earlier hour when your panels generate more energy. If you need help getting started, ask your solar technician for recommendations.
Use Smart Systems
Smart home systems make great additions to solar systems because of their ability to automate different parts of your home. You can combine smart home features with the information you get from monitoring power use. As one example, you can set outdoor lights to turn off early in the morning, or you could schedule your thermostat to run at different temperatures during the night or when you're at work.
Like batteries, smart systems can get pretty complex, but they're also worth looking into if you're trying to save the most energy possible.
For more information, contact a local company that sells solar panels.