Can I Get Solar
There are several factors that come into play, but the main questions pertain to your roof and its exposure to sunlight.
Generally speaking, north or north-west facing homes that are not blocked by trees or shade from other buildings are ideal, Cameron begins.
While some roof angles work better than others, every roof receives light. So, even if your roof is not angled directly towards the sun, you can still place a solar system on your roof and enjoy the benefits.
Is your house fit for solar? It mostly depends on your roof. Picture: Getty
While most roofs should be a fine fit for panels, if there are concerns about safety or the use of asbestos in building materials, you will have a few extra hoops to jump through before you can have panels installed.
Interestingly, although panels are suited to most roof materials, a tin roof is best because they are durable and can outlive your solar panels.
Tips And Tricks To Get The Most Out Of Solar Energy
Do you know a lot about solar energy is? Solar power systems draw energy makes use of the sun and provide electricity to homes and businesses. It is a renewable energy source that is great alternative to using other sources like coal.This article contains the information you need to add solar energy.
The power you get will be determined by how many solar panels installed combined with the efficiency of your panels. You will need to do some simple calculations to determine the right number of panels. You might be able to get away with having fewer panels that perform well may be better than purchasing many panels that arent as effective.
Your solar panels will function wonderfully if you maintain proper care of it. You can hire a professional that can do these things for you, but should hire someone if you dont feel comfortable doing it.
Using a solar energy unit can help the environment.You can find many different option for solar systems in both tankless and standard water heaters. You can put these in a good location positioned on your roof or front lawn.
You need a backup power system in the even your solar panels malfunction. You can either get a generator or stay on the power grid.
Make Sure Your Solar Panels Are Clean
Everything functions and performs better when its fresh and clean. Solar panels are no exception. Since they are exposed to the elements, getting dirty is inevitable. Dirt, debris, pollen, mold, and the always fun bird droppings are commonly found covering up parts of your solar panel and blocking the rays. Combat this with regular cleanings twice a year minimum or at the beginning of every season. If its not a job youre comfortable with, hire a professional to do it for you. Have them inspect each panel for damage and repairs while theyre up there on your RV roof. Then rest assured knowing your panels are performing to the best of their ability. Once clean, make sure your RV is parked in a location where your solar panels are able to reach full capacity by absorbing the most light possible in a days time.
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Installation Cost Of Solar Panels
The installation cost of solar panels varies, depending on the type, size, and function of your solar systems.
It also depends on the energy requirements and size of your home and solar panel system.
There are several factors that can affect the installation cost, including your solar plan, location, and others.
The data states that the cost of installing solar panels is decreasing year by year due to the advancement in technology. In fact, the average solar panel installation cost is $3.05 per watt in 2021.
This makes solar systems much more affordable. It means you can invest in them without breaking your bank.
Every solar panel system is manufactured to deliver optimum results to people keeping certain power needs and purpose in mind.
Annual Savings When Using The Electricity You Generate
Most households will use about 15-25% of the energy you generate, though this can change quite dramatically based on:
- Whether you work from home.
- How many people are at home during the day.
- Whether you have an electric vehicle.
- Whether you heat your home or hot water using a heat pump or other electrical heating.
- Whether your cooking is done using electricity.
Instead of sending surplus electricity to the grid, a PV diverter switch can power the immersion heater in your hot water tank, storing hot water for you to use later. On its own, excess solar energy is unlikely to meet all of your hot water needs, but it can help reduce your bills.
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Upgrade All Your Lightbulbs
Upgrading to energy efficient lighting is quite literally the brightest tip on this list. Opt for LED lighting instead of incandescent lightbulbs. The swap will transform your electricity bill and the way you look at all lighting from this point forward. Solar power is such an amazing renewable-based source but gets completely wasted with those old lightbulbs since they essentially burn a lot of their energy as heat. LEDs use the energy for light and nothing else. Their efficiency saves you dollars, and saves you from wasting needless solar energy. Who likes waste? Consider this one of those proverbial lightbulb moments.
How Long Does It Take To Recoup The Costs
Depending on the size of your solar panel system and any money you earn through exporting excess energy back to the National Grid , you can expect to recoup the costs of solar panel installation after 15 to 25 years, according to Green Match.
Although larger systems are more expensive, they generate more energy and can save you more in the long-term. Therefore a 5kW solar panel could pay for itself after 15 to 20 years, a 4kW system would take 16 to 22 years, and a 3kW system would take 21 to 25 years.
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Webinar: How To Get The Most Out Of Solar
Australia has the highest per capita penetration of solar PV in the world. Its arguably the cheapest form of electricity the world has ever seen, but that does not mean it is always the highest value.
Join us to hear about the prospects for utility scale solar in Australia in RenewEconomys upcoming webinar, How to Get the Most out of Solar. Explore the latest developments in solar tracker technology, and how to optimize tracker performance and maximise energy generation.
Recorded on August 31, 2021.
Learn How To Get The Most From Your Solar Panels
Before installing solar panels or making other upgrades, it is important to know where you are losing money and energy efficiency. At REenergizeCO, our team of experts starts each project with a comprehensive home energy audit.
The energy audit enables us to assess the efficiency of your home and identify potential improvements. In just a few hours, weâll determine where and how your home is wasting energy. Then weâll identify the most cost-effective ways to turn things around.
Many homeowners enjoy maximum benefits from combining solar installation with other energy-efficient upgrades. Our experienced team members will discuss all options with you, customizing the project to your needs and goals.
For more information about optimizing your homeâs energy use with solar, please contact REenergizeCO today. You can reach our office in Denver at or call our office in Fort Collins at . We proudly serve homeowners throughout the Colorado Front Range.
We are here to answer any questions homeowners may have about home insulation, energy audits, and solar power.
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Huge Energy Cost Savings
One of the biggest reasons to go ZNE is for the huge savings on energy bills. Since ZNE homes produce as much energy as they use, energy costs nothing, or next to nothing for the lifetime of the home. Plus, you avoid rising energy costs.
Even before rebates and incentives, your ZNE home is a better investment for your future.
Across the US, electric rates have risen an average of 3% per year, or 50% between 2002 and 2016. Thats a huge increase!
So while ZNE homes may cost 5-10% more compared to regular homes after incentives, the monthly energy savings will greatly outpace the added mortgage payment, making the total cost of owning a ZNE home less. Youll get savings and positive cash flow from the very first month of ownership.
One case study from the Zero Energy Project showed an Oregon ZNE homeowner saving a cumulative $25,378 in energy costs over 15 years, versus the standard homes energy cost burden of $35,278 over 15 years.
Would you rather be given $25,000 or pay $35,000? Its a no-brainer!
The answer is crystal clear: zero net energy homes are worth every penny.
Curb Climate Change
The next biggest reason to go ZNE is to eliminate your negative affects on the environment. With ZNE, your home’s carbon footprint will be zero, and that has a huge impact on curbing climate change.
Buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy used in the US.
How To Get The Most Out Of Solar Panels
If you decide to proceed with the installation of solar PV panels, take a look at these tips to ensure you get the most out of them:
- Use more electricity during the day: Solar PV panels are most effective during daylight hours, so think about carrying out tasks such as washing and running the dishwasher during the day, rather than overnight. If you are usually out during the day, inbuilt timers for appliances can come in handy.
- Consider other renewable systems: If you are able to, it can be worth combining solar PV panels with other renewable technologies such as heat pumps, thermal panels and wind turbines.
- Install a solar battery or energy storage system: As mentioned above, this allows you to store energy generated in the day to use at night, reducing the need to use electricity from the Grid.
- Reduce energy wastage: Steps such as turning off lights when not in use, taking shorter showers and draught-proofing your home will reduce how much energy you use. You can read our guide on 14 ways other ways to cut your energy bills.
- Keep solar panels clean: Its important to regularly clean your solar panels you can buy solar panel cleaning kits, or you can install automated cleaners that are a bit like sprinkler systems. Alternatively, you can pay for a cleaning company to do the hard work for you!
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Invest In Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades
In order to minimize energy consumption, homeowners can also implement a variety of energy efficiency upgrades in their homes.
This includes taking measures such as upgrading more traditional lighting to higher efficiency LED lighting as well as updating your appliances to those which utilize less energy. If your home needs to use less energy to begin with, it is much more likely that your solar system will be able to meet a higher percentage of your total energy demand.
In some cases, a solar electric generator can help you run every single one of your appliances if they utilize less power to begin with. The uses of solar power are virtually endless. As long as something is able to be run by electricity, it can also be powered by a solar system on your home. The combination of being able to generate electricity for yourself and use less to begin with helps homeowners truly get the most out of the solar panels on their home.
There are a ton of ways to get the most out of the solar panels on your home ranging from a solar power appliance to utilizing a solar electric generator. Luckily, the many uses of solar power allow every homeowner to utilize their system in the best possible way for themselves. By becoming a more knowledgeable solar owner, homeowners will get the most out of the solar panels on their home.
Advantages Of Solar Panels
- Independent from the grid
Cheaper Electricity Bills
With an increase in electric gadgets comes an increase in utility bills. You can reduce your electricity bills by incorporating solar panels into your household.
The energy produced by solar panels is completely free, and surplus energy can always be stored for future use, or exported back to the grid.
Earn Money Back
With the Smart Export Guarantee you can make money by selling surplus electricity back to the grid. The SEG requires that all energy suppliers with 150,000 or more customers must offer an export tariff to homeowners, and the tariff must be above zero.
This means that small-scale solar PV generators will be able to see a return on their investment. However, only new installations can register for the SEG, while those already signed up under the Feed-in Tariff will be bound to those conditions.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Switching to solar energy significantly reduces your carbon footprint as it is a green, renewable source of energy. Unlike traditional electricity generators, like fossil fuels, coal, and oil, solar power does not release harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
Estimates also show that domestic solar panels could save around one tonne of CO2 per year, which means just one installation can offset approximately 25 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.
Year-Round Efficiency
Low Maintenance Required
Independent from the Grid
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Are Solar Panels Worth Getting
With SEG earnings, you can break even with solar panels much faster, making solar panels financially worth it in addition to the obvious environmental benefits. In addition, with continuous improvements to technology, solar panels are becoming increasingly affordable.
Keeping in mind the cost, savings, and earnings mentioned earlier, you can break even on your solar panel investment within the systems lifespan.
For example, with a 3kW system, you can break even after 21-25 years. With a 4kW system, you can break even already after 16-22 years. Finally, with the larger 6kW system, you can break even after 19-23 years.
So if youve ever asked yourself if solar panels are worth it, the answer is: yes, they are.
Do Solar Panels Reduce Your Electricity Bills?
Solar panels help to reduce your electricity bill. The amount you can save on your bills depends on where you live. In London, for example, you can save an average of £100-£270 on yearly electricity bills. In other areas like Stirling or Manchester, you can reduce your bills by £90-£230 per year.
Understand Your Power Bill
This information is readily available, and fairly easy to decipher when you understand the type of agreement you have with your power retailer. You need to have a good understanding not just of how much energy youre using, but also where it’s being used and when.
When you have feed-in tariffs applied to your bills, you’ll likely be on an on/off peak rate, which offers different power pricing based on when you use the power – these rates are often different from the rates you’d get if you didn’t have solar panels. Where possible, try and bias any energy use where you’re relying on grid power to off-peak times – this includes for things like pool pumps and electric hot water systems.
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Localize Your Solar Usage
In order to make your home as power effective as possible, some homes may benefit from localized solar usage.
This means that they only use enough solar to generate electricity for a single appliance. This can be something like a solar powered washing machine or solar powered air conditioning. A solar powered washing machine can completely remove this appliance from your energy usage stack thus greatly reducing your energy bill. Any solar power appliance can be run solely by solar panels on your home if you are willing to have it wired correctly.
You’re Hot And You’re Cold
Heating and cooling account for a whopping 18 per cent of your energy bill, so make sure you’re adjusting the temperature of your home when your solar panels can help. In the middle of the afternoon, use your heating and cooling appliances to bring the temperature to the right level so you can switch off in the evening.
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Use One Appliance At A Time
The number of appliances you can use during the day will depend on the type of solar system you have and the amount of electricity certain appliances need in your household. By using one appliance at a time, you will be conserving your electricity.
Some of the more savvier ways you can use one appliance at a time include:
- Having a shower before or after using the washing machine
- Cooking dinner before turning the TV on
- Vacuuming after your dishwasher is done cleaning
Insulate Your Home To Prevent Air Leaks
Cooling and heating make up the single biggest energy expense in your home. That is why utility bills always seem to skyrocket in summer and winter.
Installing solar panels and adopting eco-friendly habits will save you money and reduce your dependence on the grid. However, if your home is inefficient, your solar energy system will have to work harder.
Upgrading your ductwork insulation can help your HVAC do its job more efficiently. New insulation can also stop air leaks in other areas of the home, including:
- Lighting fixtures and electrical outlets
- Plumbing fixtures
The less energy your HVAC needs, the more solar energy you can divert to other household uses.
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