10 ways to accelerate your solar savings

Increasing energy efficiency is a challenge of optimization. Whatever energy-saving upgrades you choose, be sure they suit your house, lifestyle, and energy consumption and offer good solar savings.

Mar 28, 2022
       
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Increasing energy efficiency is a challenge of optimization. Whatever energy-saving upgrades you choose, be sure they suit your house, lifestyle, and energy consumption and offer good solar savings. Adjustments may be necessary over time to improve performance and save money with solar.

Homeowners who would like to know about their solar systems and how to maximize returns from technology and make the most of it by increasing their solar savings. Continue reading to learn how to get the max out of solar electricity for your house.

1. Shade over the Solar PV Array:

shade over the solar PV array

Even a little shadow over your rooftop solar panels will lower your overall system's output and thus reduce your solar savings. The shade might come from various sources, such as trees, a chimney, neighbouring houses, a satellite dish, and even more. Naturally, shade reduces the amount of direct sunlight that hits a solar panel, but it may also prevent power from flowing from part or all of the panels

Consequently, your panels may be underperforming as a result of shadowing. If this is the case, it will impact the output of electricity your system generates over time Shadowing is hard to ignore, but don't let that be the only reason behind your lower-than-expected solar savings. There could be other reasons as well.

Take a check at your roof the next time you're out in front to see if there's anything noticeable that might be shadowing your PV array.

Typically, it's the trees creating shade around residential areas, so if this is the case for you, try to think of an environmentally responsible way to lessen the impact on your system if at all possible.

2. Orientation of the Solar Panels:

orientation of the solar panels

The tilt orientation for solar panel installation is an essential factor to consider.

To get the most out of solar panels, the solar energy company’s professional installers position them at the angle that Attracts maximum sunlight. they produce the most power when perpendicular to the sun's rays. To gather the most year-round solar energy, the non-adjustable PV arrays should be positioned towards the sun's typical elevation-equal to the latitude of the array's location.

3. Maintenance and cleaning the panels:

maintenance and cleaning the panels

Solar panels can clean themselves when there is enough rain, but there may be some cleaning left to do if there has been a dry spell. Particles, bird droppings, and leaves can collect on solar panels.

Solar panels should be cleaned with a soft cloth or biodegradable soap. When cleaning solar panels, it's crucial not to use harsh materials because they can damage them, and solar panels are expensive to repair. If you clean frequently, you should be able to remove any dirt by simply running water along the panels. Ideally, you should have your installer do frequent servicing.

4. Inverter issues

inverter issues

Inverter failings are another issue that can cause a decrease in return on investment and even more typical difficulties.

There is a straightforward method for assessing the performance of your inverter. During the day, you may do this by glancing at the glowing light on the inverter component. If the light shows green, it means your inverter is working correctly. Yet, if the light is red, it indicates a problem. In this situation, contact the installer from your solar energy company, who will guide you through the rest of the process.

Most modern solar systems contain inbuilt Wi-Fi that can be configured into a mobile phone to monitor performance.

5. Connect to an energy management software

connect to an energy management software

Using energy management software, you can track the output of your solar panels Unfortunately, some install solar panels and then forget about them if they are satisfied with the initial output levels and solar panel savings. This is a concern because if you do not monitor the amount of electricity generated by your solar panels, you will not notice their efficiency diminishes.

One approach to keep track of your generation levels is to connect your solar panels to energy management software. It enables you to monitor the output over time and detect any unusual decreases.

6. During the peak hours of the sun, use more energy for better solar savings

during the peak hours of the sun, use more energy for better solar savings

The sun's rays are typically used for solar power panels. In other words, it can only generate energy during the day. To achieve optimum solar savings, try to use as much electricity as possible throughout the day.

When there is sunlight, ensure that all electrical devices, such as laptops, phones, and lamps, are fully charged. Charge all of your electronic devices during the day to be ready to use at night.

7. Clean your solar panels

solar panel cleaning

Because solar panels contain no moving components, they need minimal maintenance. However, it is recommended to wash your solar panels regularly because dirt and dust can collect on the surface of the panels, which can significantly reduce effectiveness.

The frequency at which you need to clean your solar panels will depend on how often it rains and the amount it will cost you to get them cleaned. In a single year, dust and dirt can result up to a 5% reduction in output. If you stay at a location that doesn't receive regular rainfall, the decline in production could exceed 20%. So, cleaning your solar panels at least once per year is a great idea.

8. Preventing Air leaks

preventing air leaks

To prevent air leaks, you should insulate your home. A large amount of energy is spent on cooling and heating your home. It is for this reason that utility bills are always higher during the summer and winter. Installing solar panels and other environmentally friendly practices will allow you to save money with solar and minimize your reliance on the grid. On the other hand, your solar energy system will have to work more if your home is inefficient.

New insulation can help prevent air leaks in other areas of the house, such as:

  • The attic
  • Basement areas
  • Electrical outlets and lighting fittings
  • Fixtures
  • Windows
  • Doors

The less energy your systems use; the more solar energy you may transfer to other home needs.

9. Increased Power Consumption

Increased power consumption

Assuming your system is operational and correctly installed by the solar energy company, rising power use can be another reason for decreased solar savings. After having solar installed, it is usual to begin utilizing more power. Your thought process will be that your energy is created for free by the sun and that you no longer need to be as cautious with your utilization.

Even if you've already installed a solar system, it's still a good idea to remain economical and look for ways to save money with solar. For example, if you use a lot more electricity since installing solar and your system doesn't create enough spare power throughout the day to compensate. Solar will not help in reducing the power bills then.

This is where having a copy of your past invoices becomes helpful; go over your bills before installing solar and compare them to what you're getting today. Make sure to consider the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed rather than the monetary value. You need to reduce your usage.

10. Keeping the Temperature from Rising

keeping the temperature from rising

One of the key factors affecting how much electricity solar systems produce is the temperature at which they operate. Therefore, most people believe that more sunlight equals more power. However, this is not true.

In many cases, the efficiency of solar systems declines as the temperature rises, although some systems react differently to operational temperatures. You should be aware that temperature has a significant impact on the efficiency of solar panels. You should therefore proceed with caution and ensure plenty of space between the solar panels and the roof.

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