Switching to solar can help you drastically cut back on power bills by up to 50%. Solar panels can be used to harness the sun’s energy that you can use to power virtually anything in your home, from the TV, the washing machine, to the HVAC system.
The best thing about solar power is that you can store power for use when the power is out or during high demand periods without causing a surge in your power bills. When you install solar panels, you split the home’s energy source between the sun and the utility company. Solar power can be used to essential power appliances in the home when the sun is out. This means you only need to use the grid in the evenings or on overcast days, resulting in substantial power savings in the long run.
The efficient use of solar power starts with knowing how much power your home uses regularly. An average house uses up 20kWh per day, which can work with a 5kW system. It is essential to get a system that can provide this amount of power. This means that it does not matter how many panels you install, but how much power your system can provide.
Clueless about how much power your home uses up in a month? Look at past power bills to get an average. You can also use an online power calculator for a more accurate estimate of your power needs depending on the home’s size, power usage habits, and other factors.
Choose an extensive system.
First off, start with the bigger system. Solar panels are relatively cheap, which means you can work with a more extensive system for the most savings. A bigger system allows you to generate excess power to export to the grid for feed-in tariffs. A more extensive system can also work with a bigger battery, allows you to maximize your inverter’s capacity and provide the home with more power during the day, so you have less need for grid power.
Maximize power consumption during the day
As much as possible, use power during the day and limit power usage at night. Opt to run heavy appliances while on solar during the day. Limit excessive use of power at night since this power will be coming from the utility grid or your battery, which you want to keep full for most of the time.
Opt for a grid-connected system
There are benefits to an off-grid system, but if you want to save on costs and this is your first foray into solar power, start with a grid-connected system to ensure that you can get power from both sources while saving on-grid power costs. A grid connection ensures that your home stays powered even during overcast or rainy days or at night, especially if your system does not have a storage battery. You can also take advantage of power rebates.
Choose the right inverter and battery.
The general rule is that you need a 5kWh inverter for a 5kWh system, but you can work with a smaller capacity inverter since solar panels rarely deliver the maximum rated output. this advice was give by solar experts Solar Tactics based in Melbourne. A battery is also a good idea despite the cost. Having a battery can further lessen your reliance on the grid and allow you to divert excess power for storage.
A typical solar power system with a 5kWh capacity can set you back around 10k. With a 3.5k rebate, you can only expect to spend AUD 6.5k for power usage, which significantly reduces your average power usage and lower power bills in the long term. The right system can start paying for itself a year or two after installation, especially if you live in an area where there is ample sunlight all year round.
Even with the right inverter and battery and a great location with ample sunlight for most of the year, solar power won’t guarantee zero power bills from here on out. But with the right system, you can drastically reduce your reliance on the grid, lower your power bills, and generate electricity stores to tide you over during a blackout. All these are reasons enough to think about solar power for your home.