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If you ’ve made the decision to install solar panels on your home , kudos ! You ’re making a chic investment that will pay off in the long run while also increase your ability to be self - reliant . But just because you have solar panels does n’t entail that you’re able to sit around back and relax – you need to make certain that you ’re getting the most out of them . In this blog post , we ’ll discuss how to generate more major power from your solar panel and use solar Energy Department more efficiently .

How to get the Most out of your Solar Panels

Start with an Energy Audit

One of the best way to get the most out of your solar panels is to conduct an energy audit of your house . This means taking a look at all of your appliances and electronics and seeing how much might they use . You may be surprised at just how much electrical energy some of your gadget are using – even when they ’re not in use !

Once you know how much mightiness each gadget expend , you’re able to start looking for slipway to decrease your utilization so you make effective use of the power provided by your solar dialog box . There are a number of things you may do to reduce the amount of energy your domicile consumes , include :

Track Your Energy Usage over Time (& Make Changes)

Finally , another way to get the most out of your solar dialog box is to tail your energy usage over time . This means continue tabs on how much power you ’re using and when . By acknowledge this information , you may adjust your habit and conserve push when need . For example , if you roll in the hay that you ’re going to be using more electrical energy than usual one daylight ( like during a holiday political party ) , then you could check that to disconnect any unnecessary widget for a few days to make up for it . Or , if you notice that you are using a lot of electricity on sure days ( like Saturdays when everyone is dwelling ) , you could look for way to decrease that usage on a regular basis .

There are a number of ways to do this , but one easy way of life is to use ahome energy monitoring system . This system will track your electricity usage in real - clock time and give you detailed information about how much power each appliance is using . you could then use this datum to make changes in your day-by-day routine and economize energy .

Maximize Sun Exposure & Clear Obstacles that Block Solar Rays

Another crucial matter to keep in head when fix the most out of solar panel is maximizing sunshine photograph . You need to check that that your panels are getting as much sunshine as potential throughout the day . This means put them in an region where they will pick up lineal sunlight for the bulk of the daylight . This is important in the get-go when you decide where to put your solar panel , but also important to keep in mind as the landscape grows and change and impacts your panel . If a tree diagram or another blockage is stop the sun , adjudicate trimming back any branches or foliage that are get in the style .

Clear Snow from Solar Panels

In northerly climate , the reflectivity of the sun off of the blow in months with longer days ( suppose February and March ) can lead to huge solar gain , but not if your panels are covered with 6 inch of C. P. Snow . While some solar installation companies will tell you that shed light on snow is not necesary , in our experience the snow does not always melt away cursorily enough to make up for vigor personnel casualty .

you’re able to clear lead by the nose off solar panels by paw or with a very soft brush to ensure that they are incur the most sunlight possible during short winter days . Do not habituate anything abrasive or rough so that you do n’t cause damage to your control panel ( you may require to consult with your installer for their recommendation on clarification , too ) .

When we started clearing the blow from our solar panel , even in the dark calendar month of January , we saw our great power generation dart up observably from one day to the next . The exemplification below show you the accurate moment , about noontide , when we empty the snow from the lower half of our dialog box ( that we could hand ) – see how the DOE production suddently jump to a new bell bend ?

energy audit checklist on a clip board

Invest in a Solar Battery Storage Unit

Solar barrage memory board whole are becoming increasingly popular as people take care for way to store energy from their solar gore . This way of life , you could gather the business leader get by your solar panels during the daytime when it ’s not being used , and then use that stored energy at night or during times when the sun is n’t shining .

There are a telephone number of different solar assault and battery storage option on the market , so be certain to do your research before investing in one . check that that the unit you choose is compatible with your solar gore system and has a capacitance that meets your needs .

At this point the cost ofbatteriesmakes it tough to recommend this pick for everyone , so we suggest try all of the above strategies first . Be certain to look for rebates or incentives on assault and battery back - up systems ; because they are fairly new , many power companies and state revenue enhancement program are offering to help offset the cost so that more of these units can be brought to market .

clearing snow from solar panels in the winter

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By follow these tips , you may make certain that your solar panels are working to their highest potential and generating as much power as potential . Not only will this save you money in the long streamlet , but it will also help reduce your carbon footmark ! Thanks for reading .

energy usage with illustration

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