3 Ways to Stretch Your Solar Energy & Savings
How to make the best use of your available energy without pulling from the grid.
Whether you have a solar PV system or not, there are ways to ensure you aren’t buying electricity from the grid – especially during peak hours. We’ve compiled three ways which can help you maximize your savings!
1 Energy-efficient Lighting
The difference between incandescent (regular) and LED light bulbs is night and day. When shopping for light bulbs, the lumens will show the measure of visible light produced, and the number of watts will list how much energy is consumed. For example, light bulbs in brightly lit areas – like the living room and dining table – typically produce 800 lumens. However, a regular bulb consumes 60 watts of energy compared to 9 watts for an LED bulb, which will illuminate your home over 6.5 times longer. You’ll be able to save your energy reserves for other appliances, or extend the time you start borrowing energy from the utility grid.
2 WiFi-enabled Smart Thermostats
If your A/C system has a smart thermostat, you can remotely control your home’s cooling while you’re away. When the weather forecast is sunny but there’s a sudden downpour, you can adjust the temperature or set it to ECO Mode so it uses less electricity. We recommend working with a certified installer if you are considering installing a thermostat with a smart device, and to check if it’s compatible with your air conditioning system.
3 Delay Laundry Time
Who wants to stay home and do laundry? One of the underrated features of newer models of smart washing machines is the delay timer. Many of us work during the day, but you can set a delay for your washing cycle to start in the early afternoon so it’s ready to be dried when you come back. By setting up the time on a delay, you can set it before you leave, so it consumes less energy when you’re home in the evening. This way, you’ll be using energy during non-peak hours, and while your PV System is still producing energy.
