At Bare Energy, we’re on a mission to make solar simple. Here’s our technical jargon-free explanation for how you can maximise your solar savings and get the most out of your solar system.
At Bare Energy, we’re on a mission to make solar simple. Here’s our technical jargon-free explanation for how you can maximise your solar savings and get the most out of your solar system.
1. Use as much electricity as you can during the day
The most important thing to remember with solar energy savings is that the more you can use your appliances during the day, the more you’ll save.
That advice likely counters everything you’ve been told about electricity. That’s because, with coal-powered electricity, it’s cheaper to run your appliances when there’s less demand for energy. Usually, this is in the evening or very early in the morning … when the sun isn’t shining.
In a solar-powered home, it’s a different story. When the sun rises in the morning, your solar panels get to work converting the rays from the sun into electricity for your home. That’s free energy for you to use to run your appliances.
- Use your air conditioner or heater during the day to get your home to an ideal temperature by night.
- Load your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer overnight, but turn it on in the morning.
- Where possible, charge rechargeable devices, like phones, power banks and power tools, during the day.
- If you have one, charge your electric vehicle during the day.
- Pre-set your pool cleaner to switch on during the day and return to a clean pool at night.
2. Use smart energy devices to automate power usage
Heating and cooling your home can account for as much as 50% of your energy bill. With energy costs rising, that’s a tough pill to swallow. And you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your family’s comfort for that.
There’s a huge opportunity for solar savings by installing a digital thermostat and pre-setting the time when your system automatically turns on your heating and cooling. Rather than waiting until you get home from work, set your air conditioner on a timer to switch on during the day.
You’ll come home to a beautifully warmed/cooled home, courtesy of the sun. Depending on how much you use your heating/cooling, you’ll see a dramatic reduction in your energy bill. And you won’t need to wait for the house to reach that perfect temperature. It’s a win-win.
- Add a digital thermostat to your home
- Program the thermostat to cool or heat your home during the day.
3. Add a battery to your solar system
If you’re really serious about reducing your electricity bill and maximising your savings with solar panels as much as possible, a solar battery is the answer.
When you include a battery in your solar system, it can store any excess energy your solar panels generate for you to use later. Once full, the battery will continue to share excess power back to the grid for a credit on your power bill. In the evening when the sun has set, your home will draw free energy from your battery rather than high-cost energy from the grid, providing you with increased solar savings for longer. We would recommend you speak to an Energy Consultant to ensure you have the right-size battery to maximise your savings.
- Add a battery to your solar system.
- Speak to an Energy Consultant to ensure your battery is the right size for your energy needs.
4. Upgrade to energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Lighting accounts for around 10% of your home energy usage. Replacing existing incandescent and halogen lighting with Quality LEDs can save you money. Quality LED light bulbs last 5 to 10 times longer than halogen light bulbs and consume a quarter of the energy to produce the same light output.
Consider upgrading to energy-efficient appliances to reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bills. You can look for appliances with the Energy Rating star label, as they show the energy efficiency of each appliance compared to its peers. Each additional star represents a 20% improvement in energy efficiency, i.e., a 5-star appliance is 20% more energy efficient than a comparable 4-star appliance. Some appliances that you can upgrade to save power include refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and dryers, water heaters, and dishwashers.
- Replace incandescent and halogen lighting with Quality LEDs.
- Upgrade to appliances with a high Energy Rating.
- Each additional star represents a 20% improvement in energy efficiency.
5. Keep your solar panels maintained
Solar panels that aren’t properly maintained won’t operate at full efficiency. Ongoing maintenance is important. This includes cleaning your panels.
We take this a step further by offering a monitoring service with every installation. Our software monitors the performance of your solar panels and notifies us of any issues. Whether it’s a fallen branch covering the panels or something else, we can act fast to get your panels back to full efficiency.
- Have your solar panels cleaned and maintained.
- Remove any obstructions blocking the sun from your solar panels.
- Your monitoring software notifies us when your solar panels are not at maximum efficiency.
Enjoy more solar savings with Bare Energy
From your initial enquiry through to installation and beyond, we design a personalised solution for your home to help you maximise your savings with solar. If you need to understand how to calculate your solar savings or want more information on how solar works, we’re here to help.
Contact one of our passionate Energy Consultants to discuss your needs and how we can tailor a simple solar solution to save you money.
