How to Save Money on your PV installation

Making the decision to install  photovoltaic panels requires a significant upfront expense.  So, why wouldn’t you make the most of your solar investment?   Most installers will try to tell you that the only way you can decrease your ongoing energy bills and decrease the risk of swelling electricity prices are by putting up a solar system.  They are wrong.

Moving to a sustainable energy strategy starts with conservation and energy efficiency.  Using less electricity will  mean lower electricity bills.  Less usage means that you would need a smaller solar electric system.  Ultimately, that means homes and business will need to spend less on a PV array.  A good solar contractor will not only do a site survey where they look at your energy bills and evaluate the usable space on the roof, but they will do a walk through your home pointing out ways you can be more efficient.

There are a couple of free ways you can can actively reduce your energy usage.  First, shut off lights and appliances when they don’t need to be on.  It’s simple, but we often forget that we can control own needs.  You can also manage your phantom loads, or the standby power that is needed even when your appliances are turned off.  You can do this by putting your entertainment loads on a single power strip and shutting that off when you’re not home or are not using them.

The next best bang for your buck is finding efficiencies in lighting.  Lighting accounts for about 20% of your electricity usage.  Changing most of your bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) can save 5-10% of your total energy usage, or half of what you spent on lighting before.   I will admit that I was once skeptical about CFLs.  These bulbs were known to flicker, make buzzing sounds, and produce an awful white light that was never bright enough.  All of this has changed.  CFLS now produce a constant light with no audible sound and can come in more natural colors.  They even come in every conceivable shape from flood lights to candle lights to regular rounded bulbs. Best of all, they last up to 10 times longer and use 75% less energy than regular bulbs.

One of the biggest consumers of energy in a typical home will be your appliances.  The main culprits are refrigerators, freezers, and  clothes dryers, but you should also be aware of energy needs for your computer, television, clothes washer, and dish washer.  Look for appliances with an ENERGY STAR label.  ENERGY STAR is a government-backed symbol for products that meet energy efficient requirements set forth by EPA.  If you are looking to replace appliances in the near future, we would highly recommend you do that before putting up your solar array.  In addition, many households these days seems to have an extra refrigerator and/or freezer in their basement or garage.  Older appliances tend to be the least efficient so this can be a double or triple whammy.  Think about managing your inventory so you only need one refrigerator and freezer.

Above are simple ways that you can save money on your electricity bill without adding extra solar modules. It could be the difference between your solar contractor saying you need 16 panels or 10 panels.  Which would you rather choose?