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Power your home with the sun

Answer

Installing solar panels on your roof can be highly effective way to harness the abundant sunlight and reduce energy costs. Here are a list of things to consider:

 

  1. Solar Site Assessment:  Conduct a thorough solar site assessment to determine the optimal location for solar panels on your property. Consider factors such as roof orientation, tilt, shading, and available sunlight throughout the day. If you have shaded your house with lots of trees, consider using the roof of your shed or garage. 
  2. Choose High-Efficiency Panels: Invest in high-efficiency solar panels to maximize energy production within the limited roof space. Higher efficiency panels may be more expensive upfront but can yield better long-term returns. +
  3. Consider Battery Storage: Evaluate the potential benefits of adding battery storage to your solar system. Batteries will store energy made during the day for you to use at night (minimising the amount of energy you need to buy from the grid)

  4. Inverter Efficiency: Choose a high-efficiency inverter to convert solar DC power to usable AC power. Inverters play a crucial role in the overall efficiency of the solar system 
  5. Roof Condition and Strength: Ensure that your roof is in good condition and has the structural strength to support solar panel installation. If needed, conduct any necessary roof repairs or reinforcements before installing solar panels. 
  6. Solar System Size: Determine the appropriate size of the solar system based on your energy needs and available roof space. Consider future energy needs, potential efficiency improvements, and changes in household size 
  7. System monitoring: Opt for a solar system with monitoring capabilities to track energy production and system performance. Monitoring allows you to identify and address issues promptly. Monitoring also allows you to decide when to use appliances during your home, so that you can make sure highly intensive appliances are used when the sun is up. 

For more detailed information about solar, check out the COOLmob Guide To Going Solar!

COOLmob Tip: You can't manage what you can't measure. You need to monitor your performance in order to improve it. Understand your household energy use so you can get the most out of your solar panels.