While using solar energy is a comparatively new method of powering a house, it has become pretty popular in the last decade. Paul Favret mentions that using solar energy at home is good for the environment, and helps people to cut down their utility bills as well. After powering home on solar energy, one does have to deal with the rising or variable costs of electricity. The use of solar power can also help people to lower their carbon footprint.
Paul Favret offers tips on using solar power efficiently
People should use solar power wisely to make sure that their household runs smoothly without any major interruptions. Solar power is extremely impressive in its use of sunlight. But a few factors have to be kept in mind to get the most out of a solar powered home. First of all, it is imperative to get the solar panels cleaned on a regular basis. The solar power system will depend on the panels getting the most sunshine possible. With time, dirt, dust, and even bird droppings can build up on the panels. This will hinder them from working as efficiently as they did in the beginning. Cleaning the panels properly in time can help avoid this problem. Getting on the roof to clean the panels can be a bit difficult for some homeowners. In this case, they should hire professionals to get the panels cleaned. Ideally, the solar panels must be cleaned every six months. The best times to clean the solar panels are late spring and autumn. Clearing away the trees and bushes nearby the solar panels will help it stay clean for a longer time.
Installing LED lights will be a smart choice for any homeowner. Traditional light bulbs almost use times more energy than LED light bulbs. A lot of this energy is wasted on producing heat rather than light. Older, incandescent bulbs are not even close to being as energy-efficient and effective as LED bulbs. Therefore, a homeowner must replace the old light bulbs at home, with new LED versions. LED bulbs require much less energy to produce the same lumen or light output as many other types of lights.
Paul Favret points out that anyone majorly running their home on solar power should try to use appliances mostly during the day. While this may seem like a tricky concept, it is not too difficult to practice in most cases. Heavy appliances like ovens, dryers, and dishwashers should ideally be used during the day, when sunlight is at its strongest. This will help in running a solar powered home smoothly. If following such an approach is not possible, then people should at least consider staggering their energy consumption. They should try to not have all their heavy usage appliances running at the same time. Their use should be staggered throughout the day. This will make sure that there will not be a massive drain on the solar power system at once. The system, therefore, will have time to replenish the energy as it is used.
