Home Solar Power

The installation of solar panels in your home is indeed a very commendable step on your part. You are doing your fair share in protecting the environment while making sure that your pockets are protected from the rising financial costs of fossil fuel-generated electricity.

However, it cannot be overemphasized that solar panels are only one part of the equation towards energy conservation. You must still practice serious energy conservation efforts to maximize said solar panels. There is no need to worry about going all high-tech because these steps are very much in the realm of common sense.

Build Your Home with Solar Panels in Mind
The first step, of course, is to build your home with solar panels for installation in mind. Thus, we highly recommend building your exterior walls with 2x6s on 24" centers that will be just as strong as the 2x4s on 16′ centers. You will be spending a little bit more for the extra wood and labor but the benefit of extra-thick walls will be very good for insulation purposes.

Opt for Modern Windows
Although traditional windows are perceived as more beautiful than modern ones, these tend to breathe a lot in the sense that there are plenty of cracks through which heat can escape. As such, energy is lost. To counteract this energy loss, modern windows with double-paned glasses are better for insulation.

However, if you already have windows installed and you have no extra money for new ones, then we suggest periodically checking them for cracks and leakages, both on the inside and the outside. You may also use thick drapes to keep the heat in. This way, the heat generated by the solar panels can be maximized.

Insulate the Doors
Along with windows, doors are the biggest energy wasters in the house, in a manner of speaking. Well, of course, you cannot avoid opening and closing doors for access but there are things you can do to avoid wasting energy through them.

For one thing, you can get insulated exterior doors if you have the money for them. For another thing, you can get inexpensive insulation strips and sweeps to seal the cracks around the door frames.

Check Your HVAC System
HVAC, of course, stands for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. No matter what HVAC unit you may have, however, you should make sure that there are no leakages. If you have wall-mounted units, make sure that the fit is snug and that the vent is closed when unused. If you have a centralized unit, always check the filters and the ducts to ensure that there are no leaks, thus, increasing efficiency.

Switch to CFL bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are money-savers simply because these consume lower amounts of energy than other light bulbs, all other things being equal. Plus, you will enjoy the benefit of their longer lives.

Of course, the most important tip to maximize the energy generated by the solar panels is to follow an energy-conscious lifestyle. There are many ways to do so from buying appliances with the Energy Star label, installing programmable thermostats, turning odd appliances when not in use and conserving use of water and light energy, to name just a few. The most important thing is to always make energy savings topmost in your mind.

To find out how to save money on your energy bills – please see my post here: Small Solar Panels

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