Ways To Reduce Or Eliminate Your Electric Bill With Solar Power

When you installed a solar energy system for your home or business, you were probably hoping to lower your bills. With proper planning and some adjustment, you may be able to practically eliminate your electric bill or at least bring it down to a mere few dollars a month, especially in the sunnier months. In any case, your goal should be to reduce your use to the point where you are only or mostly using your solar power and not power from the grid. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your solar panels. This article assumes that you have had your solar panels properly installed to get the maximum amount of energy possible in your region.

Monitor your power usage:

Even though you have solar, you may still receive a bill from the electric company that gives a detailed account of how you use your energy. If you don't get a regular bill, there are energy monitoring devices available on the market. Find out when you use the most energy and what types of appliances or equipment you run at that time. Try turning on and off certain appliances at certain times to see how they are affecting your electricity usage.

Cut back on energy:

After determining how you're using energy, try to find ways to cut back. Simple things such as changing the wattage in your lighting and using energy-efficient appliances may be enough to make a significant difference in your power usage. To reduce your usage even further, try using most of your appliances during the day when the sun is at its peak and reducing your energy use at night, if possible. Stagger your appliance use and always run dishwashers, washers and dryers with a full load. Charge your rechargeable electronics during the peak solar times.

Use alternate-fuel appliances:

Using gas and wood-burning appliances, such as a gas water heater and fireplace for heat, can further reduce your electric costs and increase the chance of you not having to pay for electricity. However, doing so could mean that you would be swapping one type of bill for another. In many areas, however, the cost for gas and wood may be much lower than electricity costs, so the added expenses may be nominal.

With modern solar technology and a few changes, it is possible to reduce your bill to either nothing, or very little. Solar is also friendlier to the environment and doesn't involve burning limited fossil fuels or creating pollution. For further information, talk to a solar energy expert like one from DFW Solar Electric to see how you can improve the efficiency of your solar system and learn more about its benefits.


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