The impact of COVID-19 on the lives of millions has been unimaginable. Our work and personal lives have been turned upside down, as we continue to come to terms with coping with such significant change.
One significant change resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been the shift to working from home. As social distancing has become the norm, millions around Australia have adjusted to a new lifestyle, where home is the epicentre of work and social life in equal measure.
However, spending more time at home could mean higher energy usage. Going solar is a great way to reduce your energy consumption by harnessing the sun’s free energy to deliver power and hot water for your home. By going solar, you could reduce your reliance on the grid, which helps you keep money in your pocket during these uncertain times.
In this article, we will explore three key ways in which solar can help you significantly cut down your energy consumption, delivering peace-of-mind for you and your family.
1. Use Solar to Reduce your Hot Water Energy Consumption
It can be easy to assume that you would have to use less hot water to save on energy, i.e. having really quick showers. After all, conventional water heaters typically make up around 25% of a household’s energy use in Australia, which can translate to higher energy consumption as you spend more time at home with an increased need to constantly wash your hands.
However, there is a great source of free energy that we often overlook: the sun. Installing a solar hot water system is a great way to help reduce the energy you consume from the grid to produce the hot water you need; especially important now as hygiene is a huge focus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Stay Cool this Summer Without the Huge Energy Bills
As the weather begins to warm up and the days grow longer, energy-hungry appliances such as air-conditioners and pool pumps will start working overtime, which could lead to high energy bills.
Solar power systems use solar panels with photovoltaic (PV) cells that collect the light from the sun and convert it to DC current.
By switching to solar power this summer, you can stay cool whilst reducing your energy bills, a real win-win for Aussie households!
3. Store Your Energy to Make the Most of your Solar System
You might be wondering: “How can we use power generated from the sun at night or when it’s cloudy?”
This is a good question. After all, it is often at night when our energy use goes up. The good news is that you can save even further by storing the sun’s energy in a home battery system.
Battery storage is a smart way to offset your electricity costs as you maximise your solar energy usage. Specifically, a battery stores unused power during the day for use later on, instead of having to rely on the grid when the sun isn’t available. Supplementing your solar power system with a battery allows you to use power at night or when the sun isn’t shining.
Another way to store your energy is by installing a Solahart PowerStore. Designed and built in Australia, Solahart PowerStore is Australia’s first solar-smart electric water heater. Together with a power meter/Gateway, it captures the excess energy from your rooftop solar panels and uses it to heat your water gradually, for use at a later time. Like a battery, it stores energy (in the form of hot water), only it’s a lot more affordable.
