Make your Solar Work Harder for you

Creating an Energy Efficient Home will Make Solar Work Harder for You

Now is the season for spring cleaning. Allowing your doors to open up and let the fresh air in while saying goodbye to the winter clutter and grime. Something to also consider when pursuing all of your spring todo lists is to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Whether you have a solar PV system or not, we all want to be sure we aren’t wasting energy, when we could easily adjust a few things to save energy, and money.

Below is a list of simple projects you can do around your home to make your solar work harder for you. This is also something you want to do before getting solar, to ensure you are getting the most out of your future investment.

Energy Efficient Lighting

We’re fortunate to have long summer days, and don’t seem to have to turn the lights on as often as we do in the winter months. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t evaluate where our lighting is coming from. When was the last time you changed out the lightbulbs in your home? If the answer to that question is more than five years, that means you could be wasting a lot of money every time you turn on the lights. According to energy.gov “By replacing your home’s five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have earned the ENERGY STAR, you can save $75 each year.” If you have a solar PV system, this means you could be putting more credits away with net metering for the winter months.

Daily Life

Running the AC all day can be costing you an absorbent amount of money, as well as wasting energy. Installing a programmable thermostat like the ecobee will allow you to program when you will be home, adjust the temperature depending on the hours of the day you need it cooler, or maybe don’t mind an extra degree or two. They are also room sensors available, that can monitor when you enter and leave a room, and adjust the temperature accordingly.

 

Another way we use energy every day is by running our household appliances. We understand that replacing appliances is not always an immediate cost saving, and is sometimes more of a long-term investment. However, if your family needs new appliances, its best to chose energy star appliances. This will ensure energy savings, which will save money over time.  (Click here for the Energy Star website)

Seal Up Cracks

Taking the time to walk through your home checking each window and door for air leaks, is a fast and cost effective way to save energy. Take a tissue to each window and door, if the tissue is drawn towards the crack, seal it up with some foam or rubber weatherstrip tape. You can find this tape at your local hardware store, and is a low cost way to save energy, and money, by avoiding “cooling” the outdoors.

Resources

Here at NM Solar Group, we care about each family we come in contact with. We want to be sure every system we install works the best it can. If you have questions about how you can be more energy efficient, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

 

 

Click the link below to find the available rebates for New Mexico residents for switching to renewable products:

Available Rebates in New Mexico