Expert Insider Tips to Get the Most from Your Solar Power

By applying smart habits and clever tech solutions, you can actively "use" more of your solar power rather than just "generating" it  Discover how with these practical tips.

1. Adapt to when solar conditions are at their best

• Run Appliances while the sun shines!
  
  • This is hands down the simplest change you can make. Get into the habit of running appliances like your washing machine, dishwasher, and dryer in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest and light is constant. Don't forget smaller appliances like your vacuum cleaner, iron, laptop, and electric bikes.
• Set your Hot Water Cylinder to max heat during the day:
  
  • That's right, hot water cylinders can store excess solar energy, so it makes sense to run them when your solar panels are generating the most. If you have a standard cylinder, you can simply switch it on during midday hours to use your free solar power.

This is all known using your hot water cylinder as a “battery

• Staying at home? Charge your Electric vehicle: If you own an electric vehicle, charging it during the day with your own solar power is incredibly satisfying.

2. Make the most of clever technology

Think of smart devices as your personal assistants, busily working away in the background.  

·   Use Smart Plugs:

Remotely control appliances or set schedules for items like towel rails and dehumidifiers.

·   Add Smart Home Automation Systems:

Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or Google Home can integrate with your solar monitoring to automatically activate devices.

·   Optimise with Energy Monitoring Apps:

Get familiar with your inverter's app like the Tesla Powerwall 3 app or Fronius Web.Monitor. They provide real-time data on generation and consumption which will help you identify patterns so you can make smarter choices.

·   Install Solar Hot Water Diverters:

These automatically send your excess solar power to heat your hot water cylinder. Given that heating your water can cost around 30% of your power bill, that's a substantial saving. Diverters available in New Zealand include myenergi.com and catchpower.com.au - Harrisons Solar can help you with these.

3. Consider a Solar Home Battery to store the free daylight power for use at night or in an emergency

While the initial investment is weighty, home batteries are an incredibly valuable addition and have become pound for pound more affordable over time. This is because they allow you to draw from stored solar power when needed. Think about the extreme weather we've experienced in New Zealand over the past few years. Did it affect your property? Power outages lead to the inability to heat, cool, and live comfortably, and can limit communications with the outside world.  Solar batteries maximise your self-consumption and energy independence, and are worth researching as part of your long-term energy plan.

The Payoff 

·   Lower electricity bills and less reliance on grid power.

·   More value from your initial solar investment.

·   Reduced carbon footprint.

·   Greater energy independence.

If you haven't switched to solar yet, today's technology makes it easier and more affordable than ever. The sun's energy is free and abundant – talk to Harrisons Solar and harness it today!

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