Solar energy is an investment that not only benefits your wallet by reducing your electric bill, it also frees you from the rising cost of electricity. Before making the switch to solar, it’s important to make sure that your home is running as energy-efficient as possible. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re prepared for solar.
Seal up any air leakage
As simple as this may seem, air leaks in your home can often be overlooked. Check for cracks, gaps, and areas where different building materials meet inside and outside your property where air may be escaping or entering.
Inspect insulation
Loss of heat in the wintertime or inefficiencies to cooling in warmer seasons can lead to large chunks of energy wasted. Depending on when your home was built or upgraded, taking a look at insulation along exterior walls is a great way to find areas where you might be losing out on heating costs.
Take a look at your heating and cooling systems
Routinely check your heating and cooling systems to ensure they are performing at their peak efficiency, especially during times when they are being used at their maximum. If your heating and cooling system is more than 15 years old, it may be time to start considering replacing them with more energy-efficient models available on the market.
Check for energy vampires and phantoms
Energy vampires and phantoms may be costing you more than you expect. Unplugging devices when they are not in use and switching to energy-efficient lighting are great first steps to reducing energy consumption.
Now that you know where your home or property is losing money due to energy inefficiencies, you’re one step closer to making the right call in switching from conventional energy production to solar.
For more on these points and other suggestions about preparing your home for solar energy, check out our eBook, How to Prepare Your Property for Solar, here.
Download our eBook, How to Prepare Your Property for Solar, to find out key tips and tricks that will get you and your home ready for solar installation.