When you have solar panels installed on a building – be it your home or business – you’re already doing something amazing for the environment, and saving money on your electricity bills at the same time. However, there are ways that you can make your solar panels even more efficient, to save even more energy, and in turn, do even more for the environment.
What is meant by the term ‘solar efficiency’?
In its’ simplest terms, solar efficiency is the amount of power a solar panel can produce, and to calculate its efficiency, you’ll need to look at how well each panel converts the energy from the sun into power that you can use in your home.
Realistically, most residential solar panels will demonstrate between 18% and 20% efficiency.
What can affect the efficiency of a solar panel?
The way the panel has been constructed and the environment surrounding the panel can both have an impact upon the amount of energy they produce and how efficient they are. A poorly installed panel, for example, may not be exposed to enough sunlight, and if the panels aren’t constructed from a high enough quality material, they may be nowhere near as efficient as they should be.
Buying quality panels from a reputable solar power company and having them installed at their optimum position, can help boost the efficiency of solar panels.
Here are 5 ways that you can help to make your solar panels as efficient as they can possibly be:
Any solar panel that’s covered in a layer of grime, such as dust and bird droppings, or which is being obstructed by snow or branches, will not perform at its best. You can clean the panels yourself following the manufacturer’s instructions, or contact the company who installed them to have them cleaned.
It’s always worth having your solar panels professionally inspected at least every 6 months, and more often if you suspect they’re not working at their optimum, or may be dirty or damaged.
You should always avoid using more energy than is required, whether you have solar panels or not, and a thermostat can help you to better manage the temperature inside your home so that no energy is wasted, and your solar panels can continue to save you money on your energy bills.
Consuming a lot less energy than standard lights, LEDs last a lot longer than regular bulbs, too, and when combined with other energy saving solutions around your home, can help you get the most out of your solar panels.
Buying your solar system from an experienced company and having it professionally installed, is the best way to ensure that the panels are placed in the most efficient position, and that you get the best advice and guidance for caring for and maintaining the panels.
Simply put, clean and well maintained solar panels, are efficient panels. There’s little point investing in a solar system to save money on your energy bills, if you’re going to put zero effort into maintaining them. Not only will they reach the end of their lifespan far sooner, but you won’t save money on your utilities.
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