People have become more interested in installing solar panels in their residential properties in the past few years. These devices help promote sustainable living because they can absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity, making them an excellent alternative to existing power sources.
With this in mind, you might have thought that solar panels only work best in hot weather. Well, there is no truth to that assumption. Although the winter season can be considered problematic for solar panels, it doesn’t mean they’re useless as an energy source. You only need to ensure that you optimize your panels for colder months.
Read on to learn the four ways to make the most out of your solar panels during the winter season.
-
Use The Pre-Winter Months To Do Maintenance
Table of Contents
If you want to take advantage of your solar panels at home when the cold weather strikes, it’s essential to do a system check and maintenance work during the pre-winter months. This is because the sunlight is much more abundant and precious at this time of the year; hence, panels won’t have a hard time powering your home.
Therefore, to ensure your solar panels can still power your property during winter, use the pre-winter months as an opportunity to clean these power-generating devices and remove all the dirt, grime, tree branches, and other materials that block the sunlight. Likewise, trim overhanging trees around your home so your solar panels can work more efficiently despite the sun’s lower position in the sky during winter.
Moreover, take a look at your home’s insulation situation. As you perform some maintenance work for your solar panel, you should also use the autumn season as a good time to insulate your home and conserve heat properly. That way, you can effectively capitalize on your panels or electricity-producing devices when the weather conditions worsen.
-
Optimize Your East And West-Facing Solar Panels
Generally, the solar panels facing north are said to absorb more sunlight and produce more solar energy during warmer months. Hence, if you want your panels to work perfectly in winter, you have to make the most of those devices facing east and west.
Suppose you don’t have enough east and west-facing solar panels. In that case, you may consider installing new residential solar energy systems to ensure enough power sources once the cold weather begins.
-
Be More Specific With Your Energy Consumption
Your solar energy may be insufficient to power your residential property during the winter season. This is due to the sun sitting lower in the sky, so the panels find it hard to take in more sunlight to transform them into electricity.
Because of this, you need to be more precise with your energy consumption at home to benefit more from your installed solar panel systems. You can do this in the following ways:
- Use timers when turning on your heating device before getting up in the morning and arriving home from work. Make sure your heating devices are off when not in use.
- Use electricity only when necessary. For example, you should limit your use of power-consuming appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens, and vacuums, within a specific time. Replace your bulbs with energy-efficient lighting fixtures, too.
- If you’re planning to buy new appliances, it’s best to choose those with rechargeable batteries and are cordless to optimize the power usage of the panels.
By being more specific about your energy use, you’ll know when to get the most out of your solar panels. Thus, you’ll have the solar energy you need throughout winter.
-
Use Battery Storage To Store Energy
You can also maximize your solar power systems by using battery storage to store energy. As the winter sun doesn’t stay up for long hours, you need to charge the batteries during the day. That way, you’ll have the power to use at night without exhausting your solar panels quickly during winter.
Furthermore, take care of your battery to ensure the efficient use of solar power. So, to help you put the batteries to good use, make sure to install them inside your home. If they’re outdoors, it’s best to insulate the compartment to avoid potential damage caused by inclement weather conditions.
Bottom Line
Your solar panels play a crucial role in powering your home, especially during winter. However, because there are shorter hours of sunlight in this season, it’s essential to use the solar energy system to your advantage to avoid a potential power shortage. By taking note of the information mentioned here, you are guaranteed that your power-generating devices will efficiently work in the colder months.
