We never get tired of talking about the many benefits that solar power brings. By installing PV panels on your residential or commercial property, you’re able to create your own clean electricity.
And this solar investment helps you:
- Reduce reliance on the utility grid – i.e. instant electricity savings.
- Shield yourself from future utility price hikes – i.e. future savings.
- Shrink your carbon footprint by reducing CO2 emissions.
These benefits are very real – and very measurable.
In fact, the financial perks of going solar are so powerful that most of the systems we install pay for themselves in about 5 years. And our customers enjoy handsome solar returns for the remaining 20, 30, or 40 years of their PV systems’ useful lifetimes.
But did you know you can further boost these financial and environmental benefits by making simple energy efficiency improvements to your property?
Let’s take a look.
The Relationship between Energy Efficiency and Solar ROIs
Even if you don’t decide to go solar, becoming more energy efficient is a great idea. The less electricity you consume, the more money you save. And when you draw most of your power from the utility grid, becoming energy efficient also helps to reduce your environmental impact.
But if you do decide to go solar, energy efficiency improvements mean that you’ll need far fewer solar panels to cover your electricity requirements. As a result, your installation will cost less money upfront and deliver a much faster payback period. You’ll also enjoy a much higher return on investment from your solar power purchase.
And the best part is, energy efficiency doesn’t require drastic changes to your lifestyle. You can implement very simple strategies to maximize the above benefits.
Below are some of the most effective ways for making your home or business more energy-efficient:
- Swap out traditional incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs or CFLs.
- Replace older appliances with ENERGY STAR alternatives.
- Install a smart thermostat to intelligently regulate electricity consumption.
- Install storm windows and better insulation to reduce HVAC costs.
- Disable standby mode on all appliances – especially computers and TVs.
Note that many of these energy efficiency strategies carry upfront costs. In fact, CFL and LED light bulbs are often 10 times more expensive than their incandescent counterparts are.
But despite their higher expense, these solutions pay for themselves very quickly. And you can use those savings to help finance even more energy efficiency improvements later down the road. If you repeat this process enough times, it’s very easy to transform your home or business into a net zero energy property – i.e. one that produces more electricity than it consumes.
To learn how we can help you with this transition – and maximize your solar ROI in the process – contact us today for a free consultation.
