The winter brings about changes that can minimize the effectiveness of your solar panels and damage your solar energy system. There will be less daylight which will impact your panel’s ability to produce electricity. The cold weather can also cause your battery’s energy reserves to get depleted. So, you need to take a few precautions to protect your solar panel system during the cold weather of winter. They include:
Insulate Your Battery: Solar batteries are designed to power your electrical system should your solar panels not produce enough electricity to power it fully. The cold weather of winter can cause the energy reserves of your solar battery to decrease. Your solar battery can withstand a wide range of temperatures. Be sure to insulate your batteries to protect them from extreme temperatures.
Clear Off Any Debris: Debris that is blocking any part of the panel will inhibit its ability to produce electricity. Although we do not get snow in most places of California, your panels can still be covered by various types of debris. Be sure to sweep off any debris that may be blocking the power cells of your panels.
Adjust the Angle of the Panels: If your panels are adjustable, adjust them to try to capture more light. If your panels are fixed, do not try to adjust them on your own. Only a professional solar energy company should ever disconnect or move your solar panels. However, a professional solar energy contractor will consider the winter weather when installing fixed solar panels.
Contact Us Today to Learn More About Home Solar Panels!
At POCO Solar Energy Inc, we provide home solar panelsto the San Jose, CA area. Solar panels are an eco-friendly way to power your home and reduce your energy bills. They are installed on your roof and utilize sunlight to generate electricity. The electricity is then used to power your home and any extra electricity is stored in backup batteries. Many homeowners consider having solar panels installed on their home to reap the numerous benefits they provide. If you are interested in learning more about residential solar panels, contact us today!
Residential Rain Harvesting: The Basics of Using a Rain Barrel at Home
Whether you live in an area where rain is scarce or abundant, harvesting rainwater is an excellent way to benefit the environment and cut down on your water bill. By using rain barrels at home, you can recycle gallons upon gallons of water to wash your vehicles, water your garden, and do many other everyday activities.
If you’re interested in rain harvesting but are unsure where to start, you have come to the right place! Consider these essential tips for using rain barrels to save water and money:
Make a Rain Barrel
There are plenty of rain barrel kits on the market, but it is also easy to create DIY barrels. All you need is a 55-gallon barrel or drum made of food-grade plastic. And you need to choose where to put your rain barrel; most homeowners put their barrels under a downspout.
Once you have a barrel, drill a five-inch hole about four inches above the base for draining. Then, drill another hole near the top for overflow water. You will need to install spigots in the drain and overflow holes, along with washers and sealant.
Attach the Rain Barrel to a Downspout
To ensure the downspout fits in the lid of your rain barrel, you will need to make a hole in the lid and make any necessary adjustments to the downspout. For example, you may need to make the downspout shorter or install an elbow at the end.
To minimize contaminants in your water supply, use a window screen, landscape fabric, or any other material that can filter out debris to line the inside of the barrel. Most rain barrels already have a lid; otherwise, you can use a trash can lid or a wood slab as a covering.
Keep Your Gutters Clean
Once you have created your rain barrel, it’s time to set yourself up for accessible rainwater collection. One of the most important steps is to clear out your gutters and keep them clean. It’s best to inspect your gutters bi-annually and to remove any sticks, leaves, dirt, and other debris.
Having your gutters inspected will also reveal whether any replacements or repairs are needed. Using resources like Angi is the easiest way to find the best gutter pros in your area because it lets you compare rates, available discounts, and reviews. Search “roof and gutter cleaning near me” to evaluate local pros.
Many residents in the bay area fail to keep up with gutter maintenance because it generally only rains heavily during winter, which leaves minimal debris and moisture in gutters. But this poses a problem for our solar customers: Solar panels collect moisture year-round, and that moisture can trickle into gutters with debris block if from draining out and eventually cause rust and corrosion.
Regularly Empty and Clean the Rain Barrel
Finally, don’t allow collected rainwater to remain in your barrel for longer than one week. Remember to empty your barrel regularly, and clean it out at least once a year. All you have to do is disconnect the barrel and leave it upside down on the ground to drain out. Then, rinse and clean the inside and outside of the barrel, and use soapy water and cleaning supplies to finish the job. Let the barrel dry, and you’re good to go!
If you want to play your part in saving the planet while also lowering your water bill, harvesting rainwater is an excellent way to do it. Follow the tips above to create a rain barrel, maintain your gutters, and clean your barrel regularly. When it’s time to wash your car and water your garden, you won’t regret the time and effort!
-Article by Megan Cooper of reallifehome.net
Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about how we provide various solar systems and products to our customers? Visit pocosolar.com today!
6 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient- by Guest Blogger Greg Tillotson
Whether you realize it or not, a house is more than just a house. It’s a system—and one that requires taking measures to make it run more efficiently (while also saving you money). If you’re a homeowner who has lived in your house for at least a year or two, you may have noticed that your energy usage (and energy costs) go up dramatically in the summertime. When summer arrives, so do rising temperatures, forcing many homeowners to crank up their air conditioners to full blast just to keep them cool. Fortunately, there are ways you can cut down on your energy usage and trim down your cooling costs without having to suffer through hot days and nights. Here are six ways to make your home more energy-efficient:
Install a Ceiling Fan
When you’re trying to save money on your electric bills, the first step is to limit the use of your AC as much as possible—or, at the very least, run it at a higher temperature so that it doesn’t kick on as often. Fortunately, ceiling fans use significantly less electricity than AC units do and can work wonders for keeping a room cool. It’s important to note that ceiling fans don’t lower the temperature of a room; however, they do make it feel cooler by moving air around. When used in conjunction with your AC unit, you’ll be able to increase the temperature on the thermostat by a few degrees while remaining comfortable. Your AC will run less frequently and, in turn, you’ll lower your energy costs overall. Many homes already have ceiling fans hanging in various rooms, but if you don’t already, consider purchasing ceiling fans for your own home and installing them in areas where they’re needed the most. There are even outdoor ceiling fans you can purchase to keep patio spaces cool as well.
Seal and Insulate Your Home
One of the most cost-effective solutions to making your home more comfortable and energy-efficient is to make sure it is tightly sealed and insulated. A poorly insulated and improperly sealed house will allow outdoor air to leak into the house while cool air leaks out through various places in your home, including the cracks around your doors and windows, ducts, vents and through your roof or attic is one of the most common causes of high energy bills. Fortunately, there are a variety of repairs you can make to help you save money on your energy costs. Using a combination of caulk and insulation, plug up any large holes in locations like the attic where there is more likely to be a greater leak and seal up small holes and cracks in your windows and walls. You can also use weatherstripping to seal any gaps in your doors.
Install Solar Panels
If you’re willing to make the investment and have the budget for it, then solar panels are a great way to make your home more efficient and offset energy costs. Did you know that the average annual energy usage per person in the United States is $3,052? Solar energy can reduce or eliminate these costs as soon as they’re installed and can lead to long-term savings as well. By having solar panels installed at your home, you can also earn tax credits and rebates. When you file your taxes, you’ll receive 30 percent of the costs for the entire system as a federal income tax credit. When you combine this with state and local rebates and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) and you can practically cut your total costs in half. Solar panels are also much better for the environment (and better for us, too). While traditional electricity is sourced from fossil fuels, solar panels use clean energy from the sun.
Turn Off the Lights
Another simple solution for conserving energy and lowering your electricity bill is to make sure all of the lights in your home are turned off during the day. If the weather permits, open up some of your window coverings to allow natural light to shine in. Simply by turning off the lights in the daytime, you can significantly reduce your energy usage.
Unplug Electronics and Unused Chargers
Most people have no idea how much energy they’re wasting simply by keeping electronics plugged in while they’re not in use. Your TV, computers and anything with a clock or light that stays on even when the device is powered off can still drain power. The same thing goes with a cell phone and battery chargers, which can be responsible for at least 10 percent of your energy bill. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go to each room of your home plugging and unplugging your devices and chargers all the time. A simple solution is to plug these into surge protectors or outlets that connect to wall switches. This way, there’s no power to drain when everything is turned off.
Don’t Wash with Hot Water
When washing your clothes in the washer, avoid using hot water when you can. Most people don’t realize that most of the energy used by your washer is used to heat the water. Only a small percentage is used to run the machine. You can save a tremendous amount of energy by simply using cooler water for every load. For more energy savings, take advantage of the warmer weather in the summertime by hanging your clothes out to dry instead of running them through the dryer.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few simple and cost-effective ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money on your electric bill. By making a few easy changes, you can drastically reduce your energy usage and costs, especially during the hot summer months.
Update Your Pergola With Solar Electric Technology
Most solar installations are on your homes rooftop because it’s typically the most obvious structurally sound, not in your way, & sunny place on your property however, it’s not the only solution there is. some of our customers with larger lots or acreage opt to install solar electric or solar pool heating on a ground racking system. Another option or solution is installation solar on a pergola.
If your rooftop doesn’t have enough space for solar to cover your needs or if you’re thinking of getting both solar pool heating and solar electric and need a little extra space, a backyard pergola can be of many benefits to you. If you already have pergola, you already know of some of the benefit such as the aesthetics & practicality it can bring to your outdoor living space. It can add shade for lounging, coverage for outdoor kitchen, a place to hang pants, and it adds value to your home.
Have an existing pergola and are interested in solar? One of our solar experts can assess if it can be utilized to house/install either a solar pool heating system or a solar electric system, so your pergola can add yet another benefit to it’s list of either heating your pool or powering your home with the suns free clean energy.The photo shared here is from a solar installation in Saratoga
Reach out if to us if you’ve been thinking of adding solar to your home’s pergola, patio cover, or rooftop. POCO Solar Energy are your full service solar experts for our neighbors in Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, San Mateo County, Monterey County, and San Benito County since 1984.
5 Essential Things to Know Before Adding Solar to Your Roof by Guest Blogger Mattea Jacobs:
Solar installations are becoming more popular around the world with more and more people owning them. As a matter of fact, various Energy Agencies reports suggest that by 2050 a quarter of energy usage and production may derive from solar power.
Two very valid reasons for deciding to go solar are global warming and rising energy bills. Homes with solar panels are also easier to sell, and most governments support solar installation.
Still, this is a significant investment that one does not make over the counter at the spur of the moment. It is best to make sure you do some research on the product you wish to purchase and to keep the following guidelines in mind.
Things To Know Before Adding Solar To Your Roof
1. The Structure of the Roof
Solar systems can be installed on any roof no matter the size, shape, and material. However, finding a company that has experience with solar installations on your type of roof might be a struggle if your roof is not of the ordinary.
There are installation companies that will tell you that your roof type is not fit for solar installation. Remember, this only means they haven’t worked with your roof structure before. Keep searching and don’t get discouraged!
2. The Condition of the Roof
Before proceeding with solar panel installation, make sure your roof is well maintained and in excellent condition. Keep in mind that when your roof gets old and needs replacement, it can be costly to take off the solar panels and to reinstall them.
Therefore, it is best to replace your roof at the same time when you switch to solar. Take into consideration that solar can panels can last for thirty years or more so it is best to opt for a durable roofing material with a longer lifespan.
3. The Location of Your Home
The location and orientation of your home play a significant role when it comes to the amount of solar power your panels will generate. To find the most efficient solution, professional solar installers use solar measuring tools that calculate the amount of energy that is available on a daily, monthly and yearly basis.
If you live in an area that does not see much sun, then chances are that more panels will be needed to provide sufficient solar power. Also, if there are specific objects like trees and satellite dishes casting shadows on your roof, they will need to be repositioned in order to maximize the potential of your solar system.
4. Solar Panel Types
Your solar panel choice will most likely depend on your budget and your taste. The most popular and the most affordable choice today are traditional, roof-mounted panels. However, if you don’t have enough roof space, you can choose to go with the ground-attached panels. They often require more labor and material so they can turn out to be a bit more expensive.
An important thing to keep in mind when choosing your panel type is efficiency: higher efficiency means a higher return on your investment. Efficiency can be boosted by installing solar trackers that allow panels to follow the direction of the sun. And if you’d like your solar system not only to work great but also to look great, you can add shingles that will allow solar panels to blend in with your home’s roof.
5. Your Financing Options
The cost of a solar system will depend on the type of panels, the amount needed and the company you choose to do the installation. It usually varies between $25,000 and $35,000, and the purchase makes you eligible for tax credits or rebates.
If you do not have enough funds or cannot get a loan, another option is to lease a solar array. In that case, you do not own the solar panels yourself. Instead, you regularly pay a small rental fee – but you still save the money on utility bills!
6. The Contract
When you have decided on the type of solar panels you will purchase, make sure your solar contract includes all the important items like financing, ownership and performance expectations.
For your safety, make sure it says who has access to data on your home’s energy production and usage. And if you are not sure or understand the contract thoroughly, it is always best to find some legal advice before signing anything.
Final Thoughts
Moving from conventional energy resources towards solar energy is one of the most significant moves that our society can make to reduce the carbon footprint. Besides from being kind to the environment, solar panels will help you save on your energy bills, and they will eventually pay for themselves.
To get the most out of your money, it is best to do thorough research on the specific type of solar system you are interested in. Investigation of the company you choose for the installation is also critical to make sure they are trustworthy and professional.
Consider all your options, read reviews and take your time until you are a 100% sure. Remember, as solar panels are most likely a once-in-a-lifetime buy!
Article by Mattea Jacobs – a freelance writer who mostly writes about both interior and exterior home design, and environmentally-friendly ways to improve homes.
