5 Home Appliances To Run On Solar Power

As more and more businesses and homes join the clean energy revolution, solar energy is quickly becoming the preferred method of generating electricity. Solar energy is seen as the best way of producing clean and affordable electricity. However, if you wish to get the most out of your new solar power generation system, you will need to find the right appliances to pair it with.

Can Solar Power Run Home Appliances?

You can use your solar energy system to power all sorts of electronic equipment and appliances if you have the right set-up. However, you need to note that each appliance comes with its own power requirements.

To power your appliances using solar power, you will need to have the right inverter. While an all-in-one inverter is both cheaper and easier to set up, it comes with some significant drawbacks. For starters, such an inverter requires more power at idle. Furthermore, it’s hard to get these inverters approved for connection with the grid. On the flip side, this means that you can store excess power for use when the solar panels are not producing power.

Lastly, if you truly want to get the most out of your solar energy set-up, it is recommended that you use energy-efficient appliances – preferably those that are Energy Star certified.

5 Best Appliances For Solar Power

During the day, your solar power system is continuously generating free electric power for your home or business. During this time, you can get the most out of the system by hooking it up to the following appliances.

HVAC Systems: Cooling and heating systems are one of the biggest energy consumers in both domestic and commercial settings. Fortunately, you can minimise the amount of energy needed to power your air conditioner by choosing the most energy-efficient variant. Your options, from the least efficient to the most efficient, include central AC/furnace, standard heat pump, mini-split heat pump and geothermal heat pump.

Water Heater: A water heater also ranks among the hungriest energy consuming appliances in today’s homes. Fortunately, you can find highly energy-efficient water heaters, thanks to the integration of various innovations in some of the best options available. A Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) mostly uses heat drawn from the ground or air to heat the water it uses. In addition to looking for an Energy Star Certified water heater, you can also pick one that features smart connectivity – which enables you to control it from anywhere.

Pool Pump and Filter: If your home has a swimming pool, you can use the solar power system that powers your home to also meet the electricity requirements of the pool as well. For instance, you can set the pool pump to circulate the pool water through the filter during the day, when the sun is up and solar power generation is at its peak.

Lighting Systems: Up to 15 per cent of the world’s electricity consumption is attributed to lighting. You can decrease the amount of power that is used to power your home’s lighting in a number of ways. For example, you can switch to energy-efficient lighting fixtures, LED bulbs and install a remote-controlled lighting system that makes it possible for you to turn the lights on and off, from anywhere. Furthermore, solar-powered outdoor lights can be used in place of regular perimeter lights.

Washing Machine: Just like the other appliances mentioned above, you can get more out of your solar power system by getting an energy-efficient washing machine. With it, you will be able to clean your laundry during the day using solar energy.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need To Run Home Appliances?

If you want to avoid generating too much or too little solar power, it is important that you find out the amount of energy you need, before the installation of solar panels. For peak optimisation of your system, it is best for you to ascertain your home’s energy requirements using an energy monitoring device/system. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to set up a system that perfectly matches your exact needs.

Do You Need Solar Batteries?

You don’t need to have solar batteries to use solar power. However, if you want to continue using solar energy even when your panels are not producing power (after the sun has gone down) you will need to have solar batteries.

If you want to use solar batteries to save money, you will only need to use a few batteries – that minimise your reliance on grid power without being too costly. However, you will need more batteries if you want to off-grid completely.

Lastly, you can get a single battery if you only want to use it to guard against power blackouts.

Finals Thoughts

Solar energy can power just about any electrical appliance. To avoid having to buy more solar panels than necessary, and save on energy consumption, it is recommended that you make your home energy efficient by using the most energy-efficient appliances.

Make Your Home Energy Efficient With Solar Power

Solar energy can help reduce your energy bills and preserve the environment, all while you continue enjoying the conveniences of modern living. If you are looking to install a solar power system at home or business, feel free to contact us at GCR electrical systems to learn more.

Please contact us today on (07) 4120 7004 or leave an enquiry if you would like more information about our solar installation services.