With over 1 million households having installed solar PV on their rooftops, it is certain that distributed renewable energy systems will shape the landscape of future power generation due to increasing power prices and the need to move towards sustainability.
Also, with the introduction of smart grid technologies, individuals as well as businesses have more control on how they use energy because of use of new smart meter technologies that enable them to measure and monitor their electricity usage in real time.
In the 21st century, deployment of smart grid solutions helps utilities to gather huge amounts of energy-usage data through software analytics that is then presented or delivered to consumers in terms of energy reports. This way, the end-user can monitor, plan and implement energy management measures because such data can help them to identify areas that need more improvement in terms of saving energy. Due to increased energy information and monitoring; planning on how to reduce energy costs caused by the increasing power prices can trigger property owners to conduct an energy audit to identify energy efficiency measures for saving money or reducing carbon emissions.
In most cases, the motivation to implement energy efficiency measures is to reduce the money spent in paying utility bills or hedge against the increasing electricity costs. Sometimes property owners may want to switch from old technologies to new technologies thereby reducing electricity consumption, as newer technologies will be more efficient technologies. Therefore, depending on the motivation for implementing energy efficiency measures; it is a worthwhile practice because the government is promoting energy efficiency as a means to reduce peak demand or as a way to reduce carbon emissions.
The government provides low interest loans to homes to help them implement energy efficiency measures. For instance, the government through the property-assessed clean energy (PACE), will fund the upfront cost of energy improvements on commercial and residential properties, which are paid back overtime by property owners. The PACE model is an innovative mechanism for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on private property. With such innovative policy measures and the declining price of renewable energy systems such as solar PV and availability of ready data through smart meters; property owners are able to make well-informed decisions about some of these new technologies such as solar PV.
When it comes to solar PV, it is not different because the government provides up to 30% investment tax credit and other incentives such as rebates that help solar considerers to go solar without breaking the bank. Solar considerers are also provided with data analytics to help them decide well when it comes to going solar. Go solar tools provide property owners with solar PV options while using solar energy calculators and online solar marketplaces; they can compare solar prices, calculate their solar energy generation as well as determine how much they would save if they decide to go solar.
However, implementing energy efficiency is the first step before deciding to go solar and can help reduce your overall energy consumption so that you solar PV investment is reduced when you minimize any energy waste. It would be great to only invest in solar energy or any other form of clean energy when you know how your energy is been consumed and when you are sure there are no leaks to your energy system. This way, when it comes to sizing your PV system, you will have reduced the number of solar panels needed to power your home, hence helping you to only invest in the PV system that meets your energy requirements. As a result, you don’t have to pay for unnecessary costs that result from energy wastage.
In conclusion, we can say that on-site power generation using solar PV technologies or other clean energy technologies will help to increase energy management coupled with data analytics that help property owners to make more informed decisions about switching to technologies that have a potential to save them money while reducing carbon emissions. To get started in knowing how much solar you can generate on your rooftop, start here.
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