The sun may sit millions of miles away, but that doesn't mean it can't be directly involved in the running of your house.
Solar power can run anything from your refrigerator and dishwasher to your water heater and electric vehicle charger. When implemented correctly, solar can help you save on electric bills, reduce your home's carbon footprint, and dramatically improve your energy security with off-grid power.
There aren't a ton of appliances that directly incorporate solar panels into their design, but we cover those and how you can run conventional appliances on the power of the sun with rooftop panels. Read on for that and a few expert tips to ensure operational, financial, and environmental success.
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The Rise of Solar Energy in Home Applications
Over the past 20 years, rising electricity prices and increasingly affordable solar panels, batteries, and inverters have led to a sustainable living revolution, allowing homeowners to go green and save money year after year.
Powering your home with solar gives you an alternative to grid-supplied electricity. Considering sunlight costs $0.00, running a device (or your entire home) with solar can translate into ongoing energy bill savings. Today, home solar appliances can operate in two main ways: as standalone devices or within an integrated home solar system.
Standalone Systems and Off-Grid Appliances
Most people who go solar do so with standard appliances, but a few appliances incorporate solar power directly.
- Solar water heaters. Solar water heaters use rooftop collectors (similar to solar panels) to capture the sun's warmth to heat water.
- Solar powered generators. Solar-powered generators are often portable and can be charged with solar panels.
- Other Solar Products. Homeowners can purchase standalone products such as solar-powered garden lights, solar gate openers, and even a solar-powered fridge.
Integrated home solar electric appliances
When you buy or lease grid-connected solar panels on your roof, your home's electric appliances can run on low-cost renewable power. Your water heater may not actively collect the sun's heat, but running it on solar electricity is just as clean. Roof top panels effectively turn any household appliance into a solar one.
Energy use within homes. Credit: EIA.
Integration Challenges and Solutions
Your available sunlight and installation space limit your ability to harness the sun's power and run off-grid appliances with solar panels. Reliant on clear, sunny days to generate power, the same solar panel will produce more annual electricity in Tucson, Arizona, than in Burlington, Vermont. We recommend working with a professional who can accurately estimate your property's solar potential and guide the project to meet local permitting and installation requirements.
Cost-benefit analysis
Solar installations can come with high upfront costs compared to traditional gas-powered generators but can earn money back, unlike generators. They are often a better long-term solution for your home and the environment.
Most grid-tied solar panels have a payback period between six and twelve years if the system is designed to meet your annual electricity demand, depending on your location and energy habits.
The Palmetto Solar LightReach Energy Plan allows homeowners to circumvent the upfront cost and unlock instant monthly savings with solar.
See how much you can save by going solar with Palmetto
Installing enough solar power
Whether running a single device or your entire property with solar, determining the right capacity for your system is essential. Based on your annual energy bills and property features, you can use our solar configurator to see what may work best for your home.
To power your home and all its appliances with solar, work with a solar expert to select three key pieces of equipment.
- A solar array. The number of solar panels you need depends on the amount of direct sunlight on your property as well as the total energy demand of your appliances.
- A sufficiently-sized battery. While not necessary, a solar battery keeps your systems running and avoids grid power throughout the night or whenever new solar is unavailable.
- An inverter. Inverters convert electricity from your panels into the alternating current your home devices use. Your solar inverter must have a continuous output rating greater than the combined demand of the appliances running simultaneously.
Managing Solar: Tips for Optimal Energy Savings
Here are a few tips to keep your energy consumption as green as possible by stretching your solar power further.
- Consider installing a solar battery or solar generator to run appliances off-grid.
- Invest in energy-efficient products and home improvements to consume less power.
- Redeem local and federal tax incentives and rebates for solar and other home energy upgrades.
- Practice smart usage habits and manage your energy with a solar-tracking app.
Summary and Next Steps
Solar-powered appliances make it possible to reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint at home. From solar-powered string lights to full-home renewable energy systems, there are many ways to save on your long-term energy expenses with emission-fee electricity generation and use.
Palmetto is more than just a solar company. Palmetto is your partner in eco-friendly residential energy savings. If you have any questions about solar savings for your home, we are here to help.
Speak with a Palmetto Solar Advisor today or explore our residential solar resources.
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Brian ChurchWriterBrian is a writer, NABCEP PV associate and outdoor enthusiast living in Denver, Colorado. As a freelancer, Brian has written hundreds of articles to help individuals, businesses and our planet benefit from solar power and sustainable energy systems.
