Did you know that solar panels alone won’t make your home energy efficient?
When a lot of people think about switching to solar, energy efficiency is usually one of the top benefits that comes to mind. But what most people don’t understand is that solar panels alone don’t make your home more energy efficient, they just provide the power to your home.
Energy efficiency comes from things like:
- Insulation- this creates a barrier from the outside elements to your house. Not having the proper amount of insulation in your walls and attic requires your system to run more frequently to keep the temperature regulated.
- Installing a smart thermostat- a lot of smart thermostats on the market learn your schedule and desired temperature, which allows you to have hands off regulation and allows you to monitor your energy usage.
- LED lights- Compared to CFLs, LED lights are up to 80% more efficient and 75% more efficient when compared to a halogen lamp.
- Sealing your home and duct work-This prevents unnecessary leakage from your home and HVAC system.
Overall energy reduction is crucial
Odin Energy’s approach to home efficiency is simple, we reduce before we produce. This means we focus on reducing the total amount of energy that your home requires. This is important because whether you use renewable energy or fossil fuels, reduction of energy is the key to lowering your utility bill, increasing your home value, and reducing your overall carbon footprint. When you factor in solar to your home efficiency we focus on reduction to avoid installing unnecessary solar panels as this costs significantly more money and roof space.
The image below shows the results of a customer’s two-story house. Without sealing the home, they would still have an average of 62.8 CFM of leakage throughout their house, which is an average of 37.7 refrigerators full of air loss every hour, they might as well have left the front door open with the AC on full-blast. This type of leakage causes the HVAC unit to work nearly nonstop, especially in the summer months, which taxes the system and increases your energy usage and your utility bill.
Downstairs seal
Before seal: 18.2 refrigerators full of air loss every hour
After seal: 90.8% reduction in leakage
Downstairs seal
Before seal: 18.2 refrigerators full of air loss every hour
After seal: 90.8% reduction in leakage
Upstairs seal
Before seal: 19.5 refrigerators full of air loss every hour
After seal: 92.3% reduction in leakage
Increase your property value
In the real estate market, energy efficient homes frequently sell for a higher price than standard homes with comparable features. Every project that increases your home’s energy efficiency adds a fraction of its cost to the final selling price. Coming with expectations of reduced utility bills and fewer repair bills, energy efficiency is an attractive feature in any home. In addition to energy efficiency increases, Odin Energy is certified with Pearl Certifications, which in itself can increase the sale price by 5%. Energy efficiency plus the Pearl Certification on your services is a true investment in your home.
This all sounds great, but is the cost of energy efficiency plus solar really worth it?
This is a BIG, yes! In fact, just having solar will likely cost you more money than doing home efficiency plus solar. Here’s an example, if you need 25 panels to produce the amount of energy your home currently needs, as opposed to the 22 you would need with your energy efficiency package, you will be paying for 3 extra panels. The cost of the extra panels your home will need is likely more money than your entire home efficiency package. In addition to this, your house will likely be more marketable and sell for a better rate. Ultimately, by adding home efficiency to your solar plan, you will be spending less money, get better savings on your utility bill, your home value will be greater, and your carbon footprint will be greatly reduced. This is what we call a win/win.