Does free electricity sound good to you?
Learn how solar panels can help you get it.
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Summer has only just begun here in Arizona, and as temperatures increase, homeowners across the state are cranking up their air conditioners. All that extra electricity usage puts a strain on the grid, and consumers are likely to see a spike in their electricity costs as a result. So how can you save on electricity this summer without sacrificing comfort? Here are our top nine tips to lower your electric bills this summer:
Adjust Your Thermostat Carefully
It can be tempting to set your thermostat as low as it can go on those scorching summer afternoons, but you’ll waste a lot of energy doing so. Instead, set your thermostat to a temperature that’s just low enough to keep you comfortable.
Install a Smart Thermostat
You can program a smart or programmable thermostat to adjust itself at different times throughout the day, so you don’t end up leaving the AC running at full blast while you’re away at work or school all day.
Supplement With Fans
Instead of relying solely on air conditioning for relief from the summer heat, install ceiling fans in your bedrooms and living spaces, or just plug in a few standalone fans. A fan will keep your skin feeling cooler while using significantly less energy than your AC does, helping you save electricity.
Shift High Energy Appliances to Off-Peak Hours
Electricity rates tend to be at their lowest late at night and early in the morning, and scheduling major electricity use during these off-peak hours during the summer can help you save on energy costs. For APS customers, summer peak hours run between 3.00pm and 8.00pm Monday through Friday. Of course, you can’t avoid using electricity altogether during peak hours, especially if you work from home, but waiting until later in the evening to run the dishwasher or do laundry or running your pool pump before 3.00pm can lead to savings. Installing a solar battery system can also help avoid peak demand charge rates.
Hang Light-Blocking Window Treatments
Light-blocking curtains and shades will stop heat from radiating through your windows when the sun is glaring down on them. This can make your home feel significantly cooler and reduce the need for air conditioning.
Go solar!
Having residential solar panels installed is one of the best ways to reduce your electricity costs, and could even help you eliminate them all together. With a solar power system at your Arizona home, you’ll be able to use free and renewable energy from the sun to power your home, vastly reducing the amount of electricity you need to pull from the grid.
Install Solar Batteries
One of the only drawbacks of solar panels is that they can’t generate electricity when the sun isn’t shining, leaving you at the mercy of the grid once the sun goes down. Solar batteries solve this problem by giving you a place to store the excess energy your PV panels produce during the day. Then, you can draw power from your batteries at night and during peak demand summer hours, rather than pulling from the grid. And, as a bonus, solar batteries allow you to keep your solar energy system running during a power outage, so you’ll have reliable access to electricity even when the grid is down.
Offset Electricity Costs With Solar Incentives
Tax incentives for solar, like the solar tax credit, aren’t a direct way to lower your energy costs, but by taking advantage of them you’ll put some extra money in your pocket that can go towards any electricity you still need to buy once you install solar. The solar investment tax credit (ITC) is one of the most lucrative opportunities for solar buyers. In 2021 and 2022, homeowners are eligible to receive a federal tax credit worth 26% of their solar installation costs.
Go Solar and Choose the Best Solar Rate Plan Before APS Rates Increases
Every September, APS reviews their solar buyback rates so it pays to have solar installed before this deadline in order to lock in 10 years of your solar plan with your utility. Installing solar panels now will put you in the best position to take advantage of the current buyback rates and protect you from future utility cost hikes.
Energy Solution Providers Can Lower or Eliminate Your Electric Bills
While changing your habits and installing energy-efficient appliances can help reduce your energy usage, the best way to save on energy costs now and in the future is to install solar panels and battery storage. Here at Energy Solution Providers, we install top-quality solar panels for homeowners throughout Arizona and can design a system that could offset your electricity costs by as much as 100%. Give us a call today to learn more, and to get your free solar quote.
Save on electricity with solar panels. Call Energy Solution Providers at 520-868-0700 or contact us here to get a free solar quote.