What Home Upgrades to Make When Going Solar

You might be asking yourself what, if any, upgrades you should make to your home when going solar. After all, it can’t be as easy as just getting solar panels installed onto your roof, right? Well, while the installation process is actually very easy, it’s important to consider how to make the most of your solar system. Take a look at your home and decide how it can be more energy efficient and what you should upgrade when going solar.

Roof

Your roof is where your solar panels will stay for the next 10-25 years, so it’s important to take a good, long look at it before going solar. If you’ve been considering renovating your roof, it’s better to do that before you get the solar panels installed. Otherwise it could be a chore to work around them. It’s also more expensive to renovate after you’ve gotten the solar panels installed. On top of the actual roof, you have to factor in additional costs; removing the solar panels, storing them while the roof is being renovated, and then reinstalling them can add up quickly. You save yourself a lot of money by thinking on step ahead and renovating your roof first.

When you start planning your new roof installation, take the solar panels into account. Consider aspects like the materials, angle, and condition of the roof. Flatter roofs with asphalt shingles are the most ideal for long-term integrity and low installation costs. You should renovate your roof if it’s made with slate or clay. BlueSel generally avoids installing solar panels on top of such fragile materials. Having your roof at peak condition and with solar panels specifically in mind will allow you to get the most sunlight and support for the next few decades.

Lighting

When you install solar panels, you’re looking to make your home energy efficient, which includes your lighting. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with LED lights for a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to make the most of your solar panels. This is because they save up to 90% more energy and last at least 15x longer than standard light bulbs.

Another thing to consider is to install more windows so you can get more natural sunlight during the day. This way, you’re potentially saving most of your electricity usage for the evening. 

Appliances

To make the most of your new, clean, solar energy-powered home, you should look at upgrading your appliances. Depending on your average energy needs and the number of solar panels you have, solar can power your entire house. But that can only happen if your appliances are electric.

For example, are you still using a gas-powered stove? Consider switching to induction cooktops. This not only reduces your carbon footprint but keeps your utility bills low. The point of switching over to solar power is to use as little fossil fuel as possible, whether by not burning them yourself or staying off of the grid, as much of Massachusetts’ electricity is still fossil-fuel based, even as clean energy begins to catch up.

Solar panels are a fantastic investment. However, take a look at your home before you get started on the installation process. Consider what upgrades you should make to get the most bang for your buck and ensure your house is making the most of your new solar system. By making these changes, your home will be more energy efficient. This will reduce the demand for electricity, which will help offset the costs of installing solar panels even more quickly.