Many people who have smart technology devices installed at home love the benefits they offer. And with the connectivity of the internet, all it takes these days is one click to control appliances and home systems, even when you’re not at home.
Some of the most useful home automation features incorporate home solar technology, making homes more energy-efficient. Solar energy is both clean and abundant, and because it is renewable, it will never run out or become prohibitively expensive.
What Home Automation Solutions Can Solar Energy Power?
If you’re considering going solar, you might be wondering if solar panels can power your home’s automated devices and systems directly rather than sending the power out to the grid? Yes, they can.
With a smart inverter system to convert your panels’ DC power to the AC power your home uses, you’ll be set to power your home directly from your solar panels.
Many modern homes are reaping the benefits of home automation and solar integration. Here are some examples of automation solutions that can run on solar energy:
- Lighting
- Indoor climate control, including air conditioners, fans, heaters, and thermostats
- Appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, and speakers
- Home security such as locks, surveillance cameras, motion sensors, and smoke detectors
- Home irrigation systems
How Solar Energy Integration Enhances Home Automation
Switching to solar to run your home’s automated solutions delivers the following upsides:
1. Makes Your Home More Energy-Efficient
One of the biggest benefits of home automation and solar integration is increased energy efficiency.
Automated solutions reduce wasted energy by turning on and off appliances at programmed times or situations. For instance, geofencing automatically adjusts indoor temperature and shuts down unnecessary powered devices when your system senses you’ve left the perimeter. And with a solar PV system, you can make your home even more energy-efficient.
Instead of drawing power from the public grid, internet-connected devices and systems can consume generated electricity from the solar panels when the sun is out. When sunlight is unavailable, such as at night or during cloudy days, the power supply comes from the utility provider.
Some automated home solutions are smart enough to operate when there’s enough sunlight available to power them. For example, a washing machine or dishwasher will run if electricity generated by the solar panels is sufficient for it and other activated appliances, such as HVACs, refrigerators, and computers. By calculating the demand load requirement at a given time, there’s no need to source electricity from the grid on sunny days.
Consider investing in a solar battery storage system to take energy efficiency further. With solar batteries, you can store surplus energy generated and power your home’s automated solutions, especially those with critical energy loads, at night or during inclement weather. A smart solar system can even boost energy production by reducing power consumption if it predicts unfavorable local weather or cloudy days.
2. Lets You Save More
Cost savings are among the many significant benefits of home automation and solar integration. Going solar allows homeowners to lower their utility bills using the power generated from the PV system instead of from the grid. But did you know it’s also possible to bring down energy costs further?
High-energy appliances will draw power from solar panels or energy storage systems during peak hours with smart home technology. Once off-peak, they will consume electricity from the grid when it costs less. If your utility provider allows variable pricing depending on “Time of Use,” you know electricity costs more during periods of high demand.
3. Reduces Dependence on the Grid
Some states suffer from sudden—and sometimes prolonged—grid outages. But even if you have a solar energy system, you cannot run your home’s automated solutions; the solar system shuts down to prevent back feeding and harming utility line workers.
But with a smart solar energy system, including battery storage, you don’t always have to depend on the public grid. Instead, you can have enough electricity to run essential appliances based on the available stored power. The smart system will distribute power, but you can control which devices get shut down to make stored energy last longer.
The Future of Solar Smart Homes Is Bright
The many benefits of home automation and solar integration are worth considering when you want to take the next step towards a more sustainable, energy-efficient residence.
Fortunately, choosing the right solar power system doesn’t have to be confusing. Speak to a solar professional at AMP Smart to see how solar could be a good fit for your home.
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