10 tips to optimise your self sufficiency.
Use renewable energy resources when they’re available. Simply put: maximise the use of your solar energy during the day. Predictive solar forecasts are very useful here. Smappee’s sophisticated Artificial Intelligence can predict both your energy consumption -based on your consumption pattern- and your solar production -based on local weather data. With this information you can create your own Smappee automations. These smart settings guarantee self sufficiency by making sure the use of solar energy is nicely planned without loss of comfort. Our 10 tips will help you on your way:
1. Heat or cool your home (extra) with solar power.
Smart Grid Ready heat pumps can be controlled intelligently via two-wire contacts. Also, many of the electrical A/C systems are quickly evolving to become controllable. Use your excess solar energy to heat or cool your home a bit more during the day. That way, you can enjoy a good temperature in the evening without using extra energy.
2. Hot water with solar energy.
When you’ve used all the hot water in the morning, do not heat it again right away. Wait until you have excess solar power to send to your electrical boiler. This is done via a relay and an on/off module or a smart plug such as the Smappee Switch.
3. Use Smart household appliances.
Automate your smart household appliances such as a washing machine, dish washer or tumble dryer to work during times that you have excess solar power. Smart appliances can be controlled directly via the Smappee App. Or use the delayed programme to maximise the use of energy between 12h and 15h, when solar energy is at its peak.
4. Enjoy your Jacuzzi or swimming pool.
Jacuzzis and swimming pools are energy guzzlers. Power their heat pump and filter during the day instead of the night to save on energy and costs.
5. Control appliances with triggers.
There are all kinds of ways to set triggers that help you control your energy usage – smart devices, smart home platforms and smart home operating systems-. Smappee is working hard to incorporate as many of them as possible in its ecosystem. This way you can use them in the Smappee Automations that help optimise your energy usage.
6. Use smart plugs to make ‘dumb’ appliances smart.
Another way to control your household appliances is to connect them to a smart plug such as Smappee Switch. The plug cuts the power for example at the beginning of a programme and switches it back on during times of solar excess. It is also an easy way to switch off all appliances that you are not using at the time and eliminate always on power.
7. Get solar panels tailored to your situation.
Thinking about installing solar panels? Mind that without the feed-in tariffs it does not make sense to cover your yearly energy consumption -unless you’re living in a year-round sunny region-. This would mean that, during summer, you produce double the energy of what you need in one day without having the option to recover that energy in winter. Use the Smappee insights to know exactly how much kWh your solar panels need to be to cover your energy consumption.
8. Charge your EV with solar power.
The electric car is a new energy guzzler in the household. To drive 20,000 to 25,000 kilometers it will use 5,000 kWh. So, if you already have a big solar panel system, your new EV can use the excess solar energy. Charge the EV optimally with solar energy, taking into account the desired distance and hour of departure. This is possible with a smart charging solutions. Not ready to buy a new car? Buy an electric scooter or bike. They can also be charged with excess solar power.
9. Electrify your household.
Replace your petrol lawn mower, battery-powered hand vacuum or gas stove with one that runs on batteries that can be recharged using solar power. It’s not only better for your wallet but also for the environment.
10. Use less energy at night.
The sun isn’t out at night. So, use as little energy as possible by replacing lights with LED-lights, eliminating always-on power, etc. Home energy management apps such as the Smappee App also provide you with numerous tips to save energy quickly and easily, also during the evening.
No solar panels at home? Optimise your self sufficiency by taking into account variable tariffs and off-peak rates. When energy prices are low due to high availability of renewable energy resources, smart energy management systems (EMS) such as Smappee use their intelligence in the same way as for the solar optimisation. That way, consumers maximise the use of energy during moments when the energy prices are low.
So, what are you waiting for? Optimise your self sufficiency, get the most out of your solar energy right now and get the futureproof Smappee Infinity energy management system.
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