With increased energy independence, rooftop solar can lead to lower monthly electricity bills through net metering and avoided utility power costs. To take these energy savings even further, you can maximize your investment in solar by optimizing your property's power consumption.
In this guide, we outline how to achieve increased solar savings with energy efficiency improvements, system monitoring, smart home integrations, and more.
Rooftop solar and energy efficiency
Much like the benefits of solar, an energy-efficient home can simultaneously reduce your utility bills and carbon footprint. While there are many things you can do to lower your electricity bills—like shutting off lights in unoccupied rooms—home efficiency improvements can help achieve further energy savings, increase your property value, and maximize your savings potential when going solar.
Home improvements to increase energy savings
Whether or not you have rooftop solar, there are some practical tips to enhance your home's energy efficiency.
- Building envelope: Proper home insulation can significantly reduce the energy consumption necessary to maintain a consistent indoor temperature while using heating or cooling systems. Envelope improvements can also include window and door upgrades, air sealing, and minor roof repairs.
- Energy-efficient appliances: Consider replacing old appliances with energy-efficient models. Depending on your property, there may be opportunities for energy savings if you replace an HVAC system, clothes washer or dryer, dishwasher, water heater, or other major appliances.
- LED lighting: Compared to traditional incandescent lightbulbs, LED lighting consumes approximately 75% less energy and lasts 25 times longer.
- Smart home technology: Smart thermostats and power strips can help effectively manage electricity use—including automatic load shifting around peak-demand pricing and always toggling off non-essential devices when they’re not in use.
To help maximize your energy savings, your building improvements may qualify for several clean energy tax credits, rebates, or incentives from federal and local green initiatives. For example, U.S. homeowners can qualify for federal tax credits worth up to $2,000 on heat pumps, boilers, or biomass stoves, and up to $1,200 on qualifying appliances, windows, doors, insulation, and other property upgrades.
If you’re not sure where to start, conduct a solar installer home energy audit —it’s one of the best ways to increase your property’s efficiency, discover if you qualify for local rebates, and plan cost-effective upgrades. Professional home energy audits are required before installing solar in some states and can often be conducted for free or at heavily discounted rates though local solar programs, like this program in New York.
Optimize solar energy system performance and savings
When you work with a professional solar installer, you can design a system for maximum electricity production on your unique property. In the U.S., photovoltaic (PV) panels are ideally installed on roofs with good solar exposure and minimal shade coverage to harness as much daily sunlight as possible.
Rooftop solar monitoring and maintenance
Although solar energy systems do not require much upkeep over their multi-decade lifespans, monitoring and maintenance are essential to guarantee long-term solar savings. By monitoring your solar energy system’s performance, you can track your electricity production and investigate potential efficiency losses.
With advanced solar monitoring systems, you can also oversee electricity consumption from connected appliances, grid imports and exports, and your real-time energy savings. If your solar system performance appears to be waning, you may need to clean your solar panels or contact a professional to inspect your system and create a timely solution.
Net metering and solar savings on electricity bills
The price a utility pays for the excess solar electricity that you send to the grid depends on your local net metering rates.
For example, if you live in Colorado, net metering is mandatory and grid electricity costs about 14.75 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). In this scenario, if you consume 1,100 kWh of electricity per month, and your solar energy system produces about 900 kWh, your bills may only amount to roughly $30 (200 kWh x 14.75). If efficiency improvements could reduce your total consumption, this would then lead to further monthly savings.
As evolving utility policies lower grid export rates across the country, the future of net metering heavily favors battery energy storage for homeowners hoping to maximize solar savings. With battery storage, you can more precisely control how the clean electricity produced on your property is used, so as to optimize your energy consumption for maximum solar savings.
Optimize the timing of your home’s electricity consumption
In areas with time-of-use rates, utility electricity prices and solar export bill credit values depend on the time of day the energy is consumed or sent to the grid. To maximize your savings, solar power systems can help run necessary appliances with the clean electricity you generate on-site when local energy rates are highest during peak demand hours.
While it may be possible to manually adjust your electricity consumption and solar exports for optimal savings, smart systems and connected appliances can help automate your home’s energy cost efficiency. For example, an Enphase Home Energy System can help you maximize ongoing savings with solar EV charging and app-based control of connected thermostats and other smart home appliances.
Key insights
In short, the potential solar savings for your home depends on your property's electricity consumption, while energy-efficiency improvements can lead to financial rewards. To maximize your solar benefits, it’s vital to seek out high quality equipment and services, monitor your system’s performance, and continuously seek ways to reduce energy use at home.
Powering residences worldwide, Enphase Home Energy Systems are designed to maximize solar savings with safe and reliable performance, industry-leading warranty coverage, and app-based monitoring and control.
Maximize solar savings with home energy efficiency FAQs
What is net metering?
Net metering, or net energy metering, allows you to earn credits on utility bills when sending excess solar electricity to the grid. While mandatory in over 30 states, net metering is not universally available and local policies continue to evolve across the U.S.
Can solar panels generate energy in the shade?
Yes, solar panels can generate electricity in the shade, but at decreased efficiencies when compared to direct sunlight. In partially shaded conditions, Enphase microinverters help maximize solar electricity production.
What are the best practices for solar panel maintenance?
Solar panel systems that are working as expected should be inspected by a professional every 5 to 7 years, though any significant drops in performance should be addressed immediately. To ensure your system is absorbing as much sunlight as possible, solar panel cleaning is recommended every year or two—especially when dust, dirt, debris, or bird droppings are visible.
Are there any government incentives for improving home efficiency?
Yes, there are several government incentives available for improving home energy efficiency. While incentives vary by location, it's best to check for nationally available programs as well as incentives from your local government and electric utility to maximize your energy savings.
How often should I conduct an energy audit for my home?
Regular home audits can help identify energy waste and provide targeted solutions for improving your property's efficiency. For optimal ongoing savings, professional audits should be conducted about every five years, while DIY home energy assessments can also be performed periodically.
