Photovoltaics are a great way to minimise your electricity costs by providing clean energy for your home or business. After the initial installation, they will provide clean energy with minimal maintenance and fuss, and with no additional cost to yourself. However, to get the most out of your system you need to think very carefully about how and where to install them. You can also make a few changes to your energy usage habits to maximise the impact that PV tiles will have on your bills.

Positioning

It’s not feasible to re-build a roof that isn’t perfectly south facing, so you may be limited on how directly your tiles will face the sun. However, you can maximise the energy produced by mounting the photovoltaics at a point in your roof that will catch the most sun. If your main building is at the wrong angle but an outbuilding or garage is at a better angle then you could consider using this roof surface instead. Some systems must be installed at a certain pitch that is different to that of your existing roof, but Metrotile’s photovoltaic tiles can be installed at a very low pitch and remain effective.

You should also consider the position of the buildings or structures around you in case they throw a shadow onto your roof. If trees or tall buildings are obstructing your chosen spot, then you may have to rethink where on your building to install the PV system.

Bright Winter Days

Photovoltaics do work in winter because they react to light and not heat, though naturally they create more energy when there are fewer clouds in the sky. However, most types don’t store energy for later use. Because of this it makes sense to complete high-energy tasks on days when the light is stronger, for example try to put off using your washing machine and tumble dryer when it’s rainy or cloudy.

Use Timers

You could use timers to set your electrical appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers, to start at brighter times of the day such as noon. This is especially helpful if you work during the day and can’t start the appliances yourself.

If you need to run more than one appliance per day then try to stagger the start times to take advantage of the sunlight. With most systems, if your energy usage exceeds the input from the photovoltaics then the extra energy will be supplemented from the national grid at a normal energy cost. Run appliances at different times to decrease the amount of energy needed at any one time to stop this from happening as often.

Heating

If your heating or hot water runs on electricity, it again makes sense to take advantage of the daylight hours to warm your home in winter ready for when you get home. Similarly, in a commercial building, heating and hot water can be turned off overnight and then heated throughout the day. The exact opposite is also true – it makes sense to run air conditioning more strongly during daylight hours in summer, hopefully cooling your home enough to switch it off or down overnight and reduce your energy costs.

Stay Efficient

Although they will take a sizeable chunk out of your bill, PV systems are usually not enough to provide for every energy need. With this in mind, it’s important not to get too comfortable and start living in a way that isn’t energy efficient, or you won’t save as much as you think! Basic steps to reduce energy usage, like having a well-insulated home and reducing the temperature that you wash your clothes at, will maximise the savings on your energy bills.

All of our photovoltaic roof tiles can be either integrated into a new roofing system or retro-fitted to an existing roof, so they are suitable for everyone. Call us on 01249 658 514 for a no-obligation discussion about how our tiles can help reduce your energy bills.