Installing solar panels is a significant investment, and future energy use should be part of the system planning process. Electric vehicles, heat pumps, home additions, pools, workshops, and new appliances can increase electricity consumption beyond the capacity of an existing solar array. Understanding these potential changes can help homeowners plan for a solar panel system upgrade, battery storage, or additional generating capacity. Explore the home improvements that commonly increase electricity demand and learn when it may be time to expand your solar power system.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Buying an electric car is one of the most common reasons a homeowner’s electricity needs increase. Regularly charging an EV at home can add a lot of power consumption, especially if you use the car for long commutes or if you have multiple hybrid or electric cars. If an EV is part of your future plans, you should design your solar power system with room for extra panels and larger inverter capacity to accommodate that future usage.
Expanding Your Home
Even a small home addition can increase your electricity usage significantly. Extra bedrooms, a finished basement, a home office, or even a detached living space will require extra lighting, outlets, heating and cooling, and electronics usage. Even if your plans for a home addition are years away, it’s a good idea to discuss this possibility with your solar installer, so you avoid designing a system that doesn’t allow for this growth.
New Electric Appliances
If you currently have several gas appliances, you should consider whether or not you’ll want to replace them with electric appliances in the future. An electric stove, water heater, dryer, or other large appliance can increase your home’s electricity consumption enough over the course of a year that your solar power system can’t keep up with the higher demand. While replacing one appliance with an electric model might not push you beyond your system’s production levels, several replacements probably will.
A Pool, Hot Tub, or Outdoor Living Space
Changes to your yard can also impact power usage. Pools and hot tubs can have substantial electrical loads for pumps, heaters, filtration systems, and lighting. Outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas can also add several smaller electrical loads that collectively increase your power consumption quite a bit. If these upgrades are on your wish list, make sure you plan for this in your solar power system.
While you don’t necessarily need to install enough solar panels to cover these plans right away, it’s important to ensure you have the roof space and inverter capacity for these things so that you can add the panels later. Thinking ahead and purchasing a slightly larger Fronius inverter now can save you significantly when you’re ready to expand.
