How Your Home Uses Energy in the Coachella Valley

Whether your home is off-grid and using only solar or your system is tied to the grid, it is helpful to know how your home consumes energy. Understanding energy usage at home can help you conserve energy during blackouts and modify usage to save money.

If you want to learn about how solar can help reduce your utility bills or how you can improve the output of your solar energy system, call the Coachella Valley solar energy experts at Stada Energy. We can work with you to increase panel output, install battery systems for blackout reserves, and more.

Call Stada Energy to speak with a Coachella Valley solar installer today!

The Four Biggest Energy Consumers and How You Can Conserve Energy

Home energy consumption refers to the energy used by your home systems, appliances, and electronics. Energy usage is typically measured in kilowatt-hours or kWh and is calculated by multiplying the hours used per day by the wattage a system or item requires to run.

1. Your home’s biggest consumer of energy is your HVAC system, which typically uses almost 50% of your energy. (This is especially true in warm climates like the Coachella Valley.) Your HVAC system may run 2-3 times per hour when temperatures are high, each time running 10-15 minutes.

Luckily, there are ways to reduce HVAC energy consumption using these tips:

• Turn your thermostat to 78 in summer and 65 in winter to reduce the frequency and length of time it runs.
• Regularly replace air filters for maximum efficiency and to help reduce strain on your system.
• Make sure that your vents are not blocked and that registers are clear of anything that would obstruct airflow.
• Dress lightly in summer and layer up in winter to reduce the need for extreme adjustments to your temperature settings.
• Add or remove blankets on your bed according to the seasonal changes.

2. The second biggest energy consumer at home is your water heater, using approximately 15% of your home’s energy. Water heater conservation starts with how you use water.

It is easy to conserve energy using the tips below:

• Shower instead of taking baths to use less heated water.
• Inspect and insulate hot water pipes to conserve energy and heat.
• Install water-conserving shower heads and faucet aerators.

3. Coming in third are your home appliances, using between 10-15% of your energy. Of your appliances, your refrigerator uses the most energy, followed by your washer and dryer, oven, and stove, and finally, dishwasher.

Conserving energy with these appliances may involve:

• Leaving space between items in the refrigerator, rather than overpacking, and placing items you reach for most at the front.
• Washing clothes as full loads only and washing with cold water, while drying clothing on drying racks or outside on warm days.
• Drying dishes on the counter or in an air-dry setting rather than heated drying.

4. Electronics are at the bottom of the top energy consumers at home and include lighting, television, and media equipment. It is easy to conserve with electronics. Turning off lights when you leave a room, turning off and unplugging electronics when you can, and deactivating standby mode on media equipment can help save energy and money.

Switch to Solar and Harness Renewable Energy with Stada Energy

The Coachella Valley energy professionals at Stada Energy can help you get the most out of your solar system, whether with maintenance on an existing system or installation of a new one. We can work with you to determine where you can conserve energy, or how your home will work with solar energy upgrades. Let our team help you understand the benefits of solar and battery storage in the Coachella Valley.

Contact the Coachella Valley solar professionals at Stada Energy to request a quote today!