Making the Most of Solar Panels in New Build Homes  

As the owner of a new build home, you might be interested in improving the sustainability and energy efficiency of your property. Solar panels provide one of the most effective ways to do this – and much more.  

Not only do solar panels help lower your energy bills, but they also help you meet Building Regulations and SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations, which estimate the annual energy cost and environmental performance of a  property.  

According to the Global Buyer Survey in 2021, 84% of respondents said that the energy efficiency of a future home is either important or very important to them, and so solar panels can lead to a higher valuation should you want to sell your new build down the line.  

With that in mind, here are some top tips to get the most out of solar panels in new build homes.

Make sure they are strategically placed

If you haven’t yet had your solar panels installed, you’ll ideally want them to be attached to south-facing roofs. This is because south-facing roofs will be exposed to the most sunlight during daylight hours, and therefore will capture the most energy.  

Roof-integrated panels are usually the best choice, as they sit level with the roofline, which reduces the need for any additional tiling and prevents birds from nesting underneath the panels too.  

If you don’t have the space for solar panels on a south-facing roof, you can install them on an east or west facing roof as well as on ground mounts.

We will provide expert guidance to ensure you can make the most of your solar panels on your property.

Use more energy during the day 

When you install solar panels, try to match up the amount of energy you use to the amount that you generate.  

The majority of your energy will be generated during the afternoon hours. Try to use the appliances that require the most energy during this time, such as your washing machine and dishwasher. 

This will help to reduce your reliance on gaining additional electricity from the grid.  Plus, if you end up generating more energy from your solar panels than you need, you may be able to sell it back to the grid.

At Cerretti Electrical, before we quote you for your solar panels, we’ll assess your current energy usage to ensure that you’ll have the correct number of panels and capacity of battery storage to meet you and your family’s needs.

Monitor your usage  

Another way to make the most of solar panels in new build homes is to understand your usage.  

Knowing the amount of energy used by each of your appliances means you can make small and sustainable changes to save power. Simply switching off plugs and turning off the lights can make all the difference! 

When you choose Cerretti Electrical to install your solar panels, we always include a monitoring system so that you can track your energy production and usage in real time.  

Utilise battery storage  

Of course, you still need to have access to electricity at night and on less sunny days.

One of the key ways to make the most of your solar panels is to use additional battery storage. Anytime excess energy is produced, it will be stored in a battery so you can use it when you would otherwise need to take electricity from the grid.  

The majority of new build homes do not have battery storage even if they have solar panels installed. With battery storage, you’ll not only be able to save money on your energy bills come rain or shine but will gradually recover the cost of your investment.

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We hope that this blog has been useful and has helped you understand how to get the most out of solar panels in new build homes.  

As certified solar panel installers for both domestic and commercial properties, we would love to help you take advantage of all the benefits that solar panels have to offer. 

Our team are fully qualified and certified with NICEIC and MCS, so you can rest assured that our workmanship is regularly assessed and complies with all technical and safety requirements.  

To accurately quote for the work required, our specialists would be delighted to provide you with a complimentary site visit to assess your new build home and explain the process of solar panel installation from start to finish.  

Get in touch, or you can find out more about our solar panel installation services here.