Solar isn’t the first step to energy efficiency.
Considerations Before Purchasing Solar Panels
There’s a lot of talk and promotion in the industry about solar panels. And for good reason. Solar is a free resource — electricity is never-ending consumption. But with the movement, rebates and funding toward a move to electrification, we need to be considering the state of infrastructure in North America.
Take a stroll down any multi-family community in your city and you’ll see the apartment buildings with pealed back stucco, windows with tin foil, and frost built up around doors.
Energy consumption continues to climb in these buildings, and the deterioration from air infiltration in the walls of your home means the same thing.
If funding, education and support is directed toward the building envelope (walls, windows and roof) we can increase insulation and air-tightness, preventing thermal loss and air leakage throughout the building.
Imagine a strategic plan for our existing infrastructure:
Build a better building envelope. Increase insulation, and air-tightness, and shading.
Design a Mechanical Plan that will now run at a fraction of the existing equipment consumption.
Add renewable resources, because the supplement of renewables like solar panels will now contribute a beneficial portion of consumption.
By investing in your building envelope first, you gain the advantage of real change in energy consumption. And without getting too nerdy, there is much more opportunity for mechanical systems that provide significant energy savings.
If you have been considering investing in solar panels, email or call us to learn more if it’s the right solution for you.
