EditUnderstand Your Energy Consumption
Reducing the energy your home draws from
the grid is the first step in getting the most
out of any home solar energy system.
Nega-watts, or the energy your home does not
use, are the cheapest and easiest way to cut
your energy bill and help the environment.
As you begin to learn more about energy
efficiency, solar energy and energy generation,
you will need to understand the difference
between kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt hours (kWh).
This is especially important when determining
how much energy you use (measured in kilowatt
hours) and what size of solar system you should
consider for your home (measured in kilowatts).
A kilowatt (kW) is used to describe power output and
is equal to one thousand watts. Residential Photovoltaic
(PV) systems are typically 1 to 3 kW.
A kilowatt hour (kWh) is used to describe the amount
of power used per hour. When you look at your electricity
bill, you will see that your electricity usage is expressed
and charted in kWh. A kWh is the product of power in
kilowatts multiplied by time in hours.
To find out how much energy your household uses,
check out your electric utility bill.