Prepare Your Home for Solar Energy - Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) - Connecting Minnesotans with Renewable Energy Resources

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) - Connect To The Sun

Prepare Your Home for Solar Energy

Conserve first to save later. Reducing your energy use will keep a lid on the cost of your future solar energy system. A smaller load requires a smaller system.

Doing simple things can cut your energy load

Install the most energy efficient appliances.

Replace your regular incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

Eliminate your phantom loads (hidden electricity users).

Use cold water to wash your clothes.

Insulate your walls and attic.

Efficiency pays off

Refrigerators and freezers use more electricity per year than almost all other appliances. Your solar electric system would cost over $2000 less if you use energy efficient models.

What is a "system?"

A solar energy system includes all the parts needed to produce and use solar energy.

(Photo by Photos.com)

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are four times more efficient and last at least seven times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Fun Fact

If every household replaced just one frequently used incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), the reduction in pollution would be the same as taking one million cars off the road.

Eliminate phantom loads

Some appliances draw power even when you think they're turned off. Invisible phantom loads waste energy and cost you money. The solution is easy.

Track down energy tricksters

How do you know if an appliance has a "phantom load" lurking inside? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions about an electrical gadget, it's hiding a phantom.

(Photo by David Boyce)

Does it have a wall wart?

Those little cubes attached to the electrical prongs hold a transformer that draws power when plugged in, even if the rest of the appliance is not plugged in.

(Photo by David Boyce)

Does it use a remote control?

Like a homing device, an appliance is constantly on the lookout for a signal from its remote controller.

Is it a TV?

Almost all TVs have a quick start feature that uses energy constantly.

(Photo by David Boyce)

Does it have a visible clock?

An electric clock is always keeping time.

Can you set it to do something later?

The internal clock keeps time so it knows when to record a TV show or brew a pot of coffee.

Block thieves at the door

How do you know if an appliance has a "phantom load" lurking inside? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions about an electrical gadget, it's hiding a phantom.

(Photo by Chris Burda)

Plug phantom carriers into an accessible power strip.

Use a 2-step shutdown process:

1) Turn off the device.

2) Turn off the power strip (or unplug the device) to turn off the phantom.

This exhibition was developed and produced by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, St. Paul, Minnesota, in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota through the Community Partnerships Serving Science Program. The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the National Science Foundation, Solar Area Partner organizations, and individual donors.

2007 Solar Area Partners

American Solar Electric

Best Power Intl. LLC

CH2M HILL

Edina Bike and Sport

Electric Auto Association - MN Chapter

Fifty Lanterns International

Innovative Power Systems

Linden Hills Co-op

Northland Bioneers Conference

Quality Bicycle Products (QBP)

University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project

Whole Builders

2928 5th Avenue South • Minneapolis, MN 55408 • (612) 308-4757 • info@mnRenewables.org