Path-Q Solar
How should a work-from-home schedule affect the size of my solar system?
Answer
Work-from-home use can increase daytime electricity consumption and may allow more solar energy to be used directly. Size the system from total expected annual use, while also checking hourly or seasonal timing so the system is not oversized relative to the tariff and export value.
Key points
- Computer equipment, lighting, heating or cooling, cooking, and hot-water use may shift into solar-production hours.
- Daytime self-consumption can improve the value of solar where exports are credited less favorably than imports.
- Work schedules may vary by weekday, season, and household member.
What it depends on
- Actual work-from-home equipment and schedule
- Heating, cooling, and hot-water timing
- Annual consumption and seasonal variation
- Tariff and export-credit structure
- Future changes to occupancy or work location
Risks and trade-offs
- Sizing only from annual use can miss the value of timing.
- Sizing for occasional maximum work-from-home use may create excess capacity.
- Future schedule changes can reduce expected self-consumption.
Information you may need
- Recent bills and interval usage if available
- Typical workday and non-workday load patterns
- Major daytime appliances or heating and cooling loads
- Expected future occupancy and work schedule
- Applicable import and export rates
Your next step
What to do next
Give the installer a representative workday and non-workday schedule and request a design based on both annual demand and daytime self-consumption.
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