Tesla Powerwall Will Soon Be Here

Tesla Home Battery

Powerwall is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. It also fortifies your home against power outages by providing a backup electricity supply. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup.

Why Powerwall?

Tesla home batteries maximize the usefulness of your solar panels and offer a variety of backup electricity supply solutions. You can even go off the grid.

Solar electricity at night

Powerwall stores electricity generated by solar panels during the day and makes it available to your home in the evening.

This bridges the gap between peak solar and peak demand, allowing you to use your photons when you need them.

Go net zero

Combine solar panels and one or more Powerwall home batteries to power your home independently from the utility grid.

A net zero energy rating means that your home produces as much energy as it consumes, but is still connected to the utility grid for periods of high demand.

Emergency backup

In the event of a utility outage, Powerwall can power your entire home or select appliances with an uninterrupted supply of electricity.

When installed along with solar panels, Powerwall will allow your home to use solar generated electricity during a utility outage.

Beautifully Functional

Current generation home batteries are bulky, expensive to install and expensive to maintain. In contrast, Powerwall’s lithium ion battery inherits Tesla’s proven automotive battery technology to power your home safely and economically. Completely automated, it installs easily and requires no maintenance.

Capacity

Each Powerwall has a 6.4 kWh energy storage capacity, sufficient to power most homes during the evening using electricity generated by solar panels during the day. Multiple batteries may be installed together for homes with greater energy needs.

Home heating

 HOME HEATING

Heating makes up half the energy bill in most Nova Scotian homes, making it the single largest use of energy for most of us. But we can all find ways to heat our homes more efficiently.

BASIC TIPS

  • Better insulation and draft proofing will make your home more comfortable and energy efficient by helping to keep your valuable heat inside.
  • A regular tune-up of your furnace and boiler will ensure they operate at peak efficiency. Keep your furnace filter clean. A dirty one delivers less air.
  • Avoid heating spaces in your home that are not insulated like garbage areas, crawl spaces, attics or storage sheds.
  • Avoid heating unused rooms by closing doors.
  • Turn down the heat when you’re sleeping or away from home.
  • When installing new windows or replacing old ones, consider installing energy-efficient windows (Energy Star Windows), which reduce heat loss and are of higher quality than standard code windows.
  • Close fireplace chimney dampers between fires to keep warm air in during the winter and out during the summer.
  • Open curtains during the day to let the warmth of the sun in, and close the curtains at night to help keep the heat in.

MANAGING THERMOSTATS

Managing your thermostat is one of the easiest and most economical ways to control your energy costs. The lower the temperature is set for heating and the higher for cooling, the more energy you save and the lower your costs. Try these tips to create a comfortable environment in your home and reduce your energy costs:

  • Set your thermostats at 21° C (70° F) (for heating) and 26° C (78° F) (for cooling) — these are the optimal temperatures for comfort and energy efficiency.
  • Set your thermostats back for heating or up for cooling overnight or when you’re not home. It doesn’t take more money to heat your home back up and you can save as much as 10 per cent on your annual energy bill.
  • If you don’t want to remember to raise or lower your thermostats, try a setback or programmable thermostat — it will do the work for you automatically.
  • Check, clean and calibrate your thermostat periodically to ensure it is accurate and working well.

REDUCE YOUR HOT WATER USE

Water heating uses the second-largest amount of energy in the average home. Choosing energy efficient water heating devices, increasing the efficiency of your water heater and using less hot water can each have a big impact on your home energy costs.

One of the easiest ways to cut your water heating costs is to use less hot water. Try these tips:

  • Use the lowest temperature wash and rinse settings on your washing machine.
  • Try a front-loading washing machine. They use nearly 40 per cent less water.
  • Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.
  • Take showers instead of baths. With a low-flow showerhead installed, showering uses only one-third the hot water of a bath.
  • Operate clothes washers and dishwashers only when full.
  • Fix any leaks in pipes or faucets. A leaky faucet can waste 11,350 litres (2,500 gallons) or more every year.
  • Turn off the hot water while washing or shaving.

MAKE YOUR FIREPLACE MORE EFFICIENT

There’s nothing quite like sitting down in front of a roaring fire. But many old-fashioned fireplaces aren’t energy efficient. Fireplaces draw warm air up the chimney and pull cold outside air into your home. This can cause your main heating system to work harder and longer. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can improve the energy efficiency of your fireplace:

  • Keep the damper closed when your fireplace isn’t in use.
  • Install glass doors. They’ll allow less warm air to be drawn up the chimney and won’t let cold outside air into the house.
  • Use an outside combustion air vent to improve fireplace efficiency. They bring the air needed to keep the fire lit in from outside, not from inside the heated room. This greatly reduces how much warm air is drawn up the chimney and the amount of cold outside air that filters into the room.
  • Fireplace inserts improve fireplace efficiency by blowing heat from the fire into the room and by limiting the amount of heat lost up the chimney.

HOME HEATING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Today’s heating systems are significantly more efficient. While older equipment can waste up to 50 per cent of the energy used, newer models have reduced that figure to as little as six per cent. But if a new system is not on the horizon, helping your existing system stay in tip-top shape can help.

Your furnace or boiler needs periodic tune-ups. A regular maintenance program is relatively inexpensive. It can extend the life of your heating equipment and help it operate at maximum efficiency.

While there are differences in the design and operation of different gas boilers and furnaces, the following should be included in a routine tune-up:

  • Clean the burner, combustion chamber, and heat exchange surfaces.
  • Check the colour of flame. It should be blue. A yellow or orange flame indicates that the gas is not burning properly, and the equipment should be adjusted by a professional.
  • Check fan belts and blowers and adjust loose belts.
  • Check safety controls.
  • Check the barometric damper operation.
  • Check thermostat operation and location.
  • Check the thermocouple.
  • Check the chimney base and flue pipe.
  • Adjust pilot and burner (if applicable).
  • Inspect and replace all filters.
  • Lubricate all motors.
  • Check the vent terminals for blockage.

Appliances

APPLIANCES AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT

Home appliances and office equipment can be some of the biggest energy users in your home. Try these quick tips to reduce their energy use.

APPLIANCES

OVENS

  • Use the right tool for the job. Using your oven may not always be necessary. Smaller appliances like crockpots, toaster ovens or microwaves can get the job done for less energy.
  • Keep pots and pans covered. Use the smallest pot or pan and match the pan to the element size to waste less energy.
  • Thaw food in the fridge instead of the microwave.

DISHWASHERS

  • Use energy saving wash cycles.
  • Don’t pre-rinse dishes. Most modern dishwashers don’t require it.
  • Wash only full loads. The dishwasher will use the same amount of water if half empty or completely full.

WASHERS AND DRYERS

  • Wash and rinse your clothes in cold water.
  • Dry full loads.
  • Clean the lint trap after each load.

Switch to Cold Water

If you wash your clothes with warm water and rinse them with cold water, simply switching to cold water on all your cycles could save you $4 a month or $52 a year. If you wash and rinse with warm water, your savings could double.

Since 80-90 per cent of the energy needed to do the wash is used to heat the water, you can save both energy and money by switching your washing machine dial to cold.

REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS

  • Check the temperature. Fridges should be 4° C (39° F). Freezers should be -18° C (0° F).
  • Check seals to see if they are in good repair and doing their job.
  • Chest or top-loading freezers are about 25 per cent more efficient than upright freezers.
  • Remove or unplug unnecessary refrigerators and freezers. Defrost regularly.
  • View more information on getting the most out of your fridge or freezer.

POWER BARS

  • Use a power bar with an integrated timer to shut off all your devices at the end of the day, or unplug your electronics when you’re away from home for an extended period of time. Many electronic devices continue to use power even when they’re turned off.

ENERGY STAR

Look for the ENERGY STAR™ label when choosing new home appliances and office equipment. ENERGY STAR™ tells you if an appliance is power smart, and by using less energy to do the same job, ENERGY STAR™ appliances save you money. If you’re unsure about the power management features of a particular product, ask the retailer if the one you’re considering qualifies as an ENERGY STAR™ rated product.

You’ll also want to look at the EnerGuide labeling on most major appliances. Created by Natural Resources Canada, EnerGuide is an appliance rating system that allows you to compare the energy consumption of different appliances within the same category.

HOME OFFICE EQUIPMENT

Today’s home office equipment has many energy saving features to help you conserve energy and save money.  Products with energy efficiency features generate up to 25 per cent less heat and are also quieterAs with all home appliances, if you’re buying new equipment look for the ENERGY STAR™ mark to help you make energy efficient choices.

You can also save energy by turning off your equipment when it’s not in use. This will help reduce energy consumption and your home office equipment will last up to 10 times longer.

COMPUTERS

  • Turn your computer off when not in use. Most experts agree that turning your computer on and off will have no significant effect on its operation or life.
  • If you must leave your computer on, turn off your display device or monitor. Monitors use a significant amount of energy. Monitors with larger displays, more colour, and higher resolution use even more.
  • Use a laptop. A typical laptop computer has a maximum power consumption of 15 watts, and extensive power management capabilities. A typical desktop PC, with display, consumes about 10 times that or 150 watts, and has limited power management features. By substituting PCs with portable laptops, you can save up to 90 percent of the energy you’d typically use.

PRINTERS

  • Turn printers off when not in use.
  • Laser printers consume a great deal of energy. Try an ink-jet printer. They are less expensive and use far less energy.
  • Select a printer with energy saving capabilities. Printers with an automatic “power down” feature can reduce electricity use by over 65 per cent.

FAX MACHINES

  • Select a fax machine with energy saving capabilities. Fax machines are generally turned on 24-hours a day, but they are actually in use only about 5 percent of that time. Fax machines with power management features can reduce energy costs by almost 50 percent.
  • Use stick-on labels on the first page of your fax. Not only will this reduce the energy use of the fax machine, but it will also save paper and telephone charges.
  • Consider a plain paper fax machine. Faxes printed on thermal paper are often copied onto plain paper, which requires more energy. In addition, thermal paper costs about five times more. This price difference can make up for the increased cost of a plain paper fax machine in less than a year.

COPIERS

  • Turn your copier off when not in use, and consider installing a plug-in timer to automatically turn the machine on and off.
  • Choose a copier that’s the right size for your needs. The energy use of a copier is directly related to copy volume capacity.
  • Be sure your copier’s energy-saving features are turned on.