What is a Kilowatt?

When you look at energy readings, you’ll see things measured in kilowatt-hours. Whether it’s your electric bill or the output of a solar panel system, it will most likely be in kilowatt-hours. It can be confusing to understand what a kilowatt or a kilowatt-hour are, but being aware of them can help you in many ways. By doing so, you’ll be able to better monitor your energy usage, make smarter choices about saving energy, as well as work towards lowering your overall electric bill. Luckily, Honey Bees Roofing & Solar, can educate you if you would like to learn more about kilowatts. Learning about kilowatt-hours can also help you determine which solar panel system is the best for your home.

What is a Kilowatt?

A kilowatt is a basic unit of energy that measures how much energy an appliance consumes. The acronym for a kilowatt is “kW”. The kilowatt is simply one thousand watts, another unit of energy that is frequently seen. Energy readings use kilowatts due to the large volume of electricity that many appliances consume.

What is a Kilowatt-hour?

A kilowatt-hour is the amount of energy you would use by keeping a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour. In other words, it’s a unit that measures how much energy you’re using. Its acronym is “kWh”. Different devices will use a kWh in different amounts of time. For example, a 100-watt lightbulb would consume a single kWh in 10 actual hours. On the flip side, a 2,000-watt device will consume a kWh in about 30 minutes.

The Difference Between Kilowatts and Kilowatt-hours

It isn’t difficult to get kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt-hours (kWh) mixed up. They’re very similar, but they measure different things. Kilowatts are specifically for measuring how much energy each device or appliance uses. A kilowatt-hour measures the total amount of energy a system generates or consumes. Kilowatts measure electricity, kilowatt-hours measure energy use.

Kilowatt-hours and Solar Energy

When it comes to solar panels, it is important to have some knowledge of kilowatt-hours. If you want to install solar panels on your home, then you’ll need to figure out how many kilowatt-hours your home consumes a day. That way you can determine what configuration of type and number of solar panels you’ll need to offset the power consumption of your home. If you’re under-consuming, then you’ll still be heavily reliant on the power grid, and if you’re over-consuming then you may be putting energy back into the grid more than you’d like. While it can be difficult to determine exactly what solar setup your home will need, you can find help close by!

Call a Professional

If you’re interested in a no-pressure educational conversation about solar energy or installing solar panels on your building, then contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131! We offer free roofing inspections so we can help you choose the best roofing option for your home. In addition, we can work on any roof and help you determine what may need to be repaired. If you need a free roof inspection, don’t hesitate to contact us!