Eco-Friendly Family Saves ₹2 Lakh Annually with Solar-Powered Home and Office

Sanjay and Suhasini Deshpande Embrace Solar Energy, Eliminating Electricity Bills and Earning Extra Income

Architect Sanjay Deshpande has been utilizing solar energy to power his home and office in Hubli, Karnataka, for the past two years, saving his family around ₹2 lakh annually. Sanjay’s journey into solar energy began in the late 90s while studying architecture in Mumbai. During this time, a conversation with a friend’s father inspired him to install a small solar panel in his rented room, alleviating the Mumbai heat and reducing his expenses.

"I bought a small panel of 12V and 40W and kept it on the sunshade of the window. It provided enough energy to run a table fan and a bulb throughout the day," recalls Sanjay. This initial success motivated him to implement solar energy solutions when he returned to Hubli in 2000.

Today, Sanjay's house and office are completely powered by solar energy. "In 1996, when I started with solar energy, the panels were expensive. Over the last two decades, the price has reduced significantly," he explains. By 2001, he had installed a solar water heater and smaller panels for his corridors and gardens. In 2013, upon moving to a new house in Bhavani Nagar, he installed 165W 36V solar panels, which powered their TV, fans, and lights.

In 2020, Sanjay upgraded his office to a 3kW solar panel system. "We used to pay around ₹4,500 – ₹5,500 monthly in electricity bills for our office. Now, we have zero electricity bills," he says. Encouraged by the office's success, he installed a 4.5kW system at home, achieving complete off-grid status.

Suhasini, Sanjay’s wife, details their household transformation: "We run all our appliances, including heavy-duty ones like two fridges, a washing machine, dishwasher, four air conditioners, and our two electric cars, on solar energy. Our electricity bill has dropped to zero, and we even earn ₹500 to ₹1,000 monthly by transferring surplus energy to the HESCOM grid."

Switching to electric vehicles further enhanced their savings. "With petrol vehicles, we spent around ₹12,000 per month on fuel. Now, charging our EVs at home using solar energy means no fuel expenses," Sanjay adds, noting their monthly savings of approximately ₹18,000.

Beyond his home and office, Sanjay harnesses solar energy for his farms. His mango farm uses a 3kW system for irrigation, while 1kW panels light his other farms for security.

Sanjay encourages experimenting with smaller solar panels. "We have installed micro solar panels on windows and balconies, generating energy for corridor lights, terrace gardens, and bedside lamps. People can start with these micro panels before transitioning to a full on-grid system."

He addresses common misconceptions about solar energy, emphasizing that even on cloudy days, panels can generate around 60% of the required energy. "Installing a 4.5kW to 5kW system costs around ₹3 lakh. This investment can yield significant savings compared to the modest interest from a fixed deposit," Sanjay concludes, highlighting the long-term benefits of solar energy investment.

Reference:

www.thebetterindia.com