Spring Equinox? For nerds, that means lower bills.
By
Kiana Kazemi
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The spring equinox is here, which means longer days and shorter nights. Let’s dive into the obvious and not-so-obvious ways that longer, sunnier days lower your heating bills - and how Harvest can help you harmonize with the season.
How Energy Consumption Works on the Grid
The energy grid operates by balancing supply and demand. However, electricity generation is not as simple as switching a light on or off—it's a highly complex system that requires constant coordination.
During peak demand hours—typically late afternoons and evenings—more energy is needed than the grid can supply with its baseload power plants. Those plants get their juice all over the place - from coal to solar. A balancing authority (like CAISO in California) ensures that power system demand and supply are always balanced.
Peak demand energy use is expensive and resource-intensive. The grid operator has to bring in more expensive sources of electricity to meet demand and encourage entities that buy on the spot market to reduce consumption. While instantaneous (spot) energy prices spike during these times, most ratepayers don’t see those fluctuations directly—they pay according to a planned rate schedule. This is where load shifting comes in.
Load Shifting 101
Load shifting moves electricity use to times when energy is cleaner and cheaper. Other smart thermostats, like Nest and Ecobee, ask users to adjust their heating and cooling based on grid conditions. But with Harvest, there’s no need to change your behavior—it all happens automatically.
Harvest shifts energy use to the middle of the day, when there’s an abundance of solar power and electricity rates are typically lowest. Instead of heating water or your home when energy is dirtier and more expensive, Harvest stores heat when the grid is clean and delivers it when you need it—no effort required.
As the days get longer and sunnier, this process becomes even more effective. More sunlight means more excess solar energy available to capture and store, keeping your home comfortable while maximizing savings.
How Harvest Makes It Easy
The Harvest Pod learns your heating usage patterns to optimize your home’s energy usage. Harvest can automatically shift your energy consumption to times when it’s the least costly (and cleanest), helping you save around 30% on your energy bills. Our solution works by storing energy during off-peak hours and releasing it when needed, all while making sure your home stays comfortable and your energy costs remain manageable.
Compared to traditional gas heating, Harvest can cut emissions by up to 90%. That’s a huge impact—both for your wallet and the planet.
The arrival of spring is a reminder that, just like nature, our energy consumption patterns change with the seasons. With a little foresight and the right tools, you can take advantage of these shifts, saving money and reducing your carbon footprint. We’re here to help you navigate this transition and make energy management effortless.
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