What is a Usage Profile?
An accurate Usage Profile is one of the most important steps toward creating a reliable project design. A Usage Profile takes all the information from the Usage phase and estimates a homeowner’s annual energy use based on their typical behavior and lifestyle.
A Typical Usage Profile is added to the Usage Phase by default based on a homeowner’s address, but you should always edit the default Typical Usage Profile to fit your homeowner's actual energy usage to provide the best and most accurate design for your homeowner. You should gather this information by talking to the homeowner.
Why would I need to set up multiple Usage Profiles?
Creating more than one Usage Profile per address lets you quickly compare options based on the homeowner’s changing energy needs. This is especially helpful if the homeowner anticipates any future increases (or decreases) in their home energy usage. For example, are they planning to add an electric vehicle or pool? Do they have kids who are leaving for college in a year or two?
You can show the homeowner these different options and scenarios without constantly updating the default profile. If you create more than one Usage Profile, you can quickly and easily show the homeowner various system designs that could meet their future needs.
How do I create a new Usage Profile?
After editing the Typical Usage Profile, you can create one or more additional Usage Profiles to show the homeowner different options and scenarios (for example, a homeowner who is considering buying an electric vehicle soon but isn’t sure how that will impact their solar system).
To create a new profile, go to the top left of the Usage phase and click the menu labeled "Manage Usage Profiles."
A new "Profile Name" window will open with the "Typical Usage Profile" as the default. Click the down arrow next to your currently selected energy profile and select "Add New Profile," or duplicate the Typical Usage Profile to include the information you already got from the homeowner.
How do I edit the new Usage Profile?
From the Manage Usage Profiles drop down, select the new profile. Note: If you click the three dots next to your new profile, you can choose to rename it something that easily describes the profile such as “EV Charger”.
Once in the new profile, scroll down and edit the settings to match the new profile. For example, if you are creating a profile with an EV charger, in the "Projected Usage Changes" section, add the EV usage to the profile. Add the model, charger, mileage, and charge time for a more precise analysis.
How do I use the new Usage Profile in a project?
After creating the Usages Profiles, move to the Project design phase. If we create a design for a 100% offset of the Typical Usage Profile, we can duplicate this design to see how the offset changes when you switch to another usage profile. Duplicate the design and then under the "Manage Usage Profile" menu, simply select another Usage Profile to be applied to the duplicated project design.
You’ll notice that when you switch to another Usage Profile, the offset % will likely change. This shows you and the homeowner that the project may need more (or fewer) panels to reach a 100% offset if they anticipate their usage in the future will change.
Can I delete additional Usage Profiles I don’t need?
Yes, you can also archive Usage Profiles by clicking three dot menu next to the profile you no longer need and selecting “Archive”. However, you must always have one active Usage Profile and must choose another profile if the one you are archiving is currently active. The Typical Usage Profile cannot be archived.
