A home energy map is a one-page sketch of where power comes from, where it goes, and which parts matter during an outage.
It does not need to be beautiful. It needs to be honest.
Draw the sources
Start with:
- utility grid
- solar array if present or planned
- home battery if present or planned
- portable power station
- fuel generator if present
- EV battery if bidirectional power is actually supported in your setup
Do not count a source unless you know how it connects safely.
Draw the loads
Group loads by panel or room:
- critical circuits
- kitchen
- HVAC
- laundry
- garage and EV charging
- office and network
- outdoor loads
Then mark the large electric loads: heat pump, water heater, dryer, range, EV charger, well pump, and any electric resistance heat.
Mark the control points
Control points are what keep a system from becoming chaos:
- main electrical panel
- subpanel
- transfer switch or interlock
- inverter
- charge controller
- load management device
- thermostat
- EV charger settings
If you cannot identify the control point, the system probably needs professional planning.
Decision section
Ask four questions:
- What runs when the grid is up?
- What runs when the grid is down?
- What must never be backfed unsafely?
- What can be delayed, reduced, or manually switched off?
Those answers guide Inverter Sizing , EV Charging Load Planning , and Induction Electrical Capacity .
Why the map saves money
Without a map, people often oversize backup power to cover loads they do not need during an outage. With a map, you can choose backed-up circuits, load shedding, or a portable setup that fits the real priority list.
This is also where Tiny Home Sustainable Systems is useful. Small homes force the same integration question: power, water, heat, cooking, and ventilation are one system.
