Five things to consider before investing in solar

Using solar energy to meet your power demands reduces costs while also making you more environmentally friendly. But it’s also an investment, which means that you need to consider both the pros and the cons of installing solar energy in your home.

If you’re thinking about solar, consider these factors before making a purchase.

Pro: Less reliance on grid electricity reduces your bills

Cost savings are often the most significant factor for a lot of clients. When you use your solar energy, you’re relying less on your electricity company. This means that your monthly bills go down.

And a battery system will take your savings even further. You can store and sell excess energy back to the electricity company. You can even store your electricity company’s electricity during off-peak times, when prices are lowest, and then use that energy during peak periods. Lots of options!

Con: There is an upfront cost before the savings kick in

Yes, solar definitely saves you money, particularly over the long term. But the cost of manufacturing and installing solar panels is still high. The bigger your energy needs, the larger your investment. Nevertheless, it is an investment, and some companies even offer payment plans that make it incredibly accessible.

Pro: Solar energy is a renewable energy source

Solar energy is a renewable energy source. This is unlike other forms of energy that have a limited lifespan, such as coal and fossil fuels. As long as the sun remains alive (and that’s going to be a while – about 6.5 billion years, in fact!), we can’t run out of solar energy.

It’s also abundant – we could power all of earth with solar energy and still have solar radiation left to spare!

Con: It requires space

This one isn’t really a con because, let’s face it – what else are we going to do with the real estate on our roof? But the more energy you require to power your home, the more panels you need. And while we work out your specific energy needs before calculating how much power can be produced in your space, generally speaking the larger the home, the more panels you’ll need.

Pro: Solar energy is sustainable, which means a better planet for your children (and theirs)

Sustainable energy sources meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We can’t over-consume solar, and it leaves no harmful side effects. And yes, while the manufacturing, transportation and installation of solar power systems do cause some emissions, they truly are minimal compared to most conventional sources of energy.

Con: Without a battery, solar power is intermittent

As our access to sunlight is limited to daytime (not to mention good weather!), solar energy is an intermittent energy source. This is somewhat resolved with the decreasing costs of battery systems, making them far more accessible to the average homeowner. But without one, your solar system won’t meet 100% of your energy demands.

Pro: They’re ultra-quiet and require little maintenance

Many alternative energy sources are limited to remote areas because of the noise they make (wind turbines are a prime example). But residential solar panels have no moving parts, so they weave their magic in glorious silence.

In terms of maintenance, they only need cleaning twice a year, purely so dirt and bird droppings don’t reduce their efficiency. And with no moving parts, they also last for decades.

From a technical maintenance perspective, there are products that alert us to issues and let us update your firmware remotely – you don’t even have to pick up the phone if you suspect there’s an issue!

Con: Not all solar panels are created equal

A huge variety of panels on the market, with varying levels of efficiency, durability, reliability, output and design, mean that there’s also a huge variety of price points. Choosing the right system can be difficult – it can be tempting to invest in an option that’s purely based on cost. But considering the impact of all of those factors in your system’s performance and longevity, it’s worthwhile to do your research and invest in quality panels.

To solar or not to solar… that is the question

When you consider it, the negatives are minimal in comparison to the benefits. But solar isn’t going to be the right choice for everyone. There are a whole lot of factors to take in, from environmental and economical through to grid independence, your location, and even advancing technology. But the bottom line is this: in the energy world, solar power compares incredibly well against other technologies for all of these factors.

The reality is, the future of solar is looking rather bright. Quite literally!

Extreme heat seems set to have become the new norm for us Aussies.

The recent heatwaves broke weather records, especially here in Penrith where we saw the mercury climb as high as 46.9.

Luckily for us, though, we managed to avoid the blackouts that hit other areas. But it could so easily have been us who were left without the comfort of air conditioning, fans or even cold water from the fridge. And when you consider that we’re usually the ones with the highest number on the nightly weather map (as well as our friends over in Richmond), it’s scary.

What’s really frightening is that our hottest summer on record is unlikely to be a one-off. This means that all of us – from entire families through to the elderly – will no longer be able to classify things like air conditioning as a ‘luxury’. It’s becoming an essential, but one that will continue to cost us an arm and a leg.

Or will it?

Turn on the sun to beat the heat

The extreme heat of our wide brown land may be a problem, but also brings its own relief. As individuals, we can harness the forces of nature for our benefit thanks to modern technology.

How? Solar power.

We all know how huge power stations are. Even the average sub-station in suburban Kingswood is about the same size as neighbouring homes. But it’s 2017, and thanks to photovoltaic panels (best known as solar panels to we normal folk) and solar storage batteries, every house can be its own power station.

Solar power has come a long way since the very first (and very expensive!) solar hot water heaters started to emerge on Australian roofs more than 60 years ago.

Panels that could be hooked up to power everything in the house, from the TV and lights though to the fridge and microwave, hit the market late last century. But, of course, what was generated on the roof wasn’t what fired up the average household appliance.

Instead, it was fed back into the power grid. This same power then came back into the property in the normal way.

Fast-forward to today, and solar panels are not only an affordable option but they also provide significant advantages. Not only is the power you generate from your roof used to power your home, but the excess can also be sold back to the electricity company.

And thanks to the ability to store that same power in the new breed of solar batteries on the market, we can use our own power as needed.

No more reliance on the grid, no more expensive bills. It’s a game changer.

The incredible benefits of solar

Prices are decreasing as us Aussies embrace the tech

Australians lead the world as early adopters of new technology. (Smartphone anyone?) In fact, The Climate Council predicts that half of all households in Australia are predicted to adopt a solar system, with battery storage, over the next ten years.

We’re already far ahead of the rest of the world, with 27.4 million solar panels (and counting) having been installed as at January this year.

And as more and more people put solar panels on the roof, the more the price falls. The same goes for the relatively new solar storage batteries, pioneered by Tesla. The more we buy, the less they’ll cost.

When being a “Westie” is wonderful

Australia isn’t called the sunburnt country for nothing. Our country averages more solar radiation per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world. In fact, it’s 10,000 times more energy than we use. Bad news for vampires. Very good news for the rest of us, especially in the warm west. So for us Penrith folk, we can really get a great return from our system.

Tell the power company where to go

Politely, of course! Seriously though, it’s a great feeling not to be beholden to a faceless entity that supplies something that’s a necessity, not a luxury, but ups the price whenever they feel like it and can’t even guarantee supply.

Solar panels and batteries give us financial independence from big companies and, after set-up costs, provide free power. And if we sell back to the grid, they can reduce our overall electricity costs even further!

Going… Going… Gone!

Home buyers are increasingly attracted to properties that are energy and water efficient. Some even make it a prerequisite when listing the features they are seeking when briefing real estate agents. So installing solar panels, especially if you go the whole hog and have storage batteries, gives your home a positive selling point. And of course, solar will undeniably add to its value.

Luxuries like air conditioning and home pools are becoming essential, but ones that will continue to cost us an arm and a leg.

Or will they?

Do your bit for the planet

Even if you don’t plan to move any time soon, installing a solar power system can reduce your carbon footprint. Unlike traditional electricity sources, solar energy is green, clean and renewable.

The panels don’t release greenhouse gases and don’t pollute the air. Yes, electricity is used the make them, but it’s minimal compared to the power you can save and pollution you prevent by having them. I know I’m a bit of a greenie at heart, but I really am committed to proactively improving the sustainability of our planet for our children and their children – one energy-efficient solution at a time.

H2GO

Water, another scarce resource on the world’s driest continent, is another resource we’re all incredibly conscious of conserving. With Warragamba Dam just up the road, its water levels (and safety) have been a big part of the Penrith community psyche for decades. Changing over to solar energy greatly reduces the water consumption used to produce other forms of energy, making sure it’s available for the things we really need it for, like drinking.

In an age when everyone is concerned about reducing pollution while also being conscious of spending, solar power plays an important part. Its production generates no waste and doesn’t even create noise.

In the end, solar is very much a part of Australia’s energy future. And as more and more people seek to free themselves of the rising costs and inevitable unreliability of grid dependence, our sundrenched Nepean shores will prove to be our greatest asset.

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Tag: Home living

The pros and cons of solar energy for your home