Is My Home Solar Panel Ready?

Photo Credit: eltpics

The popularity of solar panel installations has increased among home-owners considerably in recent years. Financing options have given more and more people the opportunity to turn the idea of solar energy into a reality, allowing them to cut down on electricity bills, reduce energy waste and increase their home’s value. Unfortunately, even if solar panels are something you can afford and really want to invest in, not every home meets the criteria required to really benefit from them. There are several factors that solar installers consider before determining if a property is a suitable candidate for installation.

Enough sun exposure

One of the first things that needs to be assessed is the amount of sun exposure your roof receives. Obviously, solar panels will only generate enough electricity to power your household if they are able sit in direct sunlight for the majority of the day on a year-round basis. Roofs facing south tend to produce the best results for solar energy. Homes with roofs that are covered by shade are generally not recommended for solar panel installation.

Ownership of the property

It’s important to think about ownership of the property as well when looking into solar panels. Solar installers aren't authorized to perform work on any type of building that is being rented unless the job is commissioned by the owner themselves.

Average amount of electricity used in your home

Your lifestyle, the age and design of your home and your appliances all contribute to the amount of electricity you use. If you are already living very energy efficiently and your monthly electricity bill is fairly low, it may not make sense to spend the money on a solar panel installation. Also, you must consider if you consume quite a bit of energy on average and if solar panels will generate enough to accommodate for that. If not, you may still choose to have panels installed to serve as part of your power source and the rest may come from the grid as normal.

Condition of the roof/useable space

The current condition of your roof is another element to take into consideration. Roofs that need repairs or replacement should be taken care of prior to looking into solar panels. Solar installers don’t suggest placing solar panels on a roof needing work done, however, panels installed on a newly replaced roof can be a source of protection and prolong its life expectancy. Though there are all different panel sizes and designs, a roof with more useable, clear space is generally preferred.

Financial situation/plans for the future

Your financial situation will identify whether or not you are an appropriate candidate for solar panels as well. Even with funding assistance, it can be quite a big expenditure, and not everyone will qualify for financing. Also, keep your future plans in mind because if there’s a possibility of you moving within a few years you may not wish to make such a big investment unless it will significantly increase the selling price of your home.

Reliable solar installers will take a look at all these factors and help you make the right decision on your candidacy for solar panels.

If you think your house qualifies for solar panels you can use this website to get a FREE quote from solar panel installers in your area in seconds! Just click here and have you solar panels on your house in no time!

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

NEW RHI LAUNCHED:

Earn £3,690 per year for heating your own home

After months of speculating and lengthy delays, the domestic RHI has launched in the UK TODAY, WHOOPIE - rewarding home-owners choosing to heat their homes with renewable technology with high tariff payments. This is great news for eco-green buffs as they will be rolling in money, waving their cash around like they just don't care!

What is RHI?

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the world’s first long-term financial support programme for renewable heat.

The RHI pays participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy to heat their buildings. By increasing the generation of heat from renewable energy sources (instead of fossil fuels), the RHI helps the UK reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets for reducing the effects of climate change.

Similar to the popular Feed-in-Tariff enjoyed by PV solar panels, the RHI will pay people for generating their own heat energy AND they get to heat their home efficiently - slashing their heating bills dramatically! I cannot convey the level of excitement I am currently in.

Speculations of an imminent launch rose considerably when the minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker has announced via Twitter:
"Excellent progress on domestic RHI. All set now for launch by Easter."
This is excellent news for those that already have, or who are considering RHI approved renewable heating, as they will see annual earnings and savings (payable for 7 years) of:
- £3,690 for ground heat pumps
- £3,390 for biomass boilers
- £1,280 for air source heat pumps
- £600 for solar thermal systems

It's worth noting that currently, the hybrid solar panels (PV-T) that generate both electrivity AND hot water are not eligible for the RHI tariff.

Always check your system will be RHI eligible and use an MCS accredited installer.

Finally the government have got something right! The amazing thing about it is you will be independent, you won't have to rely on those energy providers with sky-rocketing prices and you will be paid for doing it!  Just think of what you could do with a couple of grand left over at the end of the year..

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Are Ikea's solar panels a good deal?

Swedish home furniture giants Ikea are to begin selling solar panels in all 18 UK based stores within 10 months, following a successful trial period, but do they offer value for money and should you even consider buying solar panels from a furniture store?

Firstly, their price of £5,700 for a 3.36kW system, which is the size for a typical semi-detached property, is expensive. Comparing prices from accredited solar installers shows that a larger 4kW system can now be installed for under £5,000, and a 3kW system for as low as £4,000. Though Ikea have to start somewhere

On the plus side the investment figures still stack up, with Ikea's smaller 3.36kW system, on a south-facing roof in Southampton, forecast to earn £770 each year from the Government Feed-in-Tariff (guaranteed for 20 years) - meaning you can recoup the cost within just 7 years.

Though installing the same size system for a lower cost from an accredited solar installer makes more sense and will give you a shorter repayment period.

From a personal opinion, Ikea are making a smart move, they have seen the Solar Panel business on the rise and must be expecting a big boom soon like the rest of us. Hence the first UK solar advert airing last week and the noise Solar has been making in the news recently

Click here to compare solar panel prices for your home

Solar Panels, not just for your average Hippie?

Solar Power was once deemed only for the eco-green world, TO SAVE THE PLANET and so on. Not to be taken so seriously by your average Joe. But times are changing and it's becoming a big financial gain, becoming more public with 500,000 UK roofs with Solar Panels, its about time it got fully advertised.

First UK Solar advert to air here

The UK saw it's first Solar Panel advert recently from Eclipse Energy, right after everyone's daily dose of Emmerdale! Though a tad cheesy it proves that Solar Power is a more serious, mainstream business. Being targeted at the general, public ideally wanting to save a few quid!


Pioneering the way forward in the Solar Panel business is Chris Cash (Managing director of Eclipse Energy) who thinks that marketed the right way, it can become big industry. And rightly so! Solar Power is accessible to almost any home-owner with many rewards and benefits. Cash is paving the way forward showing the average Joe how Solar Power can help them.

Many other companies are stepping forward into the 'light' that Cash has so kindly shown, with companies like Spectrum Energy talking about their adverts coming out soon. The Solar business is finally coming into it's own. It has been steadily rising for a while now and I won't be surprised after a mass of adverts that it will finally hit it's stride, making solar industry boom!

              

Popularity rise in Solar Power, why?

Solar Power

Solar Power has grown incredibly in the recent years; with Britain now having 500,000 homes with Solar Panels, the business is booming! The general public are definitely opening their eyes to the brilliant benefits and opportunities that Solar Power has to offer.

Did you know Butterflies have Solar Panels on their wings? 

Financial benefits

Solar Panels obviously offer to cut down your electricity bills by becoming more dependent on solar power. The ever increasing prices of energy providers is clearly making people looking into Solar Power as it is an easy, cheap way of saving money. Also with the feed-in-tarrifs the government currently provides it makes it possible to earn up to £750 a year! Who doesn't want extra money in their back pocket? From the financial side of things, Solar panels are definitely a great benefit to home-owners looking to save money.

Feel good factor

Look how smug he is after his Solar Panel install

Solar Power is a clean, renewable energy which makes it GREEN! You can feel smug as you tell the world of how you produce clean energy which is potentially saving the Planet. Also speaking from personal opinion, there is nothing that makes you happier than seeing how much energy you're producing, and there is nothing that makes me look weirder than grinning insanely when I see that electric bill cut down to size!

The Buzz!

There is massive spike in the amount Solar Power is making into the media recently. Various government projects getting behind Solar Power like how the U.S. Navy plan to beam down energy from orbiting Solar Panels. Or even how one of Britain's biggest landmarks, Big Ben, could possibly be getting Solar Panels (Story here).

Mad Scientists

There is also gigantic leaps in the technological side of the Solar Panel world. With 'mad' scientists developing transparent solar panels, Solar panels that work better on cloudy days ! And even the revolutionary idea of the near possibility of being able to grow solar panels from BACTERIA. ITS ALIVE!!!

With all these contributing factors, it's no surprise that Solar Panels have been on the rise. There has never been a better time to get into the Solar Powered world, with so many people getting involved now, shouldn't you as well? If anything you have read has interested you in Solar Panels, visit this excellent site here for a FREE quote on Solar Panels ! 

Links:
All links to the stories can be found above. If none work I will post them down here too

• U.S. Navy story: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2014/03/space-solar/
• Big Ben story: http://www.ecorazzi.com/2014/03/24/big-ben-might-go-green-get-solar-panels/?utm_content=buffer5584c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• Transparent Solar Panel story: http://tweepmag.com/GreenBizWorld/GreenBizWorld.php?a=1&r=80&rt=767018
• Cloudy day story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10701064/British-scientists-develop-solar-panels-which-work-better-on-a-cloudy-day.html
• Bacteria Solar Panel story: http://qz.com/191122/the-solar-panels-of-the-future-could-be-grown-from-bacteria/?utm_content=buffer90a48&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• FREE SOLAR PANEL QUOTE: http://www.solarpanelquoter.co.uk/?s_eng=Reactivated-20140324

Storing Solar Energy

It's all very well thinking about installing solar panels on the roof of your house - all that cheap electricity and the possibility of selling it back to the National Grid for all that lovely 'Government money'.

But how is all this electricity stored when you're not using it? Does it just go to waste?

There are two types of system currently available to you.

You can either store the electricity generated for use by yourself when the sun isn't shining - this is called an off-grid system.

Off-grid systems store generated energy in batteries, for use later on.

A grid connected system is linked directly to the National Grid and any energy over and above what you're actually using is exported directly. When your panels aren't generating enough for your needs, your home simply draws the extra off the grid (like it does at present).

Isolated properties can benefit enormously from off-grid systems where there isn't any mains electricity.

Find the latest renewable energy news on our dedicated renewable energy blog - updated daily - click here to visit it now.

photo credit: mike schinkel

Solar Panel Quotes - new solar energy blog and twitter account

We've just launched two new online resources to support Solar Panel Quoter and Home Improvement Quotes websites.

FIrstly - a new blog dedicated to Solar Energy and renewable energy with news snippets and information from around the web which can be found at solarpanelquoter.blogspot.com.

We'll be exploring everything from installing solar panels to Inverter wiring, batteries, expanding an existing solar panel installation, back up power systems (for those that live in remote areas), RV and marine solar solutions etc. as well as linking to some of the most up to date resources on the web.

And of course, you'll be able to get an instant online quote for solar panels.

Secondly, Solar Panel Quoter has its own Twitter account where we've already been busy connecting with other Twitter users involved in solar energy or support greener living thru solar energy.

Click here to visit Solar Panel Quoter's twitter account - why not follow us?