Solar is a topic very dear to Josh's heart and when I quizzed him for some technical details for this piece he inundated me with information and options. The end result is that we've more or less finalized the solar setup for our new house and I've got enough content for about 20 blog posts... such are the benefits!
I'll try to keep things simple here today as an introduction but the message is a simple one. "Let's talk about Solar". There are so many variables based on your usage and type of house and we believe a tailored system is the best way for you to maximize your return and payback period on solar. Convinced already? Get in touch using this link.
Let's look at three key things today
What type of system will suit me?
In simple terms there are three types of systems
- Grid Connected - This is the simplest way to dip your feet in the water. You generate solar but you're still connected to the grid. You may need to adapt your usage to maximize solar energy used to save feeding it back to the grid at a reduced rate
- Hybrid - This is solar with a battery to store energy. Being able to store the energy means you can use it when you need it and you tend to use more solar and less from the grid.
- Off Grid - This is for those hard to access places where the cost of running power can be enormous or if you just want to be self sustainable. Worked in with efficient lighting and appliances off grid homes can be very livable with all of the modern conveniences
How long will it take to pay back?
Everyone seems to have an opinion on this and the truth is that the period it will take to pay back is variable. It depends on a number of factors
- Cost of system and panels upfront (worth noting that more expensive panels can have double the lifespan so money saved over time is more)
- Cost of energy in your area/timing - Different companies can vary a lot
- Size of system - The bigger the system, the more cheap power you can produce and the quicker the payback... to a point
- The amount of sun your house captures - If you live in a shaded area or don't have suitable roof space then your generation can be limited
- What other technology you can implement to more efficiently use your solar setup
For arguments sake the payback is generally between 6-10 years and dropping as power prices increase. Impressive considering our systems are design to last 20 years plus. How would 10-15 years of free power sound?
How can I maximize my savings?
The list is endless and as a part of any Solar Assessment we do, we like to discuss the opportunities to maximize the value from your investment. The main things are below but the options are endless
- Alter some of your high energy uses to when you're generating the most power... such as setting the timer for doing loads of washing during the day while you're at work
- Improve energy efficiency - Installing LED lights and using timers on some other devices can spread your load and reduce overall energy costs significantly
- Measure - We have some awesome technology that allows relatively cheap assessment of real time power usage which allows you to know what you're using and make some decisions around when you will use your power
- Automate - Could you be using your battery bank to buy power cheaply in the middle of the night and then using this in the morning? What about setting some predetermined on/off times for your water heating or other various things. The world is your oyster here and you know how much we love Automation!
So there you have it. Solar is a choice for the future and it could be yours for an investment as low as $10,000 to get you started on some quality gear. You'll be saving the planet and putting money in your back pocket. How good is that?!
Get in touch with Josh today for a chat and he can come and discuss the right options for you!