Table of Contents
As solar technology becomes more feasible and affordable in the long term, now is the best time for homeowners to invest in eco-friendly homes.
Eco-friendly homes are defined as residential spaces that have a net-zero carbon footprint. In other words, these homes don’t rely much on the grid and generate their own electricity through solar systems.
Solar energy is highly renewable, clean, and safe. It is by far the best solution we have to fight global warming and other environmental issues that have been exacerbated by the use of fossil fuels and the generation of greenhouse gasses.
Eco-friendly homes are no longer a far-fetched dream. As the technology becomes more available and affordable, homeowners can now easily invest in these systems and even get some monetary incentives from the government as well.
Read below to learn more about eco-friendly homes and how you can invest in solar energy and help out the environment – and cut down on expenses.
Solar power works by converting sunlight into electrical energy. Different types of solar panels with photovoltaic (PV) cells are installed on the rooftops of homes that harness and convert sunlight into usable and storable energy.
Solar panels are not a new technology and have existed for decades. The only difference now is that we have reached a point where the technology has become highly efficient and suitable for mass production.
On top of this, world governments are also heavily investing in solar energy by implementing special initiatives in the form of tax breaks, monetary incentives, and much more. These factors have made solar energy more affordable than ever!
Today, homeowners frequently think about installing a solar system for their home as well, and if you are on the fence about the decision, then this guide is just for you.
However, before we begin with the benefits of solar power, let’s take a brief look at the tech behind it.
As mentioned above, solar panels are made of individual solar cells. These cells are constructed using a specialised material, usually semiconductor materials like silicon, that generates electricity through sunlight. When photons from the sun hit the cells, they induce a reaction within the cells that knocks off electrons. These free electrons flow through the materials resulting in the generation of electricity. This process is known as photovoltaic effect and is the primary technology behind solar panels.
The electricity generated from the cells travels through a wire to an inverter. Why an inverter? Well, the electricity generated by the panels is in the form of Direct Current (DC). However, the world heavily relies on Alternating Current (AC) due to its numerous advantages over DC. This is why using DC on AC appliances will simply not work and will also be highly dangerous.
This is where the inverter comes in. The inverter essentially uses clever mechanisms to convert the DC to AC, thereby making it suitable for storage and usage. Once converted, the now AC electricity is then transferred to the main distribution box, ready to be used in the home.
Alternatively, the electricity can also be stored in a battery, which is common in home solar systems that require energy during all hours of the day, including nighttime.
In summary, solar installations consist of four things:
Together these components make a comprehensive solar system that can power homes for years!
Now that you know how solar power works, let’s look at its core benefits for homeowners:
Energy isn’t getting any cheaper. In fact, studies suggest that we are likely to see a steady rise in energy prices, despite the short-term drops. This naturally makes consumers worry about electricity bills every year.
However, with solar energy, you get cheaper electricity – and everything is produced at your home! Regular power generation accounts for costs related to generation, maintenance, transmission, and more. But if you are generating energy in your backyard or roof, then you essentially cut most of these costs.
Furthermore, this energy is far cleaner than what you get from the grid. In other words, since the energy is generated using the sun, there are no waste products involved and you never have to worry about greenhouse gas emissions as well.
Thanks to world governments being more inclined toward the shift to solar energy, they have incentivised solar generation by providing a separate tariff for residential homeowners who have solar systems installed on their premises.
A typical solar system, installed using a thorough assessment of your home’s power needs, will generate a bit more than what you would actually need each day. This excess energy can’t be stored in batteries since they have a limited capacity – so where does this power go? Back to the grid!
Excess power generated from residential homes is sold back to the grid at a specific tariff and you can use this amount to offset your current utility bills. This scheme is an excellent way to not just utilise this excess energy but to also lessen the environmental burden of current power generation methods.
Solar energy makes homes more eco-friendly. Global warming has become a pertinent problem that needs to be solved within a few decades to secure our future generations. Statistics show that if things are left unchanged, we are likely to see devastating effects of global warming in both, the short and long term.
This is why solar energy has become so popular. As people become more aware of global warming and environmental issues, they are likely to switch to a greener form of power generation so that they can play a part in helping the environment.
Is your area prone to power outages? Don’t worry! Solar power is designed to provide truly uninterrupted power during an outage. The system is designed to immediately switch to solar energy as soon as the grid becomes unreliable. This mechanism allows homeowners to remain protected from surges, outages, and other electrical problems.
This is possible through battery storage. Integrating solar batteries with your solar power system enables you to store excess energy and use it during power outages and throughout the night after the sun sets.
Solar panels are designed to last about 25 to 30 years, and the good news is that solar systems in general require little to no maintenance. Think about it, there are no moving parts in the system. Everything is electrical which results in far better and easier maintenance than generating power through a traditional generator.
Apart from the initial setup cost and replacing some components such as the inverter and batteries every 10 to 15 years, there is no additional recurring cost for these systems and since you also sell back energy, you gain considerable monetary benefits that can greatly offset future maintenance costs.
The only thing that requires periodic attention is the panels, which need to be cleaned to ensure that there is no debris on the panels. A simple swipe or a wash of the panels is more than enough to increase the efficiency of the system.
There is no denying that solar systems have a high initial cost that can throw some people off the idea of investing in an eco-friendly home. But if you do the math, you will realise that the investment is well worth it, and you can even recover the cost of the system over time by selling it back to the grid.
On average, a standard 250W solar panel costs around £400 to £500. Considering that one of the most common sizes of a home solar panel system is 4kW, it would cost approximately £6,400 and cover around 29 square metres of your rooftop.
This cost has come down dramatically over the years. Compared to earlier prices, solar power was once a luxury item but now, thanks to technological improvements, it has become an affordable dream.
The cost of these systems is directly proportionate to their size and capacity. Bigger systems generate more electricity and cost more, however, it is important to keep in mind that while the initial cost will be higher for a bigger system, so will the savings.
For example, a 3kW system will be relatively cheaper to install, but it won’t allow you to save as much as a 6kW system would over the course of 25 years. So, installing a slightly larger system that can generate more energy than what you would need daily would result in an effective Return on Investment (ROI).
Let’s finish up with the biggest question: Is solar panel installation at home worth it? The short answer is yes, especially considering the many monetary benefits of the system and the affordability of the system through government schemes.
To give you a longer answer, let’s look at an example of a 4kW solar panel system in a typical UK household.
A 4kW solar panel system costs around £6,000 and has an output of 3,400 kWh, while the average consumption of a UK household is around 2,900 kWh per year. This means that you will not only generate more energy than what you would need on a daily basis, but you will also be able to sell the excess back to the grid.
Depending on the tariff available in your area, these savings can quickly add up and you can practically see net benefits within a few years, often before you would require an inverter or battery replacement.
However, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows – because, well, there isn’t always sunshine available to fully utilise the system. The truth is, there are gloomy, cloudy, and rainy days that can hinder the panel’s ability to generate power.
The placement of the panels is also important, which is why it is necessary that you seek the help of a professional installation company like Calder Electrical to help you get the most out of your system.
A professional installation company will not only help you install your system, but they will also be able to guide you on the best type of system for your needs. Professionals know these systems in and out and use their experience and expertise to conduct an energy audit of your home.
The audit can reveal areas of improvement and highlight tips on how you can save even more energy and gain back your initial investment in the shortest time possible.
So, if solar power and eco-friendly homes are so great, why aren’t we seeing everyone adopt this groundbreaking technology?
The simple reason why is the high initial cost.
The higher initial cost is the biggest drawback for many homeowners considering installing solar panels on their property. Some people can afford it but remain on the fence about it since they don’t know how long it would take to recover the costs.
As mentioned above, while solar systems can be an expensive expenditure, it is much better to look at them as a long-term investment that will eventually give you long-term benefits.
Additionally, homeowners also have the opportunity to take full advantage of the numerous incentives for solar generation such as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) that enables you to sell back to the grid. Using this incentive, you can earn money while saving energy costs and break even on your solar panel system between 5 to 8 years.
Homeowners can also leverage available tax credits and rebates that encourage the adoption of solar energy systems. Some banks even offer an easy loan scheme that enables people to install solar systems more conveniently. When you combine these benefits, you can not only install the system without worrying about exuberant costs, but you can also unlock long-term benefits as well!
For an even better experience, we recommend that you go with a battery storage solution as well. Solar batteries are made using lithium-ion technology, the same type of battery used in your smartphone. This battery technology allows for better storage and drainage cycles resulting in a long-lasting and efficient battery that can provide you with energy, even when the sun doesn’t shine.
For example, smart solar systems use clever software algorithms to determine your power needs throughout the day. Once the system learns your power usage patterns, it uses smart switching technology to seamlessly switch between the grid and the battery for extra savings.
These smart solar systems can help you achieve your dream of having an eco-friendly home since they provide real-time data on your electricity usage, the status of the batteries, the overall health of the system, pending maintenance tasks, and tips on how you can save more energy throughout the day and further reduce your carbon footprint.
Calder Electrical Services provides a wide range of solutions to help you play your part in making the world a more sustainable place.
If you wish to have solar panels installed on your residential or commercial property, our experts can conduct a site visit to determine your requirements and propose the best type of solar system for your needs.
We also offer solar battery storage installation so that you can minimise any wastage of the energy you create. This will help lower your energy bills and make you more independent from the grid.
We have been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
All our work is fully insured and meets the current regulations and standards set by the NICEIC. Also, all the notifiable work is signed off by the local authorities.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 3001 to get in touch with our professional electricians for more information on the different types of solar panels and battery storage options.
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
