How to Save Power in the Long Run

As more strain goes on our overloaded power network, and the limitations we have imposed on ourselves to ensure green alternatives bite (no new fossil burning power stations, and no new environment-destroying hydro power stations), the humble citizen has often taken the responsibility to generate at least some of their own power needs for now and into the future.

Benefits

Whether this is for economic reasons, environmental reasons, or a combination of both, more people are taking the step into this realm.

A benefit of this is that as demand rises, then so to does competition, and we hit a critical mass, driving the cost of panels, inverters and batteries down.

Downsides

A downside is that technology is moving rapidly in this area, meaning that batteries in particular are getting better and cheaper each year. My answer to this is that if we looked every year at what we’d get if we bought now, then we’d be paralysed in purchasing any big ticket items like cars, tv’s, laptops etc. It’s best to take the plunge now and enjoy the benefits that come with it.

Why install solar during a new build?

Installing solar after the fact can not only be more expensive than being able to run equipment through unfinished walls, but also feel more financially painful. When you’re spending hundreds of thousands on a new house, a little more doesn’t seem to feel like so much, but if you’re all done and dusted, then need to shell out another fifteen to thirty thousand, then that can feel like a lot of hurt. And once in, you have potentially five to twenty years of life depending on the component before you need to spend any more.

A solar panel should last at least twenty years, with it still operating at 80% after that time (a rule of thumb is 1% degradation per year), whereas a battery will likely last between five and fifteen years, but generally ten to twelve years is seen as the industry average.

To find out more and see a system in operation, give us a call to discuss how we can help you.