5 Reasons Why It’s Worth Going Solar
Posted by Martin in Buying green, Green tips, Save energy, Solar | 9 September 2008
Guest Blogger: Wayne Bennett of Solaris Free Energy
O.k so we’ve not had the best summer, or was it the worst on record here in the U.K?
Despite the lack of visible sun this summer, here are 5 reasons as to why you should go Solar.
1. A solar hot water system can save you money:
Installing solar panels for water heating can save between 50 and 70% of your hot water bill annually. A system costs around £3 000 to install and a government grant of £400 can reduce this further.
2. Reduce your carbon footprint:
Typically a solar hot water system can reduce your family’s carbon footprint by around a tonne each year. By using the sun’s energy to heat your water, less gas or oil is burnt by your boiler.
3. It’s easy and quick to install:
Installation typically takes two days. This includes the solar panels and the install of a high efficiency hot water cylinder to replace the old one. The water is only off while the cylinder is being replaced, just a few hours. Planning permission is rarely required due to new “Permitted Development” rights announced earlier this year.
4. Add value to your home:
Research out this week from the Energy Saving Trust reveals that on average people are willing to pay an extra £3350 for a “green” home.
5. It’s satisfying:
Once you have a system installed, a shower or bath will never be the same again. It is enormously satisfying having a shower in water that cost nothing to heat. This is one of the benefits our customers talk about most.
Source : www.solarisfreeenergy.co.uk
Comments
Thanks Wayne,
So what's the pay-back period? Can you give an estimate for an average 3 bed two storey house?
Thanks for your comment Jackson Pollock.
Many people ask the question "what is the payback period for solar thermal".
Few things we buy provide a return on investment. Adding solar panels to your house does and because it provides one, people seem to want to know when the entire investment will be recouped.
To answer the question, we have to look at the different ways in which the return is made:
1. Fuel displacement costs
This is the tricky part of the equation. The volatility in fuel prices makes it hard to find out what average prices we like last year let alone what they will be like in years to come. Your guess is as good as mine. Of course it very much depends on what fuel you are using. Gas is by far the cheapest way of heating water so lets assume gas. Payback for other fuels will be much better. I did a quick look on the internet to try to get a consensus on gas prices. Difficult to do but 3-4p/kWh seems to be about average. A typical system will provide around 1100kWh per year. If we say that fuel prices will increase at a rate of 10% per year we will save £44 in the first year, £48 in the second and so on.
2. Reduced boiler servicing
People who own solar hot water systems, me included, tend not to require their boiler between April and September. This means the boiler is only working for six months and therefore boiler servicing is reduced saving around £50/year.
3. Increased boiler life
The life of a boiler will be increased in the same way. Over the 25-30 year lifetime of the solar hot water system this can significantly affect a boiler's life. I have seen this estimated at £50/year.
4. Property added value
Even assuming a small added value makes a big difference to our calculation. If we choose £1000 I think we are being reasonable, given the recent EST research found that people would on average pay over £3000 for a "green" home.
There is a £400 grant available through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme further reducing the installed cost. Adding all this up gives me a figure of around 11 years to recoup the cost of the system.
I hope that goes some way to answering the question.
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