How To Pick The Right Solar Panel Finance For You And Your Home
Investing in renewable energy can be easier than you might imagine, thanks to more solar panel finance options being available now than ever before. Buying and having a system installed can represent a large amount of money to have to spend upfront. It is not always easy to find a larger amount of money at the very start of the process.
What Are Your Solar Panel Finance Options?
Solar panels can be a wise investment over the longer term, given the rising costs of energy. There is also the possibility of selling surplus electricity back to the National Grid under the UK government’s smart export guarantee scheme. So, how do you choose the right type of solar panel finance for you and your individual circumstances?
Cash
This one may seem obvious, but if you have got enough cash in the bank to cover purchase and installation costs, this is an easy way to sort out your solar panel finance. This is a good move if you plan to stay in your home for a few more years. This is because any capital investments like this into a property can help it maintain or even increase its market value later on when you do come to sell. Also, being able to pay for the work without having to worry about ongoing financing arrangements is both reassuring and useful for future budgeting.
Loans
Of course, not everyone has the right amount of cash sitting around, waiting to be spent on a solar panel system. Another option for your solar panel finance is to take out a loan. There are specialist solar panel and home improvement loans out there that are tailored to this exact situation. You can apply for the exact amount to cover the work and have the panels installed straight away. This solar panel finance option will help you save money on bills and maybe help you sell surplus electricity back to the National Grid. You can use this money to start paying back the loan. One thing to bear in mind is that you will be responsible for repairing and maintaining the panels, even before you can own them outright.
Leasing Arrangements
Some solar panel companies offer a leasing arrangement by which you can have the system installed, but it remains the property of a third party. This solar panel finance arrangement works for people who are not planning to stay in the same home or business premises for very long. They can benefit from utility bill savings and more sustainable energy generation without having to commit to a sizable cash investment on installation. There can be complications if you choose to sell your home while the leasing agreement is still in place. You may have to pay quite a lot to be let out of the lease early. However, this is something that you may be able to work out with the new owners if they are happy to take over the lease.
Remortgage
If you are very keen on having solar panels installed and have enough capital in your property, you may like to consider a re-mortgage. Lenders are usually happy to consider renegotiating the terms of a mortgage for home improvement projects like this. After all, solar panels can help a property increase in value, especially during a cost of living and energy crisis.Always do your research. You will need to know how a re-mortgage will impact upon your future repayment plans. You must also be able to understand your ability to meet any additional repayments in the longer term.
Whichever solar panel finance option you choose, it is vital to do your homework. Can you handle the implications of your chosen method? For example, if you up-front the cash, will this leave you short in other areas? If you plan to take out a solar panel loan or remortgage, can you meet the repayments? If leasing is your preferred way to go, are you planning to stay long in your home, and what happens if you sell up before the lease agreement is up?
It can be a good idea to speak to a reputable solar panel installation company to see what they would recommend for you. Every situation is different, and you must feel confident that you have chosen the right solar panel finance for you before proceeding with the installation work.
Six Unusual Ways To Use Solar Power For Your Home Or Business
Whether you have already got photovoltaic solar panels installed at your home or commercial premises, or are thinking about taking the plunge to convert to solar power, a key consideration is making sure that you get the most value out of your investment. Using solar energy to light and power a building is fairly commonplace. However, such is the versatility of this renewable energy technology that there are many other ways to take advantage of your solar panel system, once it is up and running.
As well as saving energy and reducing fuel bills, solar panels can also help power a range of applications and sustainable living initiatives. From smaller appliances to property-wide power requirements, here are some unusual ways to use solar power at home or work.
Solar Powered Garden Lighting
We tend to think about using solar panels to power indoor lighting, but the technology can also work well for outdoor lights. From strings of fairy lights to full-on landscape lighting set-ups and greenhouse lamps, outdoor lighting can be powered by solar panels charging batteries during the day, or by having the lights connected directly to the building’s main electrical system. Other garden electrical applications include electric mowers, hedge cutters, strimmers etc. All of which can be powered using energy generated by photovoltaic panels.
Immersion Heating
Immersion heaters can be connected to solar power too via an immersion diverter. This piece of technology keeps track of how much solar power is being generated and used. It then diverts any surplus towards powering your immersion heater and providing the building with hot water. This can all be done automatically, so you can set it up and then leave it to work on its own. This is a great way to ensure that you can use more of the electricity generated, should you not wish, or are unable, to store it over a longer time period.
Electric Vehicle Charging
As more and more people switch to electric cars and vehicles, the need for charging points also becomes more pressing. This is an increasingly important factor in town planning, which can also be replicated in homes and businesses. If you are keen to live a more sustainable life with less reliance on fossil fuels, consider combining an electric vehicle with using solar energy to power a charging point outside your home or business premises. You could even use a solar battery to store electricity just for the purposes of charging electric vehicles of occupants of – and visitors to – the building.
Security Systems
Using solar-powered energy for home and commercial security systems is another way to make good use of the electricity generated by your photovoltaic panels. You can connect all kinds of security devices and equipment to the system, from lights and motion sensors to burglar alarms and CCTV cameras. Adding a solar power battery to the system that stores surplus energy will help keep the security systems running at night, when the need for uninterrupted surveillance is often greater, or when the weather is cloudy and dull.
Charging Devices
We all rely on being able to charge up devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets etc. As the world becomes increasingly digital, we need to stay in touch with the online world more than ever before. Solar power helps us do that by providing electricity in general for a residential home or business premises via electric sockets and USB ports. Many solar panel systems can also incorporate connections that convert the DC to allow users to plug devices in for direct charging. Another useful way to stay connected while taking advantage of renewable, greener power.
Farming And Animal Care
Solar panels can also help power lighting and heating for any animals or pets that may live partly or wholly outside, or in an outhouse of some kind. For example, lighting inside a chicken coop alarmed security systems or heating for lambing barns on a smallholding. Energy costs can often be higher for farmers and those who keep larger numbers of animals – using solar energy to power essential lighting and heating systems can help keep animals warm, healthy and safe without having to shoulder huge bills or continue to rely heavily on the National Grid.
How To Live More Sustainably And Save Energy This Summer
Summer’s longer days and warmer temperatures tend to mean that you don’t have to spend as much money on heating or lighting your home. However, there are still many calls on your pocket when it comes to electricity bills and other power requirements. Making conscious decisions to save energy and reduce the reliance your household has on fossil fuels and the National Grid over the summer will not only help you to cut expenditure, but will also contribute to a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly way of life.
From finding non-electric ways to cool your home on a hot day to contacting local solar installers, here are some ideas to help you save energy this summer.
Use The Outdoors
One great advantage to summer is the ability to move much more of your life and daily routines outdoors. This can often lead to reduced reliance on electricity. For example, eating meals in the garden is great fun and firing up the BBQ or making a big salad reduces the amount of fuel needed for cooking lunch and/or supper too. You could also encourage the whole family to spend time outside. This helps cut down on electricity used to power games consoles, TVs, smartphones and tablets and you can even teach the kids how to grow and harvest their own food and flowers.
Contact Solar Installers
If you have been thinking about installing solar panels, then summer could be an excellent time to bite the bullet and get it done. Longer, sunnier days will allow the work to be completed without being interrupted by inclement weather. You can also have more time to get used to living with your new electricity generation arrangements. As autumn turns to winter, temperatures will drop, evenings will draw in and you will need to rely more on power to heat and light your business or home. Ask your solar installers about solar batteries, so you can store any excess electricity that is not needed straight away.
Keep Things Cool
Before you reach for the air conditioning controls, if you have a system installed, think about other ways you can cool down your home. Often, you can keep the air moving and the temperature down for free, or for much less cost. Open the windows and internal doors. If there is any sort of cooling breeze outside, this can help air circulate throughout the house. Open windows at all sides of the property for an uninterrupted air flow. Of course, if the air outside is warmer, keep the windows shut and consider closing the curtains too – it is normally easier to stop warm air entering a home than cooling it down once it is inside.
Have An Energy Efficient Summer
Think carefully about how you use your appliances and amenities during the summer. There could be many ways to reduce the amount of energy you use. For example, switching to a cooler setting for the clothes washing machine and waiting until you have a full load to do. Also, warmer summer days enable you to dry clothes outside instead of relying on the tumble dryer. Turn appliances off at the mains when heading out for a summer day out or holiday to save energy. Turn the thermostat down a notch or two and get your boiler serviced now, ahead of the winter months. Defrost the fridge and freezer so that it doesn’t have to work quite so hard and to keep it running efficiently.
Watch Your Water Use
Saving water is a great way to live more sustainably and this is possible even in the hotter summer months. You could collect rainwater to water the garden, rather than running the hose too much. Water the lawn and plants in the early morning or evening so that water doesn’t evaporate too much during the heat of the day. Save the water that you use to wash salad leaves, fruit and veg to add to a bird bath outside. Look at installing water saving devices such as an aerator for your taps or a timer for your shower. Put a jug of water in the fridge for people to help themselves when they feel thirsty or hot. When we run the tap to wait for the water to cool down each time we want a drink, this can waste a lot of water.
What You Need To Know About Looking After Your Solar Battery
When you invest in a solar panel system, you inevitably want it to last as long as possible and to perform effectively in order to maximise your investment. One key way of doing this is to extend the life of your solar battery. You can do this by keeping it clean and well-maintained. In addition, it is a good idea to learn how to use it properly in order not to place undue stress on it or cause it to deteriorate more rapidly. Here are some ways to ensure your solar battery remains in tip-top condition for longer.
Get It Right From The Start
Always follow an expert solar panel installer’s guidance when choosing how many solar batteries to install and how much power you need them to be able to store and discharge. Overloaded systems can be very dangerous. Always choose the best quality solar batteries you can afford. It is better to buy batteries capable of more capacity than you think you need. You may end up needing extra capacity later on as power requirements increase. Voltages change over time, and adding newer batteries with different voltages can adversely affect a system’s overall performance.
Depth Of Discharge
Depth of discharge means how much power you can get out of your battery before you need to recharge it. This can vary from type to type, depending on the chemistry of each battery. Your solar panel system installer can tell you which chemistry your solar battery has, and how best to charge it. Some are designed to be recharged daily to gain energy from the sun during the day and discharge it to power your property after dark. Others may need to be charged for a longer or shorter time period to be more effective. Once you know this, it will be easier to work out how to use your solar battery and panel system most efficiently.
Storage And Temperature
Some batteries are designed to be stored indoors only, while others can withstand being kept anywhere. Again, check with your installer what you need to do to protect the particular solar battery your system incorporates. You may need to install your battery somewhere enclosed, such as a garage, outhouse or cellar. If you position it in the wrong place, exposure to harmful temperatures can seriously affect its performance and even cause safety issues. So, avoid scenarios where it could freeze in sub-zero temperatures, or overheat in the summer months. Also, avoid overly damp or brightly lit locations. Make sure it is accessible for maintenance, repair or cleaning.
Cleaning And Maintenance
Speaking of which, keeping your solar battery clean and well-maintained is also important. This can be carried out by solar power engineers during their annual servicing visit. However, in between appointments, there are other ways you can ensure your solar battery remains free from dirt and debris.
- Disconnect the battery for safety before starting to clean it.
- Use a damp cloth to gently wipe the battery surface.
- Don’t let any water pool on the battery, especially not near the top, as this can cause damage.
- Always wear gloves and safety goggles, as there could be acid on the surface.
- Allow to dry naturally or pat with a dry cloth. Keep the general area free from dust, garden debris etc.
- Never attempt battery maintenance without expert input and advice.
Corrosion Protection
Cleaning can go a long way to help prevent corrosion – a major problem for batteries of all kinds. However, there are also other ways to help prevent your solar battery terminals from becoming corroded.
- Wipe away any dust or moisture regularly with a dry cloth.
- Avoid locating batteries where the rain can get in and make contact.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight.
- Aim to bring the batteries to a full state of charge roughly every three weeks. This helps to reduce internal deterioration and corrosion and stops the battery from degrading through lack of use.
- Avoid spilling anything on the battery’s surface and wipe anything that does fall on it away immediately.
- Include the solar battery in your annual solar panels maintenance appointment – ask for a corrosion check and a full clean and service.