The Benefits of Solar Panels

How can Solar Panels Benefit Your Home?

“Do solar panels actually produce much power?” People often ask this question as there are quite a lot of assumptions made about the energy produced and whether it is worth the cost of installing panels in you home. Another common question people often ask in addition is “How can solar energy be a realistic option when the UK is so cloudy?” The answer to both questions is positive. An average home can save as much as 40% on their annual electricity bills by investing in solar power and this is no small amount! As for the question of the somewhat changeable weather which the UK enjoys, this does not affect the UK’s ability to utilise the suns energy. Even on a cloudy day your panels will be collecting energy and as the units can store energy for future use, householders can relax in the knowledge that sunny days are like money in the bank! The other and rather important benefit of solar energy is that your carbon footprint will be vastly lowered and you will know that you are doing your bit a household towards reducing carbon emissions.

                          

Is Every Home Suitable for Solar Panels?

It’s a fact that there are certain details which you should check on before deciding to invest in solar energy for your home. Some of these include the following points.

• Is your roof suitably strong? Solar panels are quite heavy and your roof needs to be sound.
• Do you have a roof facing 90 degrees to the south? Check also for shadows cast by trees and nearby buildings. Remember that panels can also be placed on walls
• Have you spoken to your local planning officer? Planning permission is not normally required for solar panels of an average size but some buildings which may be protected by grading because of historical interest may be affected.

How much of an Investment are Solar Panels?

When deciding on the size of the solar panels most suited to your home, it is worth remembering that the larger the panels the more the cost; however, larger panels will produce more energy and thus the long term savings will be greater. Solar tiles which can be built into a roof are more expensive than panels which are simply placed on top but this again is often outweighed by the long-term savings.  If you decide on an averagely sized system then you will still find that your savings are considerable; it is usual to expect savings of around 40% on your yearly electricity bill which is no small amount and also means that your investment will pay for itself within a few years. Solar panels require little maintenance; main points to remember are that keeping the panels clean will ensure that they can continue to run effectively and that nearby trees should be well pruned in order to avoid overhanging branches or foliage obstructing the suns rays from the panels. All in all it is a relatively simple process to decide on the suitability of sustainable solar energy for your home and as the returns are so obvious there is little reason to put off the decision!