Choosing renewable solar energy to provide much of your household electricity needs is a smart move. Solar PV is becoming increasingly competitive and Government-backed, guaranteed feed-in tariffs ensure a good return on your investment.
Read on to discover why domestic Solar PV installation adds up to a wise investment.
Slash your electricity bills
As specialist suppliers of the highest quality and most innovative Solar PV systems, the experts at The House of Solar can design, specify and install the most efficient and effective solar system for your needs.
Without changing your energy usage, we can ensure that the solution we design for your house will generate the maximum energy from the sun, so that you can dramatically reduce your electricity bills. With a solar PV system, the more electricity you use in the day time the more you avoid buying units from your electricity utility company.
To find out how much you could save by generating your own solar energy, get an online quote – you’ll be amazed at how much you could save.
Guard against rising energy prices
Energy is a significant household expense these days. Recent figures from energy suppliers show that annual bills have doubled in the last five years. Experts continually change their predictions of energy price rises for the future. However where they agree is that that electricity prices will rise much faster over the next 20 years than they have over the last 20 years.
Installing a domestic Solar PV system to generate your own electricity will ‘future-proof’ your home, protecting you from future energy price hikes, tariff changes and rises in wholesale costs. And because The House of Solar specifies only the best solutions manufactured by World Class manufacturers, the performance of our solar panels is warranted for 25 years as a minimum. You can be sure to generate your own energy for years to come.
Tax-free income.
In the current climate, having an extra income can be very useful, especially if it’s tax-free. As well as making savings on your energy bill, you can enjoy a constant stream of tax-free income with our Solar PV solutions, thanks to the Government’s Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme.
The FiT scheme is designed as an incentive to move away from conventional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The scheme is locked into legislation and guarantees that the energy companies will pay you a fixed rate for the renewable electricity you generate and a fixed rate for the surplus electricity you return to the national grid.
Under the FiT scheme, you will receive a fixed amount for each kWh (kilowatt-hour) your solar system generates, depending on when the system was installed, the size of the system installed.
A new standard tariff of will take effect from 1st April 2012 for energy generated by domestic-size solar panels installed on or after 3rd March 2012. You are guaranteed the same tariff rate for 25 years from the year of installation, rising annually in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI). Because the tariffs are reviewed regularly by the government, if you have your system installed in 2012, you will generate more income than if you install in 2013 or 2014. So, the sooner you install, the better! To find out more about the FiT scheme and current rates, read our FiT Guide.
In addition to making savings by not buying from the grid, a typical domestic installation can generate over £900 in benefits every year, depending on the size of the system. For more details on this tax-free, government-backed income stream, have a look at our Price Guide which indicates the income you can generate by solar PV installation size, or get a bespoke online quote now
Return on investment
With the launch of the FiT scheme, Solar PV is increasingly seen as a solid investment, with a guaranteed income stream – Government-backed, index-linked and tax-free – for 25 years. The FiT payments from your installation are guaranteed in law and follow similar successful schemes in Europe over the last decade.
Customers of The House of Solar have already started seeing pay-back in their domestic units, and on average, you can expect an annual benefit of between 6% and 12%, based on the Feed-in Tariff (FiT). Add to that the savings you can make on your electricity bills, and your Solar PV system will pay for itself several times over.
Your annual saving increases each year. This is because energy prices are expected to continue rising much faster than inflation. Each year that energy prices rise by more than inflation, the energy harvested by your PV system helps you to avoid buying from your increasingly expensive utility supplier.
Reduce your carbon footprint
We all know that we should be saving energy, recycling more, and generally ‘doing our bit’ for the environment. The UK Government has committed to cutting carbon emissions by 50% by 2025. Part of this commitment includes increasing the proportion of energy we use from renewable sources, with a target to achieve 15% of the energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020.
Increasing the use of renewable sources will help to increase the security of energy supplies in the UK, and contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and reliance on rapidly-depleting carbon-based fuel sources.
By installing a standard 2.5kWp (kilowatt peak) Solar PV system (like this one here {link to pic/datasheet of standard Solar PV Panel}) you could cut your carbon emissions in half.
Add value to your home
An Energy Savings Trust survey has identified that around one-third of the British population would be willing to pay more for a home fitted with an occupier-owned Solar PV installation. In addition, research by The Guardian newspaper reported that installing a renewable energy system to your property can add up to 9% to its value. It stands to reason. Not only are buyers inheriting an income with the property they are buying, but they are also escaping ever-increasing utility costs.
So, if you do decide to move on after you’ve had your Solar PV system installed, don’t forget that it could be a very useful feature to draw attention to – one that buyers will find appealing, and worth paying a bit extra for. Alternatively, if you feel that you can’t live without it, and want to continue with the savings and realise your return, you could always take your FiT with you when you move!
Hassle-free Installation
Contrary to popular belief, installing a Solar PV system is relatively straight-forward and quick. Because of our consultative approach at The House of Solar, we work with you at every stage of your project, from design, right through to the installation. We design and specify the system that will not only be most effective in terms of energy generation, but also ensure there is minimum disruption to your home when it comes to installing your system. We work smart to ensure that your electricity is disconnected for the shortest possible time. The vast majority of our installations are completed in less than one day and we have a very low rate of return to installs after the completion of works on the install day.
Sound, reliable technology
Solar PV has been around for decades. It is a very low-risk technology, with no ongoing engineering costs. The longevity and reliability of Solar PV is one of its key strengths as a renewable energy source. All panels supplied by The House of Solar come with a 25 year performance warranty as standard.
