Can Solar Really Save You Money?
It may sound complex. But solar is simpler than you think. At UNIfied Energy Services, we aim to take the complexity out of the solar process to make it easy to understand, quick and affordable, for your family. Can solar really save you money? Yes! Not only does a solar energy system add value to your home the minute it’s up and running, it often pays for itself – and then some! The average home can save between $10,000 and $30,000 over the lifetime of its solar system. If you live in Victoria and follow that math (and please keep in mind your savings will vary, subject to factors like your electricity cost, average sunlight, and the system size you install) and depending on the final cost of your system after federal state government incentives, your system will have paid itself in as little as two to three years. Few major purchases can claim such an impressive return on investment. Looking at these numbers, the conclusion is clear: Solar isn’t just the right choice for the planet – it can also be the smart choice for your wallet. Spring into Solar Want to increase your property value, save thousands every year on energy expenses, plus do your part to reduce carbon emission? If so, then take advantage of our current Spring into Solar Sale! We’re offering our customers 4 BONUS panels FREE with any Premium Solar System 5kW and above*, so there’s never been a better time to make the switch. Why UNIfied? Trusted Solar and Storage Experts Since 2012 with over 30,000 sites installed Australia’s largest DIVERSified Energy Efficiency Specialist Assessed and installed by our team of experts in the field All services are approved by the Clean Energy Council Guaranteed high-quality: ISO certified
Understanding What Affects Solar Production: Part 2
It may sound complex. But solar is simpler than you think. At UNIfied Energy Services, we aim to take the complexity out of the solar process to make it easy to understand, quick and affordable, for your family. Let’s get started! Understanding what affects solar production: does panel efficiency really matter? Part 2 Sunlight Hours Due to the length of the days, depending on the state, the impact on a monthly basis from summer to winter can cause a variance of up to 50% of the solar output. So you will often see the impact on your energy bills in summer be much more noticeable than in winter. Soiling The output of a panel is directly tied to the amount of light that hits the panel. The soiling (dust, dirt, bird droppings etc.) can impact the output dramatically. Generally, this is also tied to the level of rainfall. In dry dusty environments this will be higher than in cities where rainfall is regular. To keep up the optimal output we recommend cleaning your solar panels at least annually. Shading Level of shading by any obstruction such as trees, neighbours houses, power lines and poles. Sometimes even if one panel is obstructed it will reduce the output of the whole system. Also, bear in mind that the system will be with you for 20 + years and trees grow. If there is shading it may just be obstructed in the late afternoon or early morning and your output won’t be materially impacted. Temperature Solar systems like sunlight – not heat. There is a clear correlation between temperature and output. Most panels will specify the output at a certain temperature and this will degrade as it gets hotter than this. However, changes in temperature are generally taken into account when calculating your system performance. Why UNIfied? Trusted Solar and Storage Experts Since 2012 with over 30,000 sites installed. Australia’s largest DIVERSified Energy Efficiency Specialist. Assessed and installed by our team of experts in the field. All services are approved by the Clean Energy Council. Guaranteed high-quality: ISO certified. Interested in solar? Get a free consultation with our solar specialists about the right solar solution for your home. Call 1300 817 847 (Option 3) today!
Understanding What Affects Solar Production: Part 1
It may sound complex. But solar is simpler than you think. At UNIfied Energy Services, we aim to take the complexity out of the solar process to make it easy to understand, quick and affordable, for your family. Let’s get started! Understanding what affects solar production: does panel efficiency really matter? Part 1 Wiring Number of Connections: the more splits or connections along the system reduces the energy output of the solar system. This is because each connection creates an additional point of resistance along the electrical circuit. Cable Length: the more cable used will reduce the system efficiency as the longer the cable, the larger the electrical losses. As such, inverter placement and distance to the switchboard need to be taken into account. Cable Thickness: the thinner the cable will exaggerate the losses on the system. There is a minimum thickness that is allowable by the Clean Energy Council. Often a budget solar system will use thinner wiring as it is cheaper however the losses are greater. Energy losses due to the quality of wiring and installation can be between 1% and 8% / year Angle/Roof Pitch Optimal pitch for solar production is 30 degrees. The standard pitch for a roof in Australia is between 15 and 22.5 degrees. Loss of output from 30 degrees to a flat roof 95 degrees is approximately 10%. Direction Panels facing true north will provide the optimal level of output in Australia. In general, panels that are facing directly east or west will produce about 20 percent less electricity than if they were facing north. Why UNIfied? Trusted Solar and Storage Experts Since 2012 with over 30,000 sites installed Australia’s largest DIVERSified Energy Efficiency Specialist Assessed and installed by our team of experts in the field. All services are approved by the Clean Energy Council Guaranteed high-quality: ISO certified Interested in solar? Get a free consultation with our solar specialists about the right solar solution for your home. Call 1300 817 847 (Option 3) today!
Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy, Rainy, or Cold Days?
It may sound complex. But solar is simpler than you think. At UNIfied Energy Services, we aim to take the complexity out of the solar process to make it easy to understand, quick and affordable, for your family. Let’s get started! Do solar panels work on cloudy, rainy, or cold days? We’ll cut straight to the chase – solar panels work just fine when it’s cloudy, rainy, and/or cold. Are clouds and rain ideal for solar panels? Of course not. They are most effective in direct sunlight. But solar panels can still generate power when the sun is blocked by clouds – more than enough, in fact, to remain a viable source of electricity. Take Germany, for example. It’s not particularly warm or sunny, but is nevertheless a world leader in solar energy. As for winter, there’s some even better news: Solar panels are powered by light, not heat, and because of the way the technology works, they’re just as effective – if not more effective – in cooler temperatures as in hot ones. How much does a solar energy system cost? That depends. Most Aussie homeowners are paying around $1.50, per watt, to install solar. That may seem expensive, but it doesn’t take into account the Government incentives available and the multiple new forms of solar finance, like the Brighte Green Loan, that has emerged in recent years that can allow you to put solar on your rooftop at little or no cost up front. Ask us about finance here And, of course, looking at the straight upfront cost of the system and its installation is far from the whole story, at least as far as your bank account is concerned. Why UNIfied? Trusted Solar and Storage Experts Since 2012 with over 30,000 sites installed Australia’s largest DIVERSified Energy Efficiency Specialist Assessed and installed by our team of experts in the field All services are approved by the Clean Energy Council Guaranteed high-quality: ISO certified Interested in solar? Get a free consultation with our solar specialists about the right solar solution for your home. Call 1300 817 847 (Option 3) today!
How Long Will Solar Panels Last?
It may sound complex. But solar is simpler than you think. At UNIfied Energy Services, we aim to take the complexity out of the solar process to make it easy to understand, quick and affordable, for your family. Let’s get started! How long will solar panels last? A long time. Like, a really long time. Many home solar panels are guaranteed for decades, thanks to performance guarantees that typically last 25 years. But because their parts do not wear out easily, solar panels are well-known to continue producing clean electricity even beyond these lengthy time frames. “Unlike many other consumer goods, [solar panels] don’t ‘give up the ghost’ at the end of their warranty period and need to be replaced, but continue to still produce clean electricity, although at a slightly less efficiency each year,” Clean Technica reports Is your ’95 Toyota Camry still running near-perfect with very, very little maintenance? What sort of maintenance is required? Not too much, really. Your solar panels themselves can last for ages without much upkeep (maybe just remember to keep them free of debris, etc.). But you will likely need to replace the inverter throughout the life of your solar system. Like the solar panels themselves, inverters typically come with a warranty and these can range from 5-10 years. Unlike your panels, your inverter will not see its efficiency dwindle very slowly; instead, it may simply stop working and need to be replaced. That’s why we always recommend installing premium inverter brands such as Solis and Fronius. Want to learn more about the quality products we offer at UNIfied? Click here Why UNIfied? Trusted Solar and Storage Experts Since 2012 with over 30,000 sites installed Australia’s largest DIVERSified Energy Efficiency Specialist Assessed and installed by our team of experts in the field All services are approved by the Clean Energy Council Guaranteed high-quality: ISO certified Interested in Solar? Get a no hassle, no pressure, free consultation with our solar specialists about the right solar solution for your home. Call 1300 817 847 (Option 3) today!
How Does Solar Power Work, Anyways?
It may sound complex. But solar is simpler than you think. At UNIfied Energy Services, we aim to take the complexity out of the solar process to make it easy to understand, quick and affordable, for your family. Let’s get started! How does solar power work, anyways? The benefits of solar don’t end with lower power bills. Cutting carbon pollution? Tick. Empowering communities? Tick. Creating good jobs? Tick and tick. Today, solar power is everywhere – from home roofs to Ikea superstores to the Mojave Desert in California! And thank goodness. It’s a win-win solution to the climate crisis that creates jobs, saves money, and helps cut the carbon pollution changing our planet. Plus, when it comes to energy, solar might be the closest thing to free money out there – and we haven’t even begun to harness its full potential. Why? Well, consider this fact from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory: More energy from the sun strikes the Earth in an hour than all of humanity uses in a year. How do solar panels work? According to Live Science a solar panel “works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity.” That’s a technical way of saying that the panel’s photovoltaic cells convert the energy in sunlight to electricity (specifically, direct current (DC)). This DC electricity is then converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. AC is the type of electrical current you typically use when you plug anything into a residential wall socket. If you have solar on your roof, the system’s electrical panel sends power to your lights and appliances. Why UNIfied? Trusted Solar and Storage Experts Since 2012 with over 30,000 sites installed Australia’s largest DIVERSified Energy Efficiency Specialist Assessed and installed by our team of experts in the field All services are approved by the Clean Energy Council Guaranteed high-quality: ISO certified Interested in Solar? Get a no hassle, no pressure, free consultation with our solar specialists about the right solar solution for your home. Call 1300 817 847 (Option 3) today!
