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6 Benefits of Going Solar

Solar helps reduce energy bills and carbon emissions, to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. Solar uses the sun’s free energy to provide power and hot water for your home, and both offer great advantages, enjoyed by millions of Australians. From reducing energy consumption to available government incentives, we look at six key benefits of making the switch from traditional energy to solar

1. Reduce your energy consumption and keep more money in the pocket

Because solar harnesses the sun’s free energy, going solar is an investment that will help you reduce the amount of energy you consume in powering your home and heating water. Going solar puts more money in your pocket over time, and it protects you from increasing grid-energy costs.

2. Make a positive difference to the environment

Solar is a clean and green energy source that helps reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. And, this energy source comes in abundance, as Australia has the world’s highest solar radiation at 58m petajoules per year. This is 10,000 times greater than Australia’s total energy consumption!
But, to what extent could you make a difference to the environment? For example, by switching from an electric water heater to solar hot water, you could save 1.6 to 2.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

3. Greater opportunity to innovate

Did you know that over 20% of Australians have solar panels installed, and while they are currently enjoying savings, they could save even more? The reality is that a large percentage of energy produced by solar panels is sent back to the grid if the energy is generated when it’s not needed, for example, in the middle of the day.

4. Take advantage of government incentives

The Federal Government offers financial incentives, known as Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs), to help you make the switch. This reduces your up-front cost in going solar. Your local Solahart dealer will be able to provide all the information you need during a free, safe in-home solar assessment.

5. Potentially increase the value of your home

According to research from realestate.com.au, solar can help increase a home’s value. In fact, there is a growing shift towards choosing properties that have renewable technologies. Also, many Australians would be willing to pay more for these properties.

6. Low maintenance

Solar technology requires very little maintenance after Clean Energy Council accredited installers safely install your system.

How does solar power work?

Solar power converts the light of the sun into electricity via solar panels and an inverter. Solar panels absorb energy from the sunlight to create direct current (DC), and the inverter turns this into alternating current (AC), which is usable electricity for your home.
To absorb energy from sunlight, solar panels use photovoltaic (PV) cells to create an electric field that causes electricity to flow into the inverter.
The inverter is considered to be the 'brains' or engine room to your solar power system. It converts the DC output created by your solar panels into AC, which is the standard 240-volt electricity used by your home.

Australia has the world’s highest solar radiation at 58m petajoules per year, approximately 10,000 times larger than its total energy consumption. So, you have the opportunity to use Australia’s abundant sunshine to power your home with energy free from the sun, while doing your bit for the environment.
Choosing solar power will help you offset your electricity costs because it minimises the amount of power you consume from the grid, and delivers savings for you and your family. How much you save depends on a few key factors, including:

• Number of panels and their efficiency
• Size and quality of the inverter
• Orientation of your roof
• Amount of sunlight available in your location
• How you use your solar energy

In most Australian homes, a large proportion of the energy produced by solar power panels is sent back to the grid because it’s generated when it’s not needed such as the middle of the day.
Adding home battery storage to a solar power system future proofs your investment by allowing you to store your unused energy and use it at a later time, rather than send it back to the grid.

Is solar hot water worth it?

Solar water heating is a simple and efficient process where energy from the sun is captured to heat water for your home. Collector panels installed on your roof use a dark surface to trap the sun’s heat and transfer it to the fluid circulating inside. Hot water is then stored in an insulated tank for future use.

Installing a solar hot water system is a smart way to reduce your grid-energy consumption, cut your energy bills and make a real difference to the planet. In fact, installing a solar water heater can help you save up to 65% on your energy consumption2 and 1.6 to 2.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per year3. And in a recent survey through realestate.com.au, 79% of Australians believed having a solar hot water system increased the value of their home.

However, solar power systems use photovoltaic cells and an inverter to convert sunlight into electricity so it can be used in the home or stored in a battery for later . Solar power is another great way to significantly reduce your reliance on the grid and cut your energy bills as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

If you are considering going solar, in an ideal world, you would install both solar hot water and solar power. But if you can only choose one system, it makes good sense to start with solar hot water. Here’s why:

Why you should choose solar hot water.

1. Hot water is one of the biggest drains on a household’s energy budget, typically making up around 25% of the average Australian household’s energy use4. By choosing solar hot water as a first step, you can reduce your grid-energy consumption before you need to produce more.
2. Solar hot water is incredibly efficient. Compared to solar power panels, solar hot water collectors generate more energy per square metre so it’s a smart way to maximise your solar investment.
3. Because of its efficiency, solar hot water takes up less roof space than solar power. So it’s perfect for people with limited roof space or who plan on getting solar panels in the future.
4. You can take advantage of solar hot water any time of the day or night. Like a home battery, it stores energy, but in the form of hot water, for use later on. It really is the original solar energy storage device.
5. You can combine a solar hot water system with solar power and battery storage at any time to cut your energy bills and emissions even more.
6. As well as traditional roof-mounted tanks, Solahart also has a range of Streamline Split-Systems that combine roof-mounted collectors with ground-mounted tanks that can be installed discreetly for minimal visual impact.