Everything you need to know about Solar. (And we mean, everything.)
Would you rather treat yourself to an expertly poured latte than spend more money on power? Are you wanting to find greener ways of living that don’t cost the earth, but are a bonus for the back pocket? Well, solar power might be for you. Our clients have seen immediate benefits from installing solar, from $0 power bills to creating more sustainable homes.
If you’re interested to learn more about solar but not sure where to start, we’ve pulled together a comprehensive write up of everything we know about solar (and everything our clients ask us in our initial consults).
From explaining how solar energy can run your home to our process step-by-step, from installation to sweet, sunshine energy. Settle in for an education on solar power.
Or jump to the sections that suit you!
A brief rundown on how solar energy works at your place.
What is solar energy?
Solar energy comes from the sun. Yes. But how? The sun’s radiation is captured as direct current energy through monocrystalline panels installed on your roof. These panels sit in the optimum position on your rooftop (we talk through this on our first site visit) for maximum sun exposure throughout the day.
How does this energy power my home?
There are three parts to a solar system at your place. The solar panels on your roof, an inverter to convert the energy captured into energy to power your home, and an optional extra is a battery to store the energy to use at a time that suits you.
Solar panels
The workhorse of your solar panel system, the monocrystalline solar panels sit on top of your roof to capture the sun’s energy. The number of panels you’ll need depends on the size of your home and your power usage.
What is a monocrystalline panel?
Cleverly crafted panels made up of one piece of silicon containing several cells which capture sunlight. Each cell contains a junction and cables to capture alternating current energy which then flows to the inverter which sends the electricity throughout your home every time you flick on a light switch or turn the dishwasher on.
There are other types of solar panels on the market, but we use monocrystalline panels as they are 15-20% more energy efficient than other options, which means they produce more power per square metre and take up less space.
They’re also highly durable. A must for our climate.
Inverter
You can’t run on solar power without an inverter. They come part and parcel with your solar panels. While the solar panels capture the sun’s energy, the inverter converts this energy from unusable direct current energy to usable alternating current energy – which we use to power our homes. It’s also what the main grid uses. They work quietly, they’re not a monstrosity to look at and can sit neatly on the outside of your home.
Battery
A battery is an optional extra to a home solar system. It stores unused energy for future use without the need to draw on the main grid when you run out. If you don’t have a battery you can use solar when the sun is shining, which works for a lot of people who are home during the day. However, if you have a higher energy consumption at night or in the early morning, or are away all day, a battery means you can save the energy made during the day to use at night or when you need it most.
Without a battery, you’ll draw power from the main grid at night or early morning before your solar system has had a chance to warm up – so to speak.
If you live rurally or in places where power outages are common, a battery means you’ll still have power even when the main grid is down.
A battery is an extra expense, starting from $3000, but prices for batteries are coming down, and if you want to be completely independent from the main grid, or spend a lot of time away from home during the day, they are a worthwhile investment for maximum financial gain and energy efficiency.
Our preferred brands
We use monocrystalline panels as discussed above for their energy efficiency and sleek design.
We use SunGrow inverters, BYD batteries, Clenergy mounting systems, and Selectronics for off-grid installs. We use these brands because we believe they are the most efficient brands on the market, and we don’t cut corners.
Can I choose other products for you to install?
We exclusively use the above brands to ensure we design a solar system that will last the distance and give you the most energy possible for your investment.
Do solar panels work in cloudy or rainy weather?
Yes! Just not as well, but you’ll still have power during the day on a cloudy or rainy day. Solar panels can utilise indirect sunlight so your solar system will still meet the needs of your home on a not so great day. Remember as well, you can still draw power from the main grid when you run out of your own energy.
Tailoring solar to my home.
How many solar panels do I need?
There are a few factors we need to consider how many solar panels you’ll need, including, the size of your home, your home’s orientation and your daily power usage.
A small solar system usually starts around 10-12 panels for a small to medium sized house.
How do I know if I have the right number of solar panels?
During the initial consultation our team will have a thorough discussion with you about your electricity usage and your goal from money savings to creating a greener home.
We have a specialised programme in-house that calculates your most energy efficient design, based on your current monthly energy bills and the size of your home. Our system generates design options for consideration, and we determine the approach that gives you the best return on investment.
We’ll talk you through these during our design and quote process.
How do I know if I’m a low or standard electricity user?
Most households in NZ are classified as standard users.
A low usage user might be a 1-2 person family, with an energy efficient home, including double glazing and robust insulation, plus gas hot water and have typical electricity needs, e.g. run the dishwasher once a day, do a load of washing a day, have the lights only turned on at night and might have a gas stovetop.
A standard electricity user would be a family with children who doesn’t have gas for water or cooking.
In the North Island, if you use more than 8000 watts of electricity per year, you are a standard user, in the South Island, anything above 9000 watts is considered a standard user (it’s chilly down there!).
You might find your power usage is higher if your home is not insulated properly, you have single glazed windows or use electric heaters. You can check your usage in kilowatts on your power bill.
How do I start using solar power once installed?
We will take care of all the connecting your solar power to the grid for you. This process typically takes 2 to 7 days depending on the size of your system, and we’ll give you the nod when you’re good to go. The process between switching over from the main grid to solar is pretty stress free and seamless.
Can I install a battery later?
Yes we can, we can future proof your system to allow for future battery install.
How much does it cost?
What is the investment? (and is it worth it?).
There is a big variation in price for solar systems depending on the size you need. Once we pop in to see your home we can find out what’s important to you and suggest a design and quote specific to your place, based on your goals.
We come to the table with genuine information that can help guide your investment decision based on your goals. Read our blog here to learn how we do this.
If you choose to take advantage of the several 0-1% interest loan options available to fund solar power, the savings on your power bill can potentially offset your loan repayments.
Your investment can also add value to your home. In the long run, solar power can potentially add an estimated 5% increase in value to your home.
We can’t tell you exactly how much you’ll save with solar, but we do get rave reviews from our solar energy clients that tell us they save money on their power bills almost immediately. One of our local Bay of Plenty clients Sharon had a $0 power bill, plus a $5 credit just one month after installing solar power. You can read her story here.
Monocrystalline panels on Sharon’s home.
Monocrystalline panels on Sharon’s home.
Do you have a savings calculator available online?
We’re working on it!
We also use specialised technology inhouse to design a solar system tailored to your needs. We can calculate with accuracy using our tools how much you’ll save on power each month and we can calculate your carbon measurements to ensure you’re meeting your sustainability goals. Whatever your goals we can help you decide if solar is right for you before installation.
We will be launching our online savings calculator later in the year, stay tuned!
Maintenance and warranties.
Is there upkeep?
Just like anything to do with your home, you need to keep it maintained for longevity. We suggest giving your solar panels a good clean once a year to remove dust and grime build up.
If you’re in an area that wildly swings about when it comes to seasonal weather, it’s best to give your solar panels a clean once a season. Dusting off pollen or removing sludgy autumn leaves will keep your energy running at tip top capacity.
You can get your solar panels professionally maintained as well, which we highly recommend if you don’t have adequate safety gear for swanning around on rooftops with an unruly hose.
We offer a comprehensive maintenance programme to keep your solar system in good shape, including cleaning and maintenance, plus a regular electrical check.
Make sure you trim overhanging trees as well, to ensure you’re getting as much light onto those panels as possible.
Solar panels are designed to last for decades, so regular upkeep is important to ensure they are working their hardest (and looking good). The products we use also come with warranties as does our installation service.
Do I need to upgrade my switchboard?
Homes built before the year 2000 typically require upgrades to the switchboard to ensure compatibility and safety with the new solar power systems.
Do you offer a warranty?
Yes we do! We offer a ten year warranty on installation, plus each part of the system – panels, battery and inverter come with their own warranties, ranging from 10-25 years depending on the manufacturer.
Pros and Cons
| Solar, yes! | Solar, meh. |
|---|---|
| Renewable, sustainable energy source. You’ll feel really good about yourself when you install solar. | Significant upfront investment. Not to be sniffed at. Might not be worth it if you’re an unusually low energy user. |
| Cheaper (or even free) power. Use those savings for a trip to Europe, or a daily coffee outing, whatever takes your fancy. | You’re free of energy companies but you are beholden to the weather. |
| Independence, you won’t be reliant on the grid. | Do you plan on being in your home long enough to reap the rewards of your investment? Something to consider. |
| You can earn credits or sell excess power back to the grid. | You’ve gotta clean ‘em. Potential yearly maintenance costs. |
| A potentially nice little value increase to your home (about 5%). | There may be additional roofing costs if we can’t successfully bolt the panels onto your existing roof. This is unusual for new builds but a potential challenge for older homes. We can let you know straight away if your roof may need extra support to hold the panels. |
| If you have a holiday home elsewhere, you can connect the solar panels at the bach to your inverter and battery at home. To create two energy efficient spaces and save on energy costs when you aren’t there. |
The process.
I’m keen on solar, where do I start?
If you’ve decided you want to find out more about solar or you’re keen to install solar at your place, simply give us a call! From your initial call here’s the process, step-by-step.
1. Quote & design: We’ll come to your place and conduct a thorough onsite assessment, we need to know your house orientation, your roof pitch and roof type, the size of your house and your typical power usage. Once we’ve discussed all this, we will run your needs and measurements through our in-house programme to create a system design tailored to your needs and home. We’ll also send a detailed quote for approval at the same time as the design. We can run you through our proposed plan and answer any questions in person or over the phone.
2. Order & install: If everything looks good to you and our quote is accepted, we order everything we need and schedule an installation. Installations usually take 2-4 days.
3. Post install: Once installed we will handle the inspection and network application process, ensuring compliance and sorting out solar credit arrangements with your energy provider. Our installation includes a ten year warranty, and the solar products come with their own warranties as well.
Do I need council consent?
Solar panel installation doesn’t generally require building consent. Solar falls under electrical installation in most cases but it’s wise to double check as there are a few instances where it does require consent, including heritage listed buildings and if you’re using solar panels as cladding.
We can talk you through any consenting processes you might need to go through, including any commercial consents, but generally for residential houses a consent is not required in the Bay of Plenty. If you live in Hamilton you will need consent, but if you live almost anywhere else you won’t.
Did you know you can connect your bach solar panels to your home’s inverter?
A fun fact about solar, it’s great for bachs. You can make significant savings on your bach’s power and create a greener holiday home by being smart with your solar design. You can connect solar panels at your back to your inverter and battery at home, so you’ll have energy waiting for you when you’re on holiday without the extra power costs. How good’s that!
Want to chat?
We love nothing more than a cup of tea and a chat about solar. We’ve installed solar panels across new builds and current homes with happy customers all over the Bay.