Solar panels: The Soundest Investment Decision Currently Available?

Mar 29, 2012 by robinchong

The problem with saving

With the financial debt crises or recession as some prefer to call it haunting all of us still 3 years after it commenced governments have been quick to criticise our spend thiftyness as well as our remarkable capability to rack up debts. Instead, they argue, the men and women of Britain really should save , and spend only what they can afford. Whilst the theory may very well be sound the fact is that financial institutions simply arent making it attractive to decide to put our pennies away: current accounts offer 0%, whilst ISAs offer generally a mere 2%!. Many people have therefore been of the mentality that they may as well spend it is they arent getting any interest, after all, spending will surely help the economy wont it?

Solar panels: the solution?

One increasingly attractive investment is to get yourself solar panels. Why? There are three crucial reasons. First, through installing solar panels and generating solar electricity which feeds instantly into your property, workplace, business or farm, youre not paying for electricity which you would usually purchase from the national grid. Quickly therefore you are being economical. The solar electricity you create is also totally free and comes from a reliable and constant source i.e. the sun. This means in contrast to the depleting resources of fossil fuels, youll not encounter price rises and energy insecurity. Thirdly and most importantly, you can easily make a very good deal of income. Money may be gained in 2 ways. Firstly, the government, via the Feed in Tariff, guarantee for the next twenty-five years that the energy company you use will pay you a certain amount for every unit of electricity you create. This presently stands at 43.3p for the average sized home installation. The amount paid is also index linked and tax-free. Second, the government also ensures that for the next Twenty five years your energy company will pay you for every single unit of electric you create and do not make use of which you automatically export back to the grid. This is another 3p per unit. Whenever you consider how many units of electricity can be generated per day it soon gets to be very clear the amount of money we are discussing. The Energy Saving Trust as an example suggest, rather cautiously that an average installation for a three bed dwelling could generate an income that could reach over seven-hundred pounds a year, whilst some others claim it may be over one thousand. When one considers that the cost of installation would probably be around ?10,000 its crystal clear that the system could possibly pay for itself within ten years, yet that leaves fifteen years still left of your government guarantee left, whilst your panels will keep producing free solar electricity for many years. Finally, research has also shown that a solar installation may also increase the value of your home. Overall therefore, whilst it might be a rather long term investment, it is arguably one of the most desirable that you could buy.

Solar panel firms: buyer beware

Although I am suggesting purchasing solar panels I am not suggesting going into the market place blind. Before you take the plunge therefore, keep some of the subsequent suggestions under consideration. To start with is the necessity of investigating the possible firm first. What should you check out then? To start with check out their website; does it appear professional, are there any testimonials, what kind of jobs have they done, is there a case study area? Next, research for appropriate certifications. A vey important one here is MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. Unless the firm has one of these, dont use it. Finally, ask how long theyve been running for. Recent research found out that a large number of solar power firms providing solar panel installation had only been functioning for several months. The danger here is that the company might not be around within a few years time, which could cause problems if you experience problems with your photovoltaic panels in the future. One remedy here is to check out theyre part of the Reiga insurance scheme, which provides a financial backup for any rare occasions where the original company has gone bust and you require work doing to correct any original errors on the solar panel installation.

The article author works strongly with Solar Days who deliver premium quality solar panel installations helping individuals and businesses take advantage of the feed in tariff and thus both help save and make revenue.

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