watervole: (Default)
Judith Proctor ([personal profile] watervole) wrote2011-03-22 03:35 pm
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How to qualify for free solar panels


The firm I used are Home Sun.  If you want to know if you qualify under their rules, see this page.  The key factors are:

Compass direction of roof.  Must be between SE and SW.

Angle of slope of roof.

Lack of shade from trees/neighbouring properties.

Size of roof - the bigger the better.  (economies of scale on installation)


It's unlikely that you'll ever get more than a third of your electricity from solar power, and it could be as low as a quarter if you're not at home during the day to do things like laundry using the daylight.



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rpdom: Me wearing my first pair of reading glasses (Default)

[personal profile] rpdom 2011-03-22 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. I've applied to see if we qualify. The criteria seem to be a little more flexible than the place I tried last year.

Our roof is a bit small, and shallow pitched, but I think it is just big enough and faces a few degrees South of South West. There are a few trees, but they don't really overshadow our roof.

Our heating and cooking is mostly gas, but we've just had lots of insulation fitted, which should reduce that bill a fair bit.

Solar power should halve our electricity bill too - we use more during the day than at night.
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[personal profile] uitlander 2011-03-22 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
It sounds like my house would be eligible for the Free Solar offer. I've noted that in some of your earlier posts about it you mention that the plan works for you because you're not thinking of moving at all, so what tie-in does the company get from you to make it worthwhile (beyond the income from any excess energy generated)?
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2011-03-23 08:19 am (UTC)(link)
The contract is for 25 years, so a new owner would have to be happy to carry on with it - though I can't see why they wouldn't be. (we pay £5 a month towards maintenance because our roof is too small for the full 16 panels)

[identity profile] del-c.livejournal.com 2011-03-22 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm reading your saga with fascination. You say you have thirteen panels; do you know what size they are?
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2011-03-23 08:37 am (UTC)(link)
Can't recall the exact size. Something like 5 1/5ft by 4ft. See if you can judge it from this photo - http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa383/JudithProctor/Solar%20panel%20installation%20-%20March%202011/?action=view¤t=DSCF0176.jpg

[identity profile] davidwake.livejournal.com 2011-03-24 08:39 am (UTC)(link)
My roof's too small.

[identity profile] oreouk.livejournal.com 2011-03-24 09:22 am (UTC)(link)
Hopefully our roof will be large enough (we have dormers but also extensions so it may balance out) - they're going to come and take a look and assess the available roof space.
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