Solar Energy

One of the most financially savvy investments you can make when it comes to adding value to your home is through solar energy.

The benefits of solar power are well known.

• save on electricity bills by utilising energy from the sun
• reduce your greenhouse gas emissions thus helping the environment
• panels save on roof maintenance costs by protecting it from wear and tear
• improves health of the wider public by releasing less pollutants into the air

For all these reasons, solar energy not only helps you save money in the long run but having panels also improves the resale value of your home.

Many people are hesitant to purchase solar because of the high initial upfront costs. However these costs will be recouped in around 7 years. After that you are essentially getting free electricity and saving money EVERY day!

A number of companies now offer a $0 upfront special to get you started. And your repayments can actually be cancelled out by the money you save from going solar. What's more is most high quality panels last 20-25 years meaning you will have them long after they are paid off.

Types of solar power for your house

There are different types of solar power you can use on your house:

• solar panels
• solar hot water (evacuated tubes and heat pumps)
• solar air conditioning 

Here are some reputable solar suppliers and installers that we recommend.

Cola Solar is based in East Bendigo, Victoria, and they also provide solar to Ballarat, Echuca and surrounding towns. A family owned company with a high focus on customer service, they are friendly and professional. With a range of quality brand panels such as SunPower, LG and HT-SAAE, their advice and experience will make sure your switch to solar power is a good one.

Velocity Solar takes care of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula for all their renewable energy needs. With over 10 years working in the industry, Brad and his team are obsessed with attention to detail, and will ensure a perfect panel angle, strong brackets to hold the panels and an inverter that can handle the load. All of these means your new system will be top notch.

Australian Hydronic Supplies provides solar hydronic heating such as a one-heat system and solar tubes. These actually have a greater surface area than flat panels and increases the heating efficiency even further.

Electricians to help with your power

Getting your solar power installed is one thing but ensuring electricians have your home energy working optimally is just as important. Electrical maintenance is crucial in every house and a professional will assist with fault finding, switchboard upgrades, home automation, rewiring and a range of other services.

Here's some electricians that we highly recommend.

MBE Electrical - Based in Melbourne and servicing the whole of bayside and the surrounding areas, they include an experienced team of electrical contractors perfect for jobs of any size. They have vast knowledge of renewable energy and can work with solar installers to achieve the best results for your home.

How does solar power work?

Solar energy focuses on capturing the light from the sun through panels and converting it into electricity using photovoltaics. Then solar inverters convert the DC supply from the panels into a usable format (240V AC) that can power your house.