Many Australians are quite rightly jumping on the green band wagon and looking to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as their reliance on fossil fuels. Australia has one of the best climates in the entire world for utilizing this clean, green and almost limitless abundance of energy. There are systems to suit all budgets of investment and there are some factors which will dictate as to which system would be best for your requirements. By installing a solar power system you can save money on your bills and maybe even make money as well as energy companies will by your surplus energy from you at a set rate if your system produces more energy that you actually require.
Some Limitations
One of the main limitations of solar power is the level of investment required to install a solar energy system in their home or workplace. With the rapidly changing technology, solar power technology is becoming cheaper and more affordable to the average person. Depending on where you live you may even be able to get a grant from the government in order to offset some of the costs of installing the system. The level of investment that you can afford though will have a bearing on the type of system that you choose. If you are living in the city centre then there may not be a lot of options available to you. If you live in a high rise apartment you may be best to source alternative solutions. Living in the suburbs though, you should be better placed to benefit from installing a system into your home. You need to make sure that the area you are looking to place the solar panels faces as close to true north as possible to gain the maximum amount of exposure to the sun. Single story houses tend to be better suited than multiple level houses as they have a bigger roof area. This means that you have more space to install solar panels. To also gain the maximum amount of power from each solar panel, you need the sun’s rays to hit the solar panels at as close to a 90° angle as possible, this means it is definitely worth while investing in adjustable panels where you can control the angle of elevation. You also need to make sure that the solar panels are not over shadowed by anything as this will also affect the efficiency of the panels.
Getting Some Advice
Even if you are looking to install a system yourself, it is always best to speak to a professional to get some advice. This could mean speaking to companies which will offer a free consultation or even looking on the internet for information and chat on the many forums with people who have already installed their systems. You may find their advice and experience invaluable. All of this information will help assist you to choose the best solar array for your requirements. Some people are just looking to offset their energy expenditure, whilst others may look to remove themselves from the energy grid entirely. The initial investment required to remove yourself from the grid is quite more than if you are just looking to offset your costs, but the benefit of doing this is the system will pay for itself in not too much time. If you are producing a surplus as well, then this will make you money, further offsetting the cost and making solar energy an appealing solution. There are some good arguments for investing in this technology such as;
Reducing your Carbon Footprint
Reducing reliance on fossil fuels
Environmentally friendly
Reduce fuel costs
Possibly make money in the long run
Get the Neighbours Talking!
So you have done your research and spoken to people in the know and come to a decision on the type of panels and system you are going to install. Now it is time to be the talk of the neighborhood and set a great example to the community that you do care about your environment and want to make a difference. You may even start a new trend and get everyone copying you. If you decide to install your own system then it is still necessary to get a qualified electrician to do the required wiring in order to comply with regulations. It is probably best to get a professional company in but it is not impossible to do yourself. You may even be able to come to a deal with a local company that you can refer people who also may be interested and get a discount if they purchase as well, If you don’t ask you don’t get! Either way, once you have your system installed to whatever level you choose, it will not be long until you see instant benefits from your investment. You will also be setting a great example and doing something positive for our environment. You may even make some money out of it as well.
This article was written by Max Johnson on behalf of AVIC Solar. AVIC Solar is a leading supplier in wholesale solar panels Sydney and ranks 250th in the Global Top 500 largest corporations in 2012. Max is a keen blogger on technology and green issues and is always looking for ways to help maintain the planet and reduce such carbon footprint.