Questions when choosing a Solar Thermal system

Isn't it too cold and wet in the UK for solar to work properly?
No, because vacuum tube and flat plate solar collectors work even if it's freezing cold, all they need is sunlight and we get enough of that, even on a cloudy day.

How much will I save on my utility bills?
You could expect to save between 50% and 70% of your annual water heating costs. The more hot water you use the greater the saving.

Is my solar system covered by a full warranty?
Yes. Our solar hot water system has a full 1-year warranty on labour. The solar collector on your roof will be covered by the manufacturers warranty.

Are you insured against loss or damage to my property?
Yes. In the unlikely event of damage, we have £1,000,000 public liability insurance.

What is there by way of after care service?
We will give you a courtesy call 3 months after the installation to ensure you are happy. If at any time you are concerned about your system then give us a ring. We will get an engineer around as soon as possible to assist.

Do I need planning permission?
If you live within a conservation area, or in a listed building, we will liaise with the relevant planning department.

Questions when choosing a PV solar panel system

Does it work?
YES. Solar PV works on daylight. There are sufficient daylight hours to make these systems work in the UK.

How does it work?
A massive amount of energy falls every day from the sun to earth. We can choose to use this energy to power electrical appliances for homes and business. The energy falls onto the panels, which creates DC electricity, an inverter converts this to AC electricity which we use to power our homes or businesses.

What if the system produces more than I need?
If this happens the system will put this energy into the National grid, adding to the renewable energy resource. We will ensure you are with an electricity company that will buy this back from you.

Will it produce all the energy I need?
This depends on the size of system you want installed and what your energy usage is, we can assist you in assessing you current requirements and guide you by the available space you have.

How much energy does the average home use?
The Energy Saving Trust estimate the average 3 bed home consumes 3 – 4,000 units of electricity per year. However this varies greatly and it is always best to look at your bills for an accurate idea.

Do I need planning permission?
if you live within a conservation area, area of natural beauty or in a listed building you will need to liaise with the relevant planning department.

How big a system do I need?
Domestic solar power (PV) systems can be any size you want and a typical domestic system will range from 1 - 3kWp. Whatever excess energy produced that can't be used by the householder is sold back to the grid so there is no limit on the size of a system.

Will I have to change electrical supplier?
Nearly all electrical suppliers will buy back domestic generated solar power (PV) electricity. However some buy at a much better rate than others so a change may be beneficial but not a requirement.