Do solar panels really save you money?

It’s a good question. Are solar panels worth it? Short answer: Yes – but you need to use them correctly.

Our biggest natural resource

Here in Australia, we have some of the highest household electricity bills in the world. Combine this with some of the sunniest cities in the world, and solar panels and solar energy systems not only make sense, but it seems downright silly not to use them.

Unfortunately, many people looked into solar panels a few years ago and were immediately put off by the price. Even as an investment, it would still take years to get your money back through cheaper electricity bills. But like all technology, the price drops dramatically over time. Today’s solar energy systems are remarkably affordable, even compared to 3-5 years ago.

Pick the solar panels right for you

Although just because they are affordable, does that mean they are worth it? Again, it all comes down to using them right. There’s no point investing in a solar system that produces 10kWs of power per day when you use 100. And the reverse is also true, if you hardly use any electricity, then there’s no point in spending thousands on a system that you’ll hardly use!

The average household uses 16kWs per day of electricity. Now, this isn’t spread out evenly across the day, there are peaks and troughs. Obviously you won’t be using much electricity at 3am compared to 3pm, and this is where you can make solar investment worth your while.

Work smarter, not harder

Being in the southern hemisphere, the sun is always in the north, and that’s where most people have their solar panels pointed. Most homes have a spike in usage in the morning and then again in the afternoon. This makes sense; getting the kids up and ready for school, and then again when they come home and preparing dinner.

The problem is, the sun isn’t in the north any more. In the morning it’s in the north-east, and then by afternoon it’s in the north-west. By splitting up your solar panels, half facing the north-east and the other half facing the north-west, you can maximise their output, just at the time you need them the most.

There are of course other ways to get the most out of your solar energy system. Timers for example, can greatly reduce the cost of your electricity bill. Having certain appliances turn on throughout the day when your solar panels are at their most efficient is a great way to utilise their output, and with that will greatly improve your investment.

The “payback” period, that is the period in which your initial investment pays itself off, is around 3-4 years. Most solar panels have a 25 year performance warranty, and solar inverters usually have a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty, so there’s no question they are worth it in the long run.

When looking at it over a long-term period, solar panels and solar energy systems are absolutely, 100% worth the investment. But to pay that investment off as quickly as possible, and in turn start saving money sooner, you need to make sure your solar system is set up to perform at its maximum efficiency.

Call us today if you have any questions about solar panels or solar energy. Our friendly and professional staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.