Demand for solar panels has been soaring over the past few years and months, as many householders are faced with the prospect of spiralling energy bills. Around a million homes in the UK have had panels installed, and the Government’s official website says that inquiries about these ‘green’ systems has increased by 45% over the last three years.
Here WEEE Technology, who provide IT disposal services in central London, look at how the panels work, their pros and cons – and how, ultimately, they can help you reduce your bills and carbon footprint, just as we do for many businesses that generate electronic waste.
How They Work
Solar panels, which are normally placed on a south-facing roof in the UK, absorb sunlight through photovoltaic cells. These panels generate direct current (DC) energy, which is converted into usable alternating current (AC) with the help of inverter technology. AC is what most household appliances run on.
The electricity from solar panels can be used to power your appliances, and any excess electricity can be sold back to the national grid.
The Advantages
They Cut Your Bills - Sunlight is free, so you aren’t paying anyone else to generate it. With today’s spiralling energy prices, any investment in solar should have more than paid for itself in just a few years.
Selling the Excess - According to the Energy Saving Trust, householders with solar panels typically use between 15-25% of the electricity they generate, although this will vary according to whether you work from home, how many people are in the house, what the heating system is, etc. You can also get paid extra for the excess electricity you generate – originally this was a Feed-In Tariff, which has now been replaced by something known as the Smart Export Guarantee.
Low Maintenance Costs – There are no moving parts so they only need to be cleaned a couple of times a year, and most manufacturers offer a 20-25 year warranty.
Home Resale Value – Your home could be much more attractive to any would-be buyers if they see panels on the roof – adding around 4% to the asking price, according to some estimates.
Good for Business – Companies with strong green credentials not only benefit from lower energy bills, they can also attract customers and staff (and customers) who share the same values.
The Disadvantages
The Initial Cost – Although the UK government has announced that VAT won’t be charged on panels until 2027 at the earliest, you will still have to find a lot of money to have a set installed in the first place. The Energy Saving Trust reckons the average three-bedroomed house will need a system that costs around £5,000.
Lack of Light – The systems are not as efficient on cloudy or rainy days, and they won’t work at all at night, which will affect how much electricity you can generate.
Lack of Feasibility – Some systems, in order to work effectively, need to have a lot of panels, and some roofs won’t be big enough. You may also need planning permission, which, even if it is granted, will still mean paying an application fee. This particularly applies to Listed Buildings, homes in Conservation Areas or flat-roofed properties.
What Investing in Solar Means for You and the Environment
Provided you have enough cash in reserve, solar panels should save you money, as well as cut your carbon footprint. You could reduce your carbon emissions by more than a tonne a year, depending on where you live in the UK.
This is because it’s an entirely natural resource that doesn’t involve any fossil fuels, and there’s no combustion (and very few emissions) involved in the electricity generation. This means you are doing your bit to help the UK work towards its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
IT Disposal Services in Central London from WEEE Technology
WEEE Technology helps businesses and households cut their carbon emissions in a similar way. This is because we follow the e-waste hierarchical model of reusing and recycling electronic products wherever possible. (for more details, follow this link).
Sending items to landfill is always a last resort. In thesesites, toxic chemicals (not necessarily just carbon) can be released from high-tech equipment which are harmful to human health and the environment.
And remember, every time we recycle or reuse something, we effectively ensure that new items don’t need to be manufactured as much or as often, which also cuts down carbon emissions.
If you would like to know more about any of our services, which also include corporate IT data erasure in London, as well as hard drive destruction and school data erasure in and around the capital, then call us today on 020 7859 4669.
