What about hot water?

What about hot water?

An electric hot water heat pump is a type of hot water system that uses electricity to move heat from the air or ground to heat water. The heat pump consists of a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser, which work together to transfer heat from the surrounding air or ground to the water.

Electric hot water heat pumps are highly energy efficient, as they use significantly less electricity to heat water compared to traditional electric hot water systems. They are also environmentally friendly, as they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions. Electric hot water heat pumps are typically smaller in size than traditional hot water systems and have a long lifespan, making them a popular choice for many homeowners.

Electric hot water heat pumps can be used in conjunction with a solar photovoltaic (PV) system in a few different ways:

  1. Using excess solar generation: If your solar PV system generates more electricity than you can use at a given time, the excess electricity can be used to power your electric hot water heat pump. This can help you to use more of the clean, renewable energy that your solar panels generate, rather than sending it back to the grid or letting it go to waste.
  2. Offsetting grid electricity use: Your electric hot water heat pump can be powered by a combination of solar electricity and grid electricity. By using solar electricity to power your hot water heat pump, you can offset some or all of the electricity that you would otherwise need to purchase from the grid. This can help you to save money on your electricity bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
  3. Time-of-use electricity pricing: If your area has time-of-use electricity pricing, you can use your solar PV system to power your electric hot water heat pump during times when electricity rates are lower (such as during the day when the sun is shining and you are producing solar electricity for free!). This can help you to save money on your electricity bills.

It’s worth noting that in order to use your solar PV system to power your electric hot water heat pump, you will need to have a solar inverter and a compatible hot water heat pump. It’s a good idea to consult with a professional to determine the best setup for your specific situation.

 

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What about batteries?

What about batteries?

There is also growing uptake on using a home battery, such as our favourite at Vortex, the Tesla Powerwall.

A Tesla Powerwall is a home battery system that stores excess solar energy for use when the sun isn’t shining or at night. By storing excess solar energy in a Powerwall, homeowners can use more of the clean, renewable energy that their solar panels generate, rather than having to purchase electricity from the grid. This can potentially save homeowners money on their monthly electricity bills, particularly if they live in an area with high electricity prices.

In addition to helping homeowners save money on their electricity bills, a Tesla Powerwall can also help to protect them against rising electricity prices. Because the Powerwall allows homeowners to use stored solar energy instead of purchasing electricity from the grid, they are less vulnerable to fluctuations in the price of grid electricity. This means that even if electricity prices rise in the future, homeowners with a Powerwall may be able to continue using clean, renewable energy at a fixed cost, rather than having to pay more for grid electricity.

Self-consuming your solar generation refers to using the electricity that your solar panels produce directly, rather than selling any excess electricity back to the grid. There are a few reasons why it can be beneficial to self-consume your solar generation:

  1. Cost savings: By using the electricity that your solar panels produce, you can potentially save money on your monthly electricity bills. This is because you will be using clean, renewable energy that you are generating yourself, rather than having to purchase electricity from the grid.
  2. Increased energy independence: Self-consuming your solar generation can help you to become more energy independent and reduce your reliance on the grid.
  3. Increased sustainability: By using the electricity that your solar panels produce, you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable energy system.

That being said, self-consuming your solar generation is not always the best option in every situation. For example, if you generate more solar electricity than you can use, it may make financial sense to sell the excess back to the grid (although feed in tariffs are now generally super low!), depending on the rates that your utility offers for excess generation. It’s worth considering all of your options and discussing them with a professional to determine the best course of action for your specific situation.

 

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So what is solar and why should I consider installing it?

So what is solar and why should I consider installing it?

Installing a solar panel system on your home can help you offset some or all of your electricity use with clean, renewable energy from the sun. This can potentially save you money on your monthly electricity bills, particularly if you live in an area with high electricity prices.

A home battery system can also help you save money on electricity costs by storing excess solar energy for use during times when the sun isn’t shining or at night. This can help you to use more of the solar energy that your panels generate, rather than having to purchase electricity from the grid. Additionally, if your area experiences time-of-use pricing for electricity, a home battery system can allow you to use stored solar energy during peak pricing times, rather than having to purchase more expensive electricity from the grid.

It is difficult to predict exactly what will happen with the price of electricity in Australia in the future, although we do expect them to rise substantially. Electricity prices are influenced by a variety of factors, including the cost of fuel (such as coal, natural gas, or renewable energy), transmission and distribution costs, and government policies and regulations. These factors can change over time, which can affect the price of electricity.

In recent years, electricity prices in Australia have risen significantly in some areas, due in part to the increasing cost of fossil fuels and the need to upgrade and maintain aging infrastructure. However, the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, may help to reduce the cost of electricity over time. It is also possible that advances in technology and changes in government policies could impact the price of electricity in the future.

Installing a solar panel system (also known as a photovoltaic or PV system) on your home can help you offset some or all of your electricity use with clean, renewable energy from the sun. This can potentially save you money on your monthly electricity bills, particularly if you live in an area with high electricity prices.

In addition to helping homeowners save money on their electricity bills, solar PV can also help to protect them against rising electricity prices. By generating some or all of their own electricity, homeowners with solar PV systems are less vulnerable to fluctuations in the price of grid electricity. This means that even if electricity prices rise in the future, homeowners with solar PV may be able to continue using a portion of their own clean, renewable energy at a fixed cost, rather than having to pay more for grid electricity.

It’s worth noting that while solar PV can help to protect homeowners against rising electricity prices, it is not a guarantee. The amount of money that homeowners can save on their electricity bills with solar PV will depend on a number of factors, including the size and efficiency of their PV system, the amount of sunlight they receive, and their electricity usage patterns. An accredited solar designer (like Sophie!) will work with homeowners to design a system that suits the homeowner and circumstances.

 

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solar

Top tips when considering solar

There’s little arguing the fact that adding solar to your home can be one of the smartest things you do. Firstly, you are doing your bit for the environment and our future generations. Secondly, you are reducing your future household expenses and potentially setting yourself up for grid independence (if you add in a battery).

 

What else can you add to your home that actually pays you money?

 

Recently feed-in tariffs have been significantly reduced, so adding solar and expecting the significant financial returns of the years past just simply won’t happen at the same level. However, you can still usually get paid something to send your excess solar generation back into the grid (depending on your electricity distributor and their approvals process). A well-designed solar system will still undoubtedly save you money on your ongoing electricity expenses – let’s face it, we are always going to be using lights and power, heating and hot water.

 

If you’ve ever started investigating your solar options or had a conversation with a friend, you may have been put off from going through with an installation. Unfortunately, despite layers upon layers of regulation, there are still sharks in the solar industry that do their best to line their own pockets with minimal thought about the customer. And if you have a friend that says, ‘I paid for solar and it hasn’t saved me a cent, don’t waste your money’, there’s every chance that they have fallen victim to one of these sharks. And let’s face it, it can be tricky searching for a truly trustworthy Geelong solar installer.

 

Fortunately, there are some very ethical and honest professionals in the solar industry. If you commence your solar journey with a company that is focused on providing a unique and tailored, long term solution for you and your home, then putting in a high quality solar system will safeguard you against rising electricity prices and grid uncertainty.

 

So how can you make sure you find one of these solar professionals who will have your interests at the top of their agenda? Here are my top 9 tips when considering solar:

 

  1. Use a local and reputable solar installer. Make sure they do not subcontract their work. You want to be sure that whoever is selling the system is also responsible for the installation of it. That way if there are any issues down the track no one is going to handball their responsibilities. Referrals here are key. Be sure they live locally so that they can quickly sort out any system issues if required. Make sure they have also been around for a while. Be wary of sites that offer to source ‘3 quotes’ as quite often these companies are not truly local to the area. These companies also often pay to source these leads.
  2. Be sure that they conduct a site visit. Any solar company should not even be quoting unless you have met them, and they have conducted a site visit. A site visit means they can assess your home fully and design a system that takes everything into consideration and will work. Then at install, there should not be any surprises or change required to the system design. During the site visit they should discuss location for the panels and inverter, any switchboard work required and battery locations if applicable.
  3. Ask the salesperson if they are accredited. The other benefit of a site visit is to ensure whoever is preparing a quote, understands how YOU use power in your home and what your future electrical needs may be. Be sure that the person is accredited in either system design and/or installation (ask if they are CEC Accredited) and not simply a salesperson. They should be asking you questions around your electricity usage, and if you plan to make any changes to your home or your lifestyle pattern. All of these things will impact on your electricity consumption both now and in the future.
  4. Make sure they don’t just talk solar. To make sure the company you are talking to isn’t just trying to make a quick dollar from a solar install, they really need to assess your complete home set up. This should involve discussion around battery options, heating and cooling, hot water and your future vehicle choices. Many homeowners will currently also be using gas for many of these options. What will happen though when your gas hot water system needs replacing or the old heating system suddenly gives up the ghost? While you might not necessarily replace all of these straight away, being mindful of what you may replace these with in the future will ensure that you put in an appropriate solar system to cater for these now.
  5. Cheapest isn’t best, but don’t be ripped off either. Solar can be really confusing and the quality of both components (like panels, inverters and batteries) can differ enormously, as does the quality of installation. Believe me, all solar installations are not created equal. Deals that seem too good to be true often are. And there are also companies that promise the world at an inflated price and then fail to deliver, both in terms of the customer experience and the installation. Again, seek referrals from people you know and be sure to get at least 2 quotes so you can compare. A reputable company should be encouraging you to compare options. Afterall, this is a significant and long-term investment for your home.
  6. Find out if you are eligible for rebates. There are 2 main rebates for residential solar. The first is the federal rebate (STCs). Everyone will be eligible for this, it decreases every year, and is dependent on the size of your system. The second rebate is the Solar Victoria Solar Homes program which offers various rebates including for panels, batteries, hot water, heating and cooling, businesses and rental properties. There are various eligibility criteria to access these rebates. Make sure whoever you are dealing with is confident in guiding you in what rebates apply, and if they are trying to do something a bit dodgy here be concerned – you don’t want those practises to flow through into your system installation.
  7. Ask questions. Solar can be an absolute minefield of information and super confusing. Whoever you are dealing with should be able to clearly explain their proposed solution to you without causing even more confusion. Have a think about what is important to you and ask those questions. For example, are you looking for products with long warranties, highest performance, or that simply look nice on your roof?
  8. Find out about the process and timeframes. How will the solar installer work with you? Will they assist with rebate applications if you have questions? How long will it take to install? What happens after install, will they come back and show you again how it works? Who sorts out the paperwork? You want to make sure that the entire process is as easy as it can be for you.
  9. Trust your gut. Ultimately you will know if something doesn’t feel right. Trust your intuition and if something doesn’t feel quite right then either do some more research or get another opinion.About the author: Sophie Wright is CEC Accredited in Grid Connect and Battery Design of photovoltaic power systems. She is also the Sales Manager at Vortex Electrical based in Geelong, a member of the Solar Victoria Industry and Consumer Reference Group and founding member of Australian Women in Solar Energy (AWISE). She is passionate about demystifying solar for consumers and ensuring that the industry continually strives for higher ethical and moral standards in providing the best solutions for everyone.

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