The many benefits of a solar-powered home and business

From April, energy prices will rise again. The average home is now expected to pay £1,849 a year for their consumption – a £111 increase from the same previous period. And since over nine in 10 households are on variable tariffs, most people will feel the impact.

Energy prices will always fluctuate, and switching some or all of your usage to solar power is one way to keep your wallet protected from volatile changes.

That’s because energy generated through the sun is free, and you’ll only need to factor in the costs of the panels when making the switch.

The environmental benefits of moving to solar power are well-documented, and this form of energy is poised to play a significant role in the UK’s net-zero targets. Yet sometimes other benefits are overlooked.

Below are further reason why homes and business would benefit from switching to this renewable source of energy.

• Join thousands of UK homeowners switching to solar

Solar energy for your home

Solar panels can be affordable.

At Solar4Good a 7kW system is one of the smaller units available and costs as little as £9,000 to install. Across its 25 year lifespan, it could save users just over £27,500 on their energy bull, according to the installer’s estimates.

However, bigger systems have the potential to save more. A 20 kW solar system costs around £25,000 but can save nearly £79,000 until it needs replacing.

Ultimately the right system depends on your home and typical energy consumption, an experienced technician from Solar4Good can help determine the right technology for you and a more accurate estimate of your savings.

While many households won’t have the disposable income to pay for these systems upfront, a loan would smooth the finances. It could be easier to pay than expected, especially since the technology will reduce your dependence on your energy provider.

Unlike a variable tariff, where your bill depends on the wholesale price of energy, you can fix the rate of your financing. This means, until the finance is repaid, you’ll pay a set amount each each month – regardless of inflation or other factors.

It offers predictability for your household expenditure and, perhaps more importantly, comes with an end date for your payments. Once your technology is paid off, you can then use that money to boost your finances and spend it elsewhere.

With financing, you might not need a large deposit either. At Solar4Good, some options come with a £0 upfront cost – eligibility may still apply.

Saving money by switching to solar panels can be long-term, but there are other immediate benefits. One is the added value it brings to your home.

One recent London-based homeowner who used Solar4Good saw their property increase 5% in value and sell faster than its non-solar counterparts in the area.

This increased value could go towards recouping the original money spent on the technology as they looked to install panels on their new home.

• Increase your property value while saving on electricity

How to make money with solar panels

For those looking to break-even faster, installing solar panels means you could make money from the Smart Export Guarantee. Under the government backed scheme, you can get paid for redirecting any excess electricity generated on the National Grid.

What you’ll earn depends on the energy supplier, with rates varying form 3p per kWh to 21p per kWh you export.

• Get a free expert consultation with no upfront costs here

Solar energy for your business

Like households, businesses can also benefit from the long-term savings of switching to solar power.

Some councils offer grants or incentives for local businesses to switch to solar energy – so it’s worth checking if something is available in your area.

Such aid and the long-term savings from solar energy can reduce the expenditure column on your balance sheet, creating a new cost-cutting strategy that comes with good publicity too.

Reducing the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels is becoming a mainstay on the government’s list of agendas, and companies seen to do their part are often praised for their efforts. In many cases, the switch from using fossil fuels to a more renewable source, like solar, is enough to entice new customers to support your business.

Plus, some investors are starting to favour firms with strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. A switch to solar could be part of a wider set of company changes which will convince investors that your firm is committed to sustainable practices.

Landlords and property investors, meanwhile, also have their own set of perks.

Solar panels are known to improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) score of properties. This is a documents which summarises its energy efficiency, with a score of “A” being most efficient and “G” being least.

Since solar panels reduce a home’s usage of power from the National Grid, it can improve these ratings and make your property more attractive to prospective tenants.

It’s also worth noting that all rental homes are required to have a score of “E” or higher, and if this is a concern then switching to solar could be one way of making an upgrade with added benefits.

How to install solar panels

Solar4Good is one established, family-owned brand which can recommend and install your solar panels.

What separates it from other brands is its highly-rated customer service which doesn’t end at your installation. While all panels are backed by a warranty, in the months after you start using your new panels Solar4Good stays connected to iron out any unlikely issues.

It’s a strategy which has helped the provider earn top scores on Google, Trustpilot, and Checkatrade from thousands of its customers.

Once you get in contact, an initial consultation and quote are provided free of charge. Solar4Good has been running for over 15 years, and its experienced engineers are well-positioned to give you the best tailored advice possible.

When you begin your installation, its customers have peace of mind that the company has received MCS and HIES certifications to ensure the job is completed at a high standard.

Get in touch with Solar4Good