Why solar panels are an investment for life
First-time homebuyer Tyrone France was very clear on his priorities when he and his wife recently moved into their new-build house in Exminster, Devon – the first addition had to be solar panels.
30-year-old Tyrone, who is an IT specialist for a media company, was intent on making their house a home that they will live in comfortably for the next 15 or 20 years, and for him energy security was a big part of that dream.
“Buying our first home was a very exciting step,” he said, “but we also want it to be our home for years to come. We decided that the earlier we could install solar panels the more beneficial it will be for us in the long run, so it’s the first thing that we decided to do due to cheaper solar panel installation cost in the UK. The system will have paid for itself in just a few years and after that we will be generating free energy that continues to benefit from the Feed-in Tariff. The panels will also add value to our house in the future when we eventually decide to sell.”
DAILY ELECTRICITY BILLS DOWN FROM £2.50 TO 50p
And, despite it only being early spring, the couple are already seeing the benefits. “Eon provided us with an energy meter that shows how much electricity we are using at any one time,” he added. “Before we had the solar panels installed we were paying around £2.50 a day, but now it ranges between just 50p and 70p a day. I can’t wait to see the difference in the summer, when I’m sure that the system will be generating much more energy than we use.”
To make the most of the energy generated by the solar panels, the couple followed the advice of SunGift Energy – the Exeter-based renewable energy specialists that designed and installed their system – by setting the washing machine, dishwasher and other controllable electrical devices to run in the middle of the day when their panels are generating the most electricity. They also have a large marine fish tank, which continuously makes use of the electricity their system generates.
Before the solar panels were installed, Tyrone’s meticulous nature led the couple to get eight quotes from Solar PV companies. “We like to shop around to get the best deals,” he added, “but our main criteria was to find a company that is professional, reliable, and will be around to service our system well into the future.
“As soon as I met Ollie from SunGift I knew that they were the right company. Ollie is not a salesman – he’s a solar specialist – and I immediately trusted his honesty and the time he spent explaining everything in detail to me. Ollie even pointed out a couple of issues in the loft that that my house builders had incorrectly fitted, so I was able to go back to them and get the job done correctly.”
“I’m thoroughly impressed with the high standard of work carried out by SunGift,” added Tyrone. “I spent a number of years working in the building trade and SunGift’s work is among the best I’ve seen. What’s more, I have never met an electrician with as much knowledge or expertise as SunGift’s Robbie – the man’s a genius!”
www.sungiftsolar.co.uk
