Are Solar Panels Really The Key to Huge Energy Savings?

Like many people, you might have long had to contend with high energy bills. If these are becoming too onerous for you to handle, you could have considered investing in a set of solar panels to help with energy savings. After all, these create energy from sunlight, which comes free of charge.

Nonetheless, you could actually go a step further — by striving to reduce the amount of energy you need in the first place. Perhaps surprisingly, solar panels can be a key part of this equation.

“There isn’t a lot of sunlight where I live…”

If these words have just escaped your lips, you might be convinced that you have to rule out obtaining solar panels — as they generate energy as a result of sunlight shining upon them.

When this happens, the panels — solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as you might sometimes see them called — create direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter will subsequently convert this energy into alternating current (AC) electricity suitable for many household appliances to draw upon. 

However, you might be surprised to read that sunlight doesn’t have to shine directly on the panels in order to trigger this whole chain reaction. Even on cloudy days, the panels can make energy from what little light they do capture. 

Besides, you might live somewhere that tends to get relatively high amounts of sunlight on a day-to-day basis. Generally, the South of England fares better than the North in this regard — making, for example, Colchester, Ipswich or Cambridge solar panels an especially attractive deal. 

“I’m not sure I can actually afford solar panels…”

This would be an understandable worry to have, as solar panels have long been reputed as entailing a high upfront cost. Reassuringly, though, this price has come down over time — and you could turn out to be eligible for financial support under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.

How many solar panels would you need anyway? According to Energy Helpline, 12 solar panels should suffice for a family of four, while a larger family home could call for about 16 panels. 

Still, keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to source enough solar panels to meet all of your property’s electrical needs. Even if budgetary requirements force you to settle for fewer panels than this particular threshold, you would still be able to boost the building’s energy efficiency.

“What if I already have solar panels?”

If this is indeed the case, and you don’t have any suitable space free to accommodate yet more panels, you might assume that it would be pointless — at least from an energy efficiency standpoint — to get any of these existing panels replaced. 

However, as MoneySavingExpert warns, solar panels actually start slowly declining in efficiency once in place for roughly 20 to 25 years. 

Make huge energy savings with Advanced Eco

So, if your own home’s solar panels have reached this kind of age, you might want to start thinking about replacements. Feel free to ring 01440 712 710 to learn how we are able to install solar panels in Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and nearby areas.

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