Solar panels harness the sun’s energy to create electricity so investing in solar panels could help you make longer term savings on your energy bills. As we celebrate the summer solstice – the longest day of the year – we take a look at the benefits of solar panels for your home.
Are solar panels a good investment?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels produce electricity and are a reliable and established form of renewable energy technology.
They are a great option for eco-conscious consumers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
The advantages of solar panels include the fact they rarely need maintenance and are guaranteed for up to 25 years.
You may ask yourself how much energy do solar panels produce and are solar panels worth it? Despite our lack of sunshine, Solar PVs are very effective in the UK. They harness energy even on cloudy days as they only require some level of daylight in order to produce electricity. Of course, the more direct sunlight they receive, the more energy that is produced.A 3kW Redrow system may generate up to 50% of a homeowner’s electricity requirements (during daylight hours) over the course of the year.
How much money you can save with solar panels depends on the utility rates, the size of the solar system installed and how effectively you use the electricity while it’s being generated
Solar energy needs to be used as soon as its generated so you can make the most of the free electricity by setting timers on your appliances (e.g. washing machine, dishwasher) to run them in sequence throughout the daytime.
If you don’t generate enough solar power from your panels, then the additional electricity you need is drawn from the National Grid. This is all done seamlessly without you needing to do anything.
How popular is solar energy?
In 2020, almost a third of Redrow homes were connected to some form of on-site renewable power such as solar PV panels or low carbon community energy source and that number is steadily growing.
In the last year, the total energy generated by solar PV panels on Redrow homes was approximately 594,000kWh (according to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the average household uses 3,731 kWh per year).
They do not need regular maintenance or heavy duty cleaning as they self-clean in the rain so they offer an easy, stress-free option for many homeowners. If they do need a clean, many window cleaners now offer this as a service.
And if the time comes to sell your home, solar panels are often seen as a major selling point, particularly as our research found that 82% of home buyers are willing to pay a premium for a home with green credentials.
Adding solar panels to your home
We currently offer solar panels as an option on the majority Redrow developments across England and Wales. Our average solar systems are 3kW but we also offer 1kW and 2kW systems and we only install high quality black in roof PV panels that blend in with your roof.
While south facing roofs are best for solar panels, the orientation doesn’t matter as much as you may think. We can also install them on east or west facing elevations and in these cases the system should still generate up to 80% of the energy as a south facing elevation.
The process of adding solar PV to your Redrow home is simple and you can do this all via My Redrow – the members’ only area of the Redrow website. You can add this option at the same time as personalising your home with our extensive range of options and upgrades.
The availability and cost of solar panels varies depending on your house type and location but your costs are detailed when you select your preferred plot in My Redrow.
We also provide you with a homeowner pack to give you all the information you need to operate your solar system efficiently.
Join MyRedrow today and take the first step on your personal journey to your new home.