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Impact of solar panels on house values

By Sunhive | May 26th, 2011

How do solar panels affect the value of your house? An assumption made by some is that they might reduce the price of a property due to their appearance. This is, however, far from the truth.

Philip Sellwood, the chief executive of the Energy Savings Trust has suggested that renewable energy devices fitted to a home would be as attractive to potential buyers as a new kitchen or a hardwood floor. This is in light of a survey of 2,700 UK adults conducted by the Energy Savings Trust, finding that a third of all respondents would be willing to pay more for a house that receives a portion of its energy from renewable sources. This is not surprising considering that a house fitted with solar panels will give its occupants free solar energy.

Estimates of how much value solar panels can add to a house vary. Aboutproperty.co.uk puts this figure at around 5% whereas a more recent evaluation by tradeskills.co.uk predicts that solar panels may give homes a 10% value increase. Rather than a percentage estimate, the director of the solar panel price comparison website talksolarpanels.co.uk suggests that on average, home-owners could expect a £10,000 increase to the value of their property.

These figures have been proven and excelled overseas, a report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory claiming that houses in the USA will sell for 17% more if they are fitted with solar panels and also sell 20% faster. Over 30,000 homes have been fitted with solar panels in the UK so far and most of them in the past year so it will not be long before we have much clearer evidence ourselves as more solar homes go on the market.

Sources

http://solarfeedintariff.co.uk/2009/09/report-finds-that-solar-panels-will-increase-property-values/

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/1807647/solar-panels-boost-property-prices

http://www.aboutproperty.co.uk/uk-property/2010/08/27/solar-panels-can-add-5-to-home-s-value

http://www.trade-skills.com/solar-panels-push-house-prices-up/

http://ezinearticles.com/?Solar-Panels-For-Your-Home—How-Could-They-Affect-Your-Propertys-Value?&id=5807047

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Myths about solar panels

By Sunhive | May 22nd, 2011

Some of the most commonly held misconceptions about solar energy are that solar panels are too expensive, do not work in cloudy weather and that they are unreliable. However, it will now be explained why this is not in fact the case.

Cost: The issue of cost speaks for itself as it is now possible to obtain panels for free through schemes such as that offered by Sunhive. Even if you do buy your own panels, government incentives such as the UK’s feed-in-tariff, reduced electricity bills and increased house value still make solar energy an economical option.

Weather: Many would be surprised to learn that Germany is the world’s solar capital. In fact, if there is enough light to see your hand in front of your face, then solar panels are able to function. This is because they work from UV light, which is unaffected by cloud cover. Also the electricity is actually conducted more efficiently in cooler climates meaning you do not need to live in a place of endless daily sunshine to enjoy the benefits of solar energy.

Reliability: Frequently people worry that they cannot be assured their panels will always work, however, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory has hailed solar energy as “the most reliable source of electric power ever invented.”As home solar panels are not reliant on the grid, they are not subject to power outages and having no moving parts there is little to maintain or go wrong. It is for this reason as well as the low cost that solar is used on vital systems such as aircraft warning signals and railway crossings.

As solar technology is constantly developing, more problems will turn to solutions and it is important to remember that what may have been an issue in years past could have already found its solution.

Sources

http://sunhive.com/how-is-it-free/

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Feed-in-Tariff-scheme

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/1807647/solar-panels-boost-property-prices

http://solar.coolerplanet.com/Articles/top-10-solar-energy-myths.aspx

http://phonosolar.co/pv-systems/common-uk-myths-surrounding-phono-solar-panels-solar-energy

http://www.lightparty.com/Energy/SolarPower.html

 

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How can tenants get solar panels?

By Sunhive | May 17th, 2011

What can you do if you are a tenant in a house and would like to have solar panels fitted? You will of course have to do this through your landlord and some may be more compliant than others. In order to obtain their agreement, the best thing to do will be to provide them with a clear outline of what the advantages are, especially in financial terms.

Firstly through using a scheme such as that offered by Sunhive, there need not be any initial financial outlay for the landlord as that is paid for by investors who receive the money generated by the feed in tariff. A price can then be negotiated with your landlord to pay them for the electricity generated by the panels that you use. An immediate financial reward will provide a prime reason for a landlord to agree to the fitting of solar panels but if this rate is cheaper than current green energy tariffs there is also a good incentive for the tenant.

In the South, 100% renewable company Good Energy charge roughly 14p per kWh of electricity and Green Energy’s 100% renewable tariff costs around 13p per kWh in Sussex. Therefore if you were to offer your landlord 6p per kWh for the electricity you use from the panels, they would receive extra income for no money or effort and you would receive green electricity for less than half the usual price.

A further concern to a landlord will be how the fitting of panels will affect the value of the property but they can be assured that a study by the Energy Savings Trust suggests that the value will increase, a further reason to assent to the fitting of panels.

Sources

http://sunhive.com/solar-homes/free-solar-power-for-sussex-homes/

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Feed-in-Tariff-scheme

http://www.goodenergy.co.uk/switch/our-prices/tariff-prices

http://www.greenenergy.uk.com/Prices.aspx

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/1807647/solar-panels-boost-property-prices

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Solar panels and planning permission in the UK

By Sunhive | May 12th, 2011

Does the fitting of solar panels require planning permission?

While the majority of domestic solar panels do not require permission, there are some exceptions which are dictated by government rules. It is then up to local councils to make planning decisions.

The government state that for roof mounted solar panels, planning permission will need to be sought if there is a protrusion of more than 200mm. For free standing panels, permission will need to be sought if they are more than 4 meters in height, installed less than 5 meters away from any boundary or have an area of above 9m. For both types, it is especially likely that planning permission will be necessary if houses are listed buildings or in conservation areas.

When planning permission is necessary, a chief consideration is how panels will affect their surroundings. Last year, Tim and Lucy Harding of Hove gained planning permission for their roof panels but after fitting them were ordered to move them so they were flat against the roof, in strict accordance with the original plans. This was because the were causing unacceptable amounts of glare into a neighbouring property.

Steven McLean has also encountered planning difficulty with his solar panels that are part of his attempt to make his Brighton house ‘zero energy’. In November, a second set of proposals which had been modified from his original plans, (rejected two months earlier) were also rejected by Brighton and Hove Council planning committee. This was despite receiving approval from planning advisers. The grounds of rejection was that the panels would make the house look cluttered. In December a certificate of lawfulness was obtained for solar panels for the property for plans submitted in September, however, this does not constitute planning permission. Mr McLean continues to contest the planning refusal, believing that his case represents irrational antipathy towards green energy initiatives rather than being a simple aesthetic dispute.

Sources

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Getting-planning-permission

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/DG_072593

http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2010/09/3m-hove-house-in-trouble-with-planners/

http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2010/11/rejection-of-green-home-plan-in-withdean-prompts-furious-outburst/

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgConvert2Pdf.aspx?ID=9223&T=9 (page 45)

http://wam.brighton-hove.gov.uk/PlanningWAM/doc/Decision-1722842.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=1722842&location=VOLUME3&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=2

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How toxic are solar panels?

By Sunhive | May 8th, 2011

Concerns have been expressed recently about pollution from solar panels both during the manufacturing process and when they reach the end of their usable lives.

The manufacture of panels frequently involves toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury as well as producing CO2. However, a recent study found that due to the heavy metal content of fossil fuels, if we were to switch entirely from fossil to solar, overall there would still be a 90% reduction of pollution released into the atmosphere. A recently developed panel, based on cadmium telluride, produces 300x less emissions in its manufacture when directly compared to coal power plants according to Vasilis Fthenakis, from Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA.

Another issue discussed in solar panel manufacture is by-products such as hydrochloric acid. In factories in Europe and America all by-products are recycled. In countries such as China, where there are not so many rules, problems have been reported with toxic waste. These troubles are a symptom of economic corner-cutting and by no means isolated to the solar industry. A simple remedy to ensure solar panel manufacture with minimal pollution, is for companies to only accept sources of materials where there are stringent standards in place, thus placing economic pressure on factories to develop effective waste management.

A further concern is the safe disposal of panels containing toxic material at the end of their useful lives. However, the risk of pollution is far lower than that caused by household electrical goods due to the fact that solar panels are removed by trained professionals. A solar panel is effective for over 20 years, so adequate recycling facilities can be developed to meet the increasing demand. With disposal now more important, recycling technology can now be developed alongside solar technology so that sustainability can be guaranteed from the outset.

Sources:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,333158,00.html

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/greater-oversight-needed-solar-panel-manufacturing-disposal.php

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/r?dbs+iter:@term+@rn+@rel+%227647-01-0%22

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030802595.html

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/1900650/europe-greenlights-toxic-solar-panel-components

http://www.naturalnews.com/030696_e-waste_solar_panels.html

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Solar panels and shading from trees

By Sunhive | May 2nd, 2011

When trees cause solar panels to be shaded this can bring up issues such as the rights of the respective owners and the environmental sacrifice of removing or pruning the tree.

In UK law, while we do not automatically have a legal right to sunlight on our buildings, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau states that a neighbour’s tree can be pruned if it is blocking light to a property, however, it cannot necessarily be reduced in height. The ‘right of ancient lights’ may be useful if height reduction is needed as it states that if a property has been receiving light on its windows for at least 20 years then generally a right will have been acquired to continue receiving that light. If trees grow to shade solar panels they may shade windows as well so this right can be used as a basis for a height reduction request.

Neighbours may refuse to cut trees on the grounds that there is only minimal shading and that trees absorb carbon dioxide. What is commonly not understood is that a solar array without micro-inverters can only produce as much electricity overall as its least efficient panel. So even if only one panel out of five is shaded and running at 50%, then the whole array can only produce 50% of its potential power.

When considering the loss of carbon dioxide absorption from cutting a tree, what must be considered is that fossil fuels will be used to generate the electricity lost from a shaded solar panel. The generating capacity of 5x200w solar panels in Sussex running at 50% is around 300kwh per year. Using a carbon calculator we can see that we would need to plant at least one tree every year to offset the carbon that making the lost electricity by fossil fuels produces. There is also the option of donating to the Woodlands Trust plant-a-tree project to make up for cutting one down.

Sources used:

http://www.horshamcab.org.uk/housing.htm
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/01/12/merseyside-school-refuses-solar-panel-tree-trim-request-92534-27970350/

http://www.residentialsolar101.org/is_a_micro-inverter_right_for_you

http://www.longtermsolar.com/average-kwh-production-for-solar-systems/

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/so/print.html

http://www.carbonify.com/carbon-calculator.htm

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/support-us/plant-a-tree/Pages/new-forest.aspx

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Why is solar power a good idea?

By Sunhive | April 20th, 2011

Solar panels are a great way to produce environmentally friendly renewable energy and save money at the same time. Most traditional forms of electricity generation work by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil. These fuels are getting more expensive all the time and also emit large amounts of carbon dioxide gas, a major contributor to climate change. But there are other ways of making electricity.

The Sun - the ultimate source of energyThe Sun is a fantastic source of energy. Its diameter is over 100 times larger than the Earths, it has been shining for 4.6 billion years already and is likely to shine for another 5 billion years. In 1 hour the Earth receives more energy from the Sun than the entire population of our planet uses in a year. Photovoltaic (PV) technology allows us to turn sunlight directly into electricity without any moving parts or emissions. The panels are completely silent, very low maintenance and most are guaranteed for 25 years or more.

The Energy Saving Trust reports that the average UK home solar installation can save 1 tonne of CO2 being emitted each year and reduce electricity bills by 40%. The feed-in tariff that was brought in last year means that solar power is now affordable to anyone, whether you want to pay for it yourself and make money or get a free installation and save on bills. By generating your own electricity you also protect yourself from future rises in electricity costs.

Additionally, when the solar panels come to the end of their life, the aluminium, glass and silicon that are used to make them are all highly recyclable, making sure that they live up to their promise of being environmentally friendly!

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What are feed-in tariffs and how do they work?

By Sunhive | April 14th, 2011
solar home savings

FITs provide an income for generating electricity

A feed-in tariff (FIT) is a funding mechanism used in many countries to help promote small-scale renewable energy production. A typical 2.5kWp domestic solar PV installation costs around £12,000, but with the FIT this can generate an income of roughly £1,000 (tax free) on top of the savings on your electricity bills. This makes it not only good for the environment but also good for your wallet. The feed-in tariff has also enabled companies to offer completely free installations if you just want the electricity and not the payments.

FITs were introduced in the UK in April 2010 and guarantee the level of payment received for producing renewable electricity. For solar PV installations under 4kWp in size (as most domestic installations are) the rate was set at 41.3p per unit of electricity produced, and this has since increased to 43.3p (as the price is linked to the retail price index). There is also a bonus for electricity you produce and do not use. For each unit you send back to the grid you get a further 3p and this electricity is available for others to use.

Although FITs were introduced by the government, they are paid for by electricity companies. These companies pass the cost onto their customers, so effectively every household pays a small amount towards the FITs. Sharp estimate that an increase of £8.50 per year on the average electricity bill could pay for 250MW of solar installations – that’s about 100,000 domestic installations. Homeowners, landlords, schools and businesses can all benefit from the feed-in tariff, and over 17,000 PV installations were carried out in the 9 months between the introduction of FITs in April 2010 and the end of the year, showing how successful the feed-in tariff is.

 

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On-grid and off-grid solar power

By Sunhive | April 11th, 2011

Most houses in the UK are connected to the national grid which supplies the house with electricity. PV systems installed on these houses will also be connected to the grid. When they are producing more electricity than is needed the excess will be fed back into the grid, and when the demand is greater than the amount being produced they take electricity from it. This all happens automatically and the only difference you’ll notice is lower electricity bills.

A grid-connected solar installation will consist of the PV modules (or panels) connected to an inverter which feeds the electricity into your consumer unit (fuse box) for use within the house. (See parts of a solar PV system for more information.) The consumer unit will then have two inputs – one from the solar panels and one from the national grid. This allows you to take advantage of free electricity when your solar panels without losing your current supply.

Houses that do not have a connection to the grid can also benefit from solar electricity with an off-grid system. Instead of the being tied in to the grid, these systems will have a battery system which is charged when there is excess electricity being produced and used when not enough is being generated. An off-grid system will usually have other sources of electricity such as wind turbines or back-up generators to complement the solar panels and provide additional power, especially during the winter when output from the panels is lower.

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Mounting options for solar PV panels

By Sunhive | April 9th, 2011

There are many ways to mount solar panels and the method used will depend on where you are situating them. Most domestic solar panels are mounted on top of the existing roof, but they can also form part of the roof itself, be mounted on the side of a building or on a flat roof, or just on stands on the ground.

Roof mounted solar panels

On-roof mounted panels on left, in-roof on right. Source: www.alibaba.com

On-roof mounting

Mounting solar panels on top of an existing roof is simple, fast and economical. The panels are secured to a frame and held about 5-10cm above the roof to allow air to flow underneath, keeping the panels cool. The frame is attached to the beams in your roof using brackets that slide underneath the tiles.

In-roof mounting

As well as generating electricity, solar panels can also act as part of your roof, keeping the weather out. Building integrated PV (BIPV) panels may be suitable for a new-build house or if you are replacing your existing roof.

Facade mounted panels

Facade mounted solar panels. Source: www.messe-duesseldorf.de

Façade mounting

Some buildings may have large expanses of south-facing walls. Although solar panels should ideally be at an angle, façade-mounted panels can still produce a significant amount of electricity. Like roof-mounted panels, the panels can either be an addition to the normal building structure or can be used as part of the wall.

Flat roof mounting

Whereas roof- and façade-mounted panels have their position prescribed for them, panels mounted on flat roofs can be made to point directly at the sun. If a solar tracker is used, the panels are automatically turned to follow the sun making sure that as much energy as possible is used.

Ground mounted panels

Ground mounted panels. Source: ontariosolarfarms.com

Ground installations

Solar panels do not have to be fixed to a building. Ground installations can be an effective use of disused land, from rubbish tips to decommissioned quarries. Like flat roof-mounted panels, trackers can be used to optimise output.

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