FAQ

Developers now place increased importance on how a house is positioned for sun, so if your house is a new or recent build it’s likely to be perfect for solar. Existing instead of older houses can be fantastic candidates for a solar power or hot water system. Give us a call, and we can advise based on the specific details of your home. 

Most of our customers find their system pays for its initial cost within 5-7 years of installation, however the benefits of a smaller power bill and a reduced environmental footprint are immediate. 

Your monthly power savings will depend on your current usage, and on the system we install. We can discuss your options at our initial site visit, and recommend the system that will provide the most benefit.

Solar water and solar power both have huge potential benefits, and choosing which one is the right fit for you is based on your current power usage and lifestyle. We can talk you through your options during our initial visit, and will design a system to suit your needs.

A PV solar panel, also referred to as a solar module, is constructed by connecting photovoltaic cells (or PV cells)to produce electricity. The cells are a semiconductor-based technology that converts solar radiation into direct current (DC) electricity. Solar panels for grid-connected homes or businesses use typically use 60 to 120 PV cells.

By utilizing PV solar cells, home or business owners are able to generate electricity from sunlight-saving money, and avoiding the harmful pollution generated by traditional methods of generating electricity. This solar generated energy is used to offset or replace power that would normally be purchased from their power provider.

95% of PV solar panels installed in NZ are grid-tied systems, meaning that the system is tied to the power grid. The solar power is used in the dwelling to reduce the amount of power that needs to be purchased from the power provider.

An off-grid solar energy system is one where there is no connection to the national power grid. This type of installation requires a charge-controller, a bank of batteries and in most cases an inverter, so that electric power requirements can be met at night or during cloudy conditions.

A typical solar panel of 300Wp will measure about 1.7 square meters. Depending on the fixing requirements and layout, the required square meterage of roof space is likely to be somewhat larger than the area of the panels. Every system will be slightly different depending on the installation requirements.

Solar panels have been known to last 40years or longer. Typical solar panel guarantees include five years workmanship and materials warranty, and a 20-25 year performance warranty. A typical panel performance warranty will guarantee 90% of rated production for 10-15 years, and 80% for 20-25 years. Solar panels are designed to withstand hail, severe wind and weather conditions (assuming proper installation).

Generally, the best return on investment is when you target the average power in watts used during the month with the lowest electric bill. Most net metering programs allow you to carry forward a credit, meaning that when you produce more solar electricity than your total consumption, it is sold back to the power provider

We supply and sell both types of technologies. Flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors both work very well in cold, cloudy or otherwise unfavourable conditions. There are a number of factors to weigh when choosing between the two, and we’re happy to discuss the options and find the right collector for your home or business.

Solar hot-water systems work surprisingly well in cold, cloudy and winter conditions. At times, however, especially during long periods of cloud cover, some light use of your backup system may be required.

Your pool represents a significant financial investment. Heating your pool allows you, your family, and your guests to enjoy that investment for longer throughout the year.Heating your pool enables you to comfortably enjoy your pool-this means swimming earlier in the spring, later in the evenings, and later into the cooler months.

Cold water is pumped from your pool using your existing pool pump & filter through our solar pool heaters. Our long-lasting, high performance solar pool heaters then warm the water from your pool using the sun's energy, much like water in a garden hose will become hot by sitting in the sun. This warm water is then pumped back to the pool. This continuous cycle warms the entire pool, allowing you to enjoy your swimming pool later into the day, and longer throughout the year.

This is largely dependent on the size of the solar hot-water system being installed; collectors are modular and can be installed on most roof layouts. Commercial solar hot-water systems can be as small as two or three collectors, or as large as several hundred or more.

A solar hot-water system requires annual maintenance, to ensure continued performance and reliability. The controls operate the pump and monitor the system’s activities on a daily basis