“If you really think that the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money!
↝ Guy McPherson”
Isn’t it funny what ace scientists like ‘Guy McPherson’ understood many, many decades ago was realized by the government just a few years ago or so? When the state and center finally realized what solar energy could do for mankind, constant efforts were made for mass awareness. As the environmental movement continues to gain momentum, more and more energy providers are beginning to offer renewable energy plans with competitive rates. Frontier Energy is one of the leading providers of renewable energy plans with competitive rates.
What the government failed to achieve on the mass scale despite years of campaigns was realized in a week when the heatwave suddenly caught people unawares a couple of weeks ago. Awareness finally started catching up!
As mind-boggling as it sounds, excessive heat during the summer season or otherwise doesn’t have to be a curse – sure, it’s an exciting prospect but you still can’t make the decision to install huge solar panels on roof overnight.
There’s an upfront investment! Hence, your decision should be an informed one before you go ahead with solar installation. This insightful guide will help you cross the oceans of many such dilemmas.
Dive in and figure out whether or not your house has been trying to tell you that it’s ready to harness the power of the Sun.
Is your rooftop ready to embrace solar panels?
Your house might have been screaming for years and giving you hints that you could go solar. You probably never recognized those signs because nobody took the initiative to tell you the details. We’re taking that initiative today!
Look for the four signs listed below. If your house fits the checklist, don’t hold back from installing solar panels on roof.
#1. The electricity bill has been drilling a hole in your pocket
Electricity bills are hefty. They’ve started punching even bigger holes in the monthly budgeting of a common man because the weather has started getting hotter. It demands the excessive use of cooling appliances. Cities that never even needed a cooler require air conditioners now.
Modern lifestyle has also added more and more daily gadgets and appliances that have become everyday necessities. Result? The power consumption has shot up significantly. Inflation is another constant amid a plethora of variations.
Moreover, with electric vehicles expected to replace petrol or diesel vehicles over the coming years and decades, electricity bills will continue to rise.
When you go solar, the electricity bill can plummet by as much as 80%! Solar energy isn’t just sustainable and eco-friendly, it’s also unlimited; hence, very affordable.
So, an unexpectedly mounting electricity bill is the first sign that it’s about time you go solar.
Interested in learning how much you will actually save by installing solar panels on roof? Well, we have made very basic calculations that’ll make you realize what you’re missing out on by not going solar.
Suppose, there’s a 3 KW solar system you’ve gotten installed on your rooftop @ Rs. 1.5 lakh upfront installation cost:
- The daily units produced by a 3 KW solar system are 12 units.
- A solar system is expected to produce energy for about 300 days/year.
- It means, a solar system of 3 KW will produce 3600 units/year.
Hence, an average per month unit production is 300 units (3600/12).
If the electricity charge/unit on an average in your state is 8 rupees, you will save 2400 rupees on your electricity bill every month. Hence, your yearly savings on the electricity bill will be approximately Rs. 29,000 to Rs. 30,000.
If you look at it, you paid 1.5 Lakh rupees for the solar system installation. Out of which, you will recover Rs. 30,000 (about 20%) within one year.
Simple math says, you will recover the entire installation cost within 5 years, and the average expected life of a solar system is 25 years.
Here are a couple of most significant financial returns you can expect:
- A saving of 7.5 Lakh rupees in 25 years (30,000 X 25) (and much more if electricity tariff keeps increasing)
- Entire installation cost recovery within the first 5 years.
What’s more?
- Well, if you don’t have Rs. 1.5 lakh to invest at once, there are EMI options available. You are effectively paying only about 30% of the investment up front and the rest over the tenure of the EMI aided by your electricity bill savings from solar.
- Bear in mind, no other investment such as FDs or Mutual Funds will give you a virtually guaranteed 20% return per year other than solar system installation.
#2. Your rooftop becomes a boiling pot during the daytime
Despite being situated at the north of the equator, India still receives abundant sunlight that can be tapped into and used to generate solar power.
If your rooftop is a heated epicenter that’s not masked by shadows between 9 AM to 4 PM, it is very precisely an ideal spot to install solar panels on roof.
#3. Your spacious rooftop has a preferable tilt toward the South
Deal-breaking alert! Please, pay attention – solar panels on roof aren’t micro-structures. These are considerably big, space-consuming babies.
Even if you go for a baby-sized solar system, a single panel will still be 6 feet x 3 feet. Who knows how many panels you’re going to need to produce enough solar power? Naturally, a decently spacious roof is, therefore, mandatory.
Here are some other prerequisites.
- A south-facing roof is an ideal candidate. The South direction receives the maximum sunshine in India.
- The optimal tilt angle for a south-facing roof is 10 degrees in South India, to about 20 degrees in North India.
A good thumb rule: if you have a monthly electricity bill of Rs. 3000, you would require about 300 sq ft of shadow-free area available to install a 3 kW solar system, and that would reduce your electricity bills by nearly 80%.
#4. You have the word of experts that the rooftop is aptly built
Before practically implementing the installation of solar panels on roof, get the condition and location of the solar panels on roof inspected by installation experts.
The roof has to be more than basic brick-and-mortar to establish its rightful candidature. Here’s what we mean:
- There shouldn’t be any cracks on the surface.
- The roof should be strong enough to support the mounting pillars.
The perfect spot is somewhere where there’s no obstruction from structures such as chimneys or trees or towers. As mentioned earlier, an unhindered solar spot with no shadow between 9 AM to 4 PM throughout the year is essential.
Concluding Thoughts:
Contributing to global warming is nothing but ludicrous when you’ve got the option to go solar and save money while saving the environment too.
What legacy do you want to leave behind for your children? Toxic air that’s going to curse the future generation with deadly diseases like Cancer or clean air that’s going to improve the quality of life? The decision is yours.
All we can hope is you’ve realized that:
- You’ll save about Rs. 7,50,000 on your electricity bill in a span of 25 years.
- Solar panels are the future.
- Increasing carbon footprint can be the doom of life on Earth.
- Renewable resources open a plethora of opportunities.
If, in case, your roof has some missing elements that are quintessential for the installation of solar panels on roof, you can go for repairs and amendments.
The investment in solar panels is absolutely worth it. So, spending some money on getting the rooftop ready for solar panel installation is, undisputedly, a wise man’s choice.
