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There comes a time when most people want to put something back; they might have had a rewarding and successful life so far, but, as they get older and wiser, they can see perhaps more clearly that they might be able to make a difference in a small way and that many people each making a small differences adds up to one big difference.
Some of these people will be concerned about their children and their grandchildren’s quality of life and understanding how dangerous climate change is will choose that field to make a difference.
Investing in a solar thermal water heating system seems logical. You will genuinely reduce your own carbon dioxide emissions (often by around a tonne a year if your solar system displaces electric water heating) and your system will provide you with a genuine pay back of between eight and twelve years (equivalent to a safe tax free return of more than 7%). If you are using solar to heat a swimming pool the pay back is much shorter and the return much higher, and the carbon dioxide savings massive. Also, solar heat is less expensive and more effective than electrical solar, because you can store your energy.
So how do you make your buying decision? Unfortunately solar thermal technology has been attractive to a tiny but unscrupulous breed of sales people, who once in your home may well try to spend hours in selling you a poor system at a highly inflated price.
There is nothing wrong in having a sales person visit your home and often it is desirable to have a face to face discussion; most solar water heating sales professionals are reputable and honest, but how do you avoid the minority who are not? I can give you some advice as to what you should look for before the sales person enters the home.
First, check that the sales person’s company that the company is a member of a reputable trade organisation. There are two in the solar field – the Renewable Energy Association and the Solar Trade Association. Both organisations have a code of conduct which prevents misleading the consumer and ensures ethical sales. In the case of the Renewable Energy Association, its members adhere to the Real Assurance Scheme which is approved by the Office of Fair Trading.
Then check whether the solar panels are backed by a manufacturer’s guarantee. My company, Genersys, offers a twenty year guarantee provided the panels are correctly installed; do not accept less than ten years, because the whole point of your investment is that it should save you money (and carbon) for many years to come.
Finally check the installation guarantee; here look for a ten year guarantee. Some installers are members of the Renewable Energy Installation Guarantee Association, which offers a no quibble ten year industry backed guarantee.
If you have ticked all these boxes you should enjoy a trouble free investment which would not only save you carbon and money, but would also add value to your home as energy prices continue to rise.
Robert Kyriakides
Chief Executive
Genersys plc
Useful contacts
Renewable Energy Association - REAL Assurance Ltd
Tel: 020 7747 1830
www.realassurance.org.uk
Solar Trade Association
Tel: 01908 442290
www.greenenergy.org.uk/sta
Renewable Energy Installation Guarantee Association
Tel: 0845 390 2 390
www.reiga.org.uk
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