Residential SOLAR
Solar for your home
Solar works alongside the grid to reduce your power costs or it can completely replace the grid.
Grid powered solar
Solar works seamlessly with the electricity grid. If you are already connected to the grid or you can look out your window and see a power line not too far away, then it makes sense for you to use both solar-generated and grid-supplied electricity together. Solar generated during the day when the sun is shining feeds your appliances and electricity at night comes from the grid.
If you use a lot of power during the day, then solar will provide really great cost savings for you. But even if you are not home during the day, solar is well worthwhile. Every home has fridges and freezers and appliances on standby that can be fed with solar-generated electricity. It's also possible to shift power use to the daytime with a delayed start on appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. Batteries can also be added so that solar-generated power can be used at night thus lessening the draw from the grid.
If you live far away from power lines and the cost of getting connected to the grid is greater than the cost of installing solar then an off grid system is for you.
Upgrading your existing solar
With years of experience installing thousands of solar panels McNae Group is well qualified to advise on repairs and upgrades.
Click here to find out more about you can improve and extend your system.
New builds
Building a new home is an exciting prospect with so many decisions to make! But, have you included solar power on your list?
By including solar on your new house you are making the most of your investment. You'll see pay-offs immediately with added value to your house and greatly reduced power costs. If you’re thinking of building, here are some tips to help make the installation of solar go smoothly.
Pre-wiring
When you choose us to install solar on your new house, we don’t get in the way of your builder or compete with your electrician. In fact, we only need to come just before the wall linings are installed to prewire with solar cables up to the roof location. This is particularly important if your roof space will be inaccessible once the ceiling linings are installed. After this is done, we don’t need to come back until after your house is complete. We then install the solar panels on your roof.
Battery location
If your system has batteries and depending on the type of batteries, you may be able to install them outside as long as they are not in direct sunlight.
We can also install batteries inside as long as they are in a non-habitable area, such as a garage. There are specific rules that limit where batteries can be installed, so be sure to consult with us about this.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Electricity generated from a solar system is 100% renewable and does not produce emissions or waste. A 6kW solar system in New Zealand can save over a tonne of CO2 each year. This is roughly equal to the emissions from a passenger car that drives 5,000 kilometres a year.
Where does the sun rise and set?
Which way should your house face for solar? When you build its important to design your roof with a northerly aspect. Don’t get too hung up on angles and direction though. The solar panels should ideally face anywhere from northeast to north west and be installed at an angle of 10-45 degrees to the horizontal.
Mono pitched roofs are fine, so long as they don’t face south. And keep the roof pitch above 10 degrees. Anything less and there will not be enough rain wash to keep the panels clean in the drier and dustier summer months. Don’t despair if your roof is not facing north, because we can simply add an extra panel or two to compensate for the loss of generation. And if your roof is really flat or south facing we can install solar panels on tilt frames.
Think carefully about what might end up on your roof that will cast shadows onto your solar panels. Shade is the enemy of solar panels. Satellite dishes, TV aerials, wood burner flues—even other higher roofs, all have the potential to reduce your solar output. Try and position these items well away from your solar panels. Make sure that any roof vents or things like these are positioned on south facing roofs away from your precious north facing solar panel roof areas.
Should I invest now or wait for prices to drop?
Solar panel technology is now mature. With maturity comes cost stability. While panels are getting more efficient and inverter technology is getting smarter, the basic concept of solar power generation is still the same as it was many years ago. This means that waiting for a reduction in price is like chasing your tail – you never get there, because any possible reduction in price is no better than the expected electricity savings in the first year after installation. Therefore, it's always better to take the plunge and install solar panels now rather than waiting for prices to drop. While you're waiting, you are missing out on huge power savings that could be paying off your investment.
Talk to us early in the process
We’ve installed solar on hundreds of new houses. We know the options for solar and we understand the build process.
Talk to us when you’ve got your initial plans together so that we can advise the best roof location for the panels. We can also walk you through the different water heating and room heating systems and how they can be integrated with solar power. And don’t leave it until the last minute!
For help incorporating solar power into your new build, give McNae Group a call.