02/12/2013
FREE SOLAR PANELS, FAQs
Free Solar Panels on your home
We're Mortgage Friendly!
Our agreement complies with the Council of Mortgage Lenders' guidelines.
Cut your electric bills by 37% with free solar
Help the planet and your pocket.
Unlike some other 'free' solar companies we provide an ENTIRELY FREE service. NO annual maintenance fee. NO survey fee. NO scaffold costs. NO administration fee. NO 'one off' fee. NO contribution whatsoever. FREE means absolutely FREE.
Frequently Asked Questions
We get asked lots of questions, and while we do try our best to answer any questions posted on our Facebook profile within a few hours, we've collated the most frequently asked questions below for reference.
Q:Will we own the panels?
No, not initially, we retain ownership, however, at the end of the FIT Scheme under the terms of the Agreement with the homeowner we will agree to leave the panels on the property in perpetuity (i.e. forever – for the life of the panels) so that the owner of the property can continue to benefit from them or benefit from any tariffs that may be in place at that time, without having to pay anything.
Q:Do you offer a buyout clause?
No, we don’t sell our systems. Some of the buyout clauses that other free solar companies offer are ridiculously expensive – some as high as £20,000 – they have to be in order for the company to cover its costs and profits. We would rather not offer the option at all if it means charging exorbitant prices
Q:Would you require constant access for any maintenance?
No, absolutely not, it would be entirely at your convenience and we would contact you to arrange a suitable date and time.
Q:Can anyone have your free solar panels? Unfortunately,
No. For optimum performance the panels should be fixed on south facing roofs or roofs within 55 degrees either side of due south. Panels will operate on roofs that aren’t south facing but we only fit for optimum performance because we are paid for the electricity that is generated. We cannot afford to fit on roofs where the optimum level of performance can’t be reached. Also, we won’t fit on roofs that are overshadowed by trees or other objects as that will also affect the performance of the panels. There also has to be sufficient uninterrupted space for our panels – around 24sq meters.
Q:Some people say it won’t be possible to get a mortgage or re-mortgage on properties that have your panels.
This myth is born of selective reporting by some journalists. The leases of some ‘Rent a Roof’ schemes do not comply with the Council of Mortgage Lenders Guidelines, and these could cause future problems for their customers. Our Lease does comply with the Guidelines and our in-house solicitor and Legal Director, Anne Emmerson, was actually consulted by the CML when they were compiling the Guidelines. Many of our customers’ homes have already been sold with our free systems in place without any problem whatsoever. We have the agreement of every major mortgage provider that they will give their consent to our installations. We have also had confirmation from these mortgage providers that having our system installed would not stop a homeowner from raising a mortgage on a property or for re-mortgaging purposes. In fact, some of our customers who have had remortgages since having our system installed found the process much quicker than normal because we put them in touch with our established contacts within the legal departments of the relevant mortgage providers. Our legal department will assist with this type of thing.
Q:How long does it take to fit them?
It is actually taking our teams only half a day, with another couple of hours to erect and take down the scaffolding (when the homeowner does not have to be present). Our electrician will need access to your loft space in order to fit a voltage inverter and one of our specialist meters. It is not a disruptive process at all. It is quite straightforward. Obviously, if the weather is very bad this timescale may not be met.
Q:Will the panels make our roof more insecure in high winds?
No, absolutely not. The panels fit very closely against the roof so there is minimal space for wind to blow under them. Furthermore, the fixing system has been rigorously tested to ensure stability in even the most severe weather conditions. Germany is now the world leader in annual PV installations and the climate is very similar to ours.
Q:Will my roof be able to withstand the additional weight? Every one of our installations is approved by an independent Structural Engineer following structural calculations. We will NOT fit on any roof without his authority.
Q:Will our roof tiles be damaged in the installation?
As well as being trained in solar PV installation all our installers have been chosen due to their extensive previous experience in working on roofs. In the unlikely event that a tile is damaged in the fitting process, we will replace it at no cost to you. Everything we do is fully insured and therefore we are responsible for any damage (should there be any).
Q:Will my electricity supply be disrupted?
Yes, for around 20 minutes to allow our Electrician to complete the installation.
Q:Will I have to change Electricity Supplier?
No, you will retain the right to swap and change suppliers as and when you wish.
Q:Will I still receive an electricity bill?
Yes, because you will still be with your main Electricity Supplier. However, it should be much lower than what you usually pay because you will have our FREE electricity during daylight hours.
Q:Will all my electricity during the day will be free?
No. The panels produce electricity whilst ever it’s light, but it increases as the day wears on, peaks between 10.30 and 4.00pm, then wanes as the day comes to a close. It also depends on cloud cover. If there’s dense cloud, the panels won’t be producing as much as on a clear, bright day. At peak the panels can produce around 3000 watts. Our system will provide around 2800kw hours of electricity per year. The average house uses around 4000. If the panels aren’t producing enough electricity to meet your needs, you’ll simply pull the rest from the grid. You wouldn’t notice it happening.
Q:Will I need to read your meter?
No. You don’t have to read anything. Our meter is remotely maintained and sends us information electronically.
Q:What if something goes wrong with the panels?
We monitor the panels remotely. Accordingly we will know very quickly if something goes wrong and will rectify it within 7 days.
Q:How would I know which electricity supply I am using in my house? Would there be some kind of switch to change from the solar panels to my normal electricity supply? Otherwise, how can I be sure that I am not being charged by my normal supplier? When the solar panels are fitted,
You use your electricity as normal. If there is electricity being produced by the panels when you use anything electrical it will use that first automatically. If there isn’t enough being produced for what you need, or if it is night-time, then you will automatically use electricity from your usual supplier.
Q:Do the panels make any noise when they are generating the electricity?
No, there are no moving parts.
Q:Who insures the panels?
They are automatically covered for product liability by the manufacturers. We will insure them for everything else, including public liability, and we will pay for this insurance – this will be a term of our Agreement with you.
Q:What happens if we don’t use all the electricity the panels produce during the day?
It is fed back into the national grid automatically.
Q:What will happen when I sell the property?
The new homeowner will simply continue to benefit from the panels, a new agreement will NOT have to be signed.
Q:Will I receive a certificate for all the electrical work for when I sell the property?
Yes.
Q:Will my lights be dimmer? Will my electric fan oven reach temperature? Is the electricity as strong?
You won’t notice any difference whatsoever. If the panels aren’t producing much electricity (as on a very dull day) the electricity from the grid will simply ‘top it up’. All your electrical appliances will work as normal.
Q:Can I use more than one electrical appliance at a time?
You can use however many appliances you wish. What the panels don’t produce, the rest will be drawn from the grid. You won’t notice ANY difference at all.
Q:Do I have to switch the panels on each day?
No, absolutely not. They are working all the time. When there is no daylight, they are simply on ‘standby’. You don’t have to switch them on or off.
Q:Do I have to buy special electrical equipment to use?
No, absolutely not. You can simply go about your life as normal.
Contact us TODAY, for a FREE online suitability survey, find out what FREE solar can be worth to you.
