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Absolutely! A new generous rebate system has been introduced called the Solar Credits Scheme, which significantly reduces the upfront cost of installing a solar power system. This rebate is not means tested, which means that any property that has not claimed a solar rebate is eligible.
Under the Solar Credits Scheme, a number of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are awarded as an effective rebate for each system and the larger the system the more RECs are awarded. For more information abut RECs, please visit our website (www.envirogroup.com.au) or refer to our information document about RECs.
Another significant financial incentive is the ongoing premium feed-in tariff.

Yes. The solar credits scheme will be phased out in four stages between July 2011 and July 2014. Each stage of the phase out will significantly increase the upfront cost of installing solar. The Feed-In Tariff is also limited to the first 100MW of solar installations. What does this mean? Households who install solar sooner will benefit from a smaller upfront cost, shorter payback period, a more extended period in which to benefit from the feed-in tariff and greater long term savings.

All Victorian electricity retailers must now offer a minimum of $0.60 for every kilowatt hour (kW/h) of electricity exported from home to the grid.
Some electricity retailers will pay you for your exported power, while others will simply credit the value of the power you produce against your bill, to be used at another time. Be sure to check with your current energy retailer and shop around for a better deal if you are not happy as some offers from electricity retailers are better than others. Once you choose your retailer and notify them of your intention to install solar, they will arrange the installation of a bi-directional Smart Meter. This Smart Meter will monitor the electricity used in your house as well as the electricity you export to the grid.

Most 1kW and 2kW systems are normally installed within one day. Some larger systems can take up to two days, however installation on houses with a tin roof normally involve faster installation than houses with a tile roof. With the old rebate system, the longest delay was approval of the rebate itself, which involved a wait of up to 12 weeks. With the new Solar Credits Scheme, installation can occur much faster.

How many solar panels do I need to power my home?
The amount of panels needed for a household will depend on several factors. It’s almost like asking “How much fuel does my car need?” It all depends on how much you intend to use your car and how you drive.
In the case of solar power, the number of panels you choose depends on:
1. If you wish to be carbon neutral or if you just want to reduce your electricity bill to zero;
2. The average daily electricity consumption of your household;
3. The amount of electricity consumed between the hours of 11am and 3pm.
On average throughout the year, a 1kW solar power system will produce approximately 3.8kW/h of electricity per day. A 1.5kW solar power stem would therefore produce an average 5.7kW per day. If you wish to be carbon neutral you simply need to divide your daily usage (in kW/h) by 3.8 to work out the kilowatt size of your system.
For a typical Victorian household consuming an average 18kWh per day and only 2kW during daylight hours, the installation of a 1.5kW solar power system would result in a major reduction in power bills but would not offset the household’s power bills entirely. A 3kW or higher system however, would export power to the grid to offset power bills entirely, reduce the system’s payback period and increase the system’s return on investment. Of course in order to significantly reduce your solar power system’s payback period and thereby maximise the return on your system, it is important to reduce your energy consumption so that you can feed more electricity back into the grid. In addition to assisting you in choosing the right size system for you, we can help you to identify and improve the inefficient aspects of your home by providing advice, eco audits and a wide range of energy-efficient and energy monitoring products as part of a holistic sustainability solution. This will help to slash your power costs and make your home more green.
For more details on how to decide on the right system for you, please refer to our information document “Maximising Your Solar Power Investment” or visit our web site.

Facing due north is the ideal orientation for solar panels, but panels facing more east or west can still provide a high percentage of available power. The optimum tilt angle of the solar panels in Victoria is around 25 degrees which makes standard roof pitches ideal, but if you have a low angle or flat roof we can use adjustable tilt frames to bring the panels up to the ideal angle.
The solar modules used in the higher quality systems are relatively compact. A typical 1.5Kw system involves eight panels and an area of approximately 6.4m wide and 1.6m high for a landscape layout and 3.2m wide and 3.2m high for a portrait layout.

No. The panels are specifically designed and certified to withstand impacts harsh weather such as large hailstones. The aluminium frames are anodized for extra durability and long life. A direct lightning strike is about the only weather likely to create significant damage to a solar power system.

Yes! Recent property sales have proven that a solar system loses very little value over its life, and when the Solar Credits and Feed-in tariff are considered, your solar power system will probably be worth more in the future than you paid for it. It is possible to remove the system and reinstall it on another house, however this is a costly and difficult procedure and it is not recommended. A solar power system is a very wise financial and capital investment, especially given the rising price of electricity and the growing demand for energy efficient homes.

All hardware is installed with virtually no alterations to your house. For tin roofs the frames are mounted directly to the roof and for tile roofs, a few tiles are removed, the frame is mounted into the rafters and then the tiles are replaced. The cables are normally installed inside the roof and walls and conduit is used as a last resort, ensuring minimum aesthetics impact to your home.

Solar panels obviously require sunlight to produce electricity, but a certain amount of minor shading won’t dramatically reduce your system’s performance. We always design our systems to avoid shading throughout the day. This is one reason why we prefer to conduct a free assessment at your home before we provide a quotation. Ask us you are concerned about shading.

Your solar panels rarely need to be washed or cleaned, but it is advisable to wipe them down with water perhaps once a year to avoid dust build-up from affecting performance.

It is not feasible to install a ‘stand-alone’ solar power system if you are located in a suburban grid-connected area. The cost for batteries and other components for a stand-alone system is significantly more expensive than a grid-connect system. Installing a grid-connect system also means you can ‘export’ your excess solar electricity.
If you live in a remote area, you can install a stand-alone Solar Power system and claim RECs under the Solar Credits Scheme.

Your solar power system will instantly shut off if the grid fails. If your system continues to produce electricity, it can risk the lives of the power line workers. This automatic shutdown also protects any electricians conducting electrical work within your home.
If required, we can design a small backup system, incorporating a solar panel, battery and inverter, that can provide you with backup power in emergency situations. Please note however that these systems are generally expensive.

A standard 25-year performance warranty is provided for the solar panels. A five-year workmanship warranty is provided for the installation of the system and a five-year warranty is provided for the inverter, which can be upgraded to a 10-year warranty. Other premium or tailored warranties are also available.