https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-a-99k-w-solar-power-system-optimise-the-costs-and-government-rebates-for-toyota https://www.youtube.com/embed/-x4bvyj1iSU How did a 99kW solar power system optimise the costs and government rebates for Toyota? Today we're at Toyota Material Handling Australia, their new facility out here in Dandenong. Pacific Solar's just completed a 99 kilowatt solar system on the roof here. At this facility, they do a lot of maintenance. They also have a large office facility, which we're in now, which has a lot of HVAC, air conditioning, and things like that. Their energy use is in the air conditioning, and the office services, but they also have a lot of battery charging in the warehouse. From our point of view, our business runs here, in standard operating hours. But of course, running a place this size, which has two workshops, and over a hundred people, we draw a lot of power at different times of the day. So it's important to have an energy plan that is as economical and as efficient as possible, both now and in the future, especially considering the rising costs of power. So at Pacific Solar, we complete the full system design, plus the engineering, plus the procurement, and then right through to the installation. We find that there's a sweet spot for B2B business customers. It's in that sort of 30 kilowatt range, and then the next sort of step to that is 99 kilowatts. The reasons for this is because of the government rebates that are currently available. The 99 kilowatt system is the maximum, what they call a Small Scale STC rebate. It means that you're maximising that rebate amount. The other sort of step in that scheme, is that you still get the rebate at 30 kilowatts, but that 30 kilowatts we don't need to put in things like the switchboard, and the sub mains, and things like that. So there's a real cost saving. It hits that real price point, but ultimately, it depends upon the type of customer you are, how much power you're using, the rates you're paying for power, and this is all the analysis that Pacific Solar completes, as part of the internal assessment of your solar system. When you have a trusted supplier, like Pacific Solar, you know that you are going to be in it for the long term. And by that, not just from the initial installation, but you've also got the comfort, and security, in knowing that they'll be around, and continue to provide service and support, both now, and into the future. A lot of businesses are installing solar with the aim of obviously reducing their energy costs. But also we're seeing more and more these days, that the companies want to save on their carbon credits, things like that. It's got to do with their, you know, the green credentials of the business, which I think are front and centre for a lot of discerning customers out there these days. If we can rely on as much solar as possible, to reduce our costs, that's an important thing for us. And as a leader in the forklift market, it is an expectation that Toyota is at the forefront of these environmental solutions. And solar is definitely one way that we can demonstrate our commitment to sustainability. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-x4bvyj1iSU 2.59 2023-06-22T04:41:48.329Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-solar-system-size-and-design-is-correct-for-my-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJHREM-ddc4 What solar system size and design is correct for my home? \- The thing is with solar and battery storage systems now is that every situation for every client is different. Some people use more energy than others, some people use more of their power during the day, and some use a heavy amount of electricity in the evenings. The difference between people that use power during the day and in the evening, it could mean that battery storage makes sense for some and doesn't make sense for others. And the thing about sizing a solar system, and particularly a battery storage system, is that everyone has different needs depending on their situation. So there's some general rules of thumb that if my electricity bill is $500 a quarter, then a 5 kilowatt system is around about the right size. So that's a really good starting point as a reference. But from there, we need to understand not just how much energy you use during the day but what time of day that power is being consumed. So we can put monitoring in and actually assess your power consumption in 15-minute increments and say, "Okay, well, you do use a lot of electricity, but most of that's in the evening." So if you are going to put a solar power system in, you really need to also put in battery storage because your solar consumption is going to be low. You'll actually be feeding quite a lot to the grid during the day, we need to put a battery in to capture that energy and release it at night and stopping you from buying electricity from the grid. So it's really important that whoever you trust to invest in with this solution, they understand your needs. They design a solution that's tailored for your home. Every time that we look at someone's usage profile across the day, they're always different. There's so many different variables of people's homes. Some people use more power in summer and then they go away in winter. We have stay-at-home moms, home businesses, dual income, no kids. It's interesting to see a usage profile across 24 hours and understand that every situation's different. So you can't have a one solution to fit every situation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJHREM-ddc4 1.51 2023-06-13T20:17:42.291Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-much-solar-battery-storage-does-the-average-home-need https://www.youtube.com/embed/QabPwJJc1Ic How much solar battery storage does the average home need? The average solar storage system that we're seeing in the market at the moment, so a typical home is using around 20 kilowatt hours. And in general, most people are getting between 5 to 6.5 kilowatt solar system and 10 kilowatt hour battery. The typical family is at work during the day, or at school, and everyone comes home in the evening when the sun's starting to go down. So investing in a battery solution to store that energy in the battery so you can use it at nighttime makes a lot of sense. All the energy that you are generating from your solar system, that's your energy. You are storing it in your battery and supplying your home at nighttime. So that's saving you money, not having to purchase expensive energy from the grid. You're using your clean, green energy. The average four-bedroom home, or four-person family is using typically a five to a six kilowatt solar array and a 10 kilowatt hour RESU battery. If they have different demands, we do have flexible sizes in energy storage and the amount of panels as well, so not everyone's the same. We do have the flexibility to have, yeah, up to 10, 11 kilowatts of solar panels on the roof and multiple battery options as well. It all depends on your usage profile. So some people use a whole heap of energy, they've got big pool pumps, lots of refrigerators and things like that. And then other people are a lot more energy efficient, so it just depends on your energy usage profile. It definitely pays to be talking to the right installation companies. They'll give you the right advice, size the system up to suit your needs. They'll look at your energy usage profiles, and make sure you've got the right system designed to match your needs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QabPwJJc1Ic 1.48 2023-06-13T20:17:38.511Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-main-reasons-people-invest-in-solar-battery-storage-for-their-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/EtIGsBv5ipY What are the main reasons people invest in solar battery storage for their home? There's a range of different reasons why people are investing in solar battery storage solutions for their home. In particular is energy independence, and protecting themselves against rising electricity costs. So the hip pocket is very important, additional blackout protection, and increasing their property value. By adding a solar-plus storage system, it's actually an investment that you're spending your own money, but it's adding to the value of the property. So what that means when you go to sell your home, it is increasing the value of the property. If the person buying the home doesn't want to pay more for that, that's fine, it's your asset, it's your battery, you can bring it with you to your next property. But this is an investment, you do get a return on this actual solution, so unlike putting a veranda on your, investing $15,000 in a veranda, that's there, it's nice, you can use it, but it's not generating any income for you and paying itself off. With a solar-plus storage system, it's a bit different. It's still an asset for your property, so it's increasing your property value, but you're also saving money every kilowatt hour you are producing and self-consuming from the solar or battery, is a return on investment. The things you need to think about if you're investing in a solar-plus battery system for your home, very important is to choose the right installation company, choosing quality products. So reputable organisations like LG who'll be around to support the warranties of the products. And of course, great hardware as well. So the inverters and the right selection of solar panels. Like everything, not all products are manufactured the same and to the same quality standards. So it's very important that you choose a company that you can trust that has a proven track record in manufacturing products. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EtIGsBv5ipY 1.51 2023-06-13T20:17:34.847Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-a-solar-power-inverter-and-how-does-it-help-monitor-your-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/CY_twoWDU18 What is a solar power inverter and how does it help monitor your solar power system? \- A solar inverter is the brain of your system. It's converting your PV power, your solar power into usable power for utilisation in the home. So you do need an inverter with a solar system, it's the basis that everything connects up into. Inverters are becoming much more intelligent. They're becoming bigger brain, if you like. They're getting into smart home energy, smart energy management, the ability to connect our batteries, and of course getting into even charging electric vehicles. The best way of monitoring a system is through a monitoring platform, and SolarEdge offer a very comprehensive, innovative, if you like, solar monitoring platform. And it provides live data of both production and consumption, and that is the essence of how to get the best value out of your system. Monitoring is probably one of the most important things. First is production, but monitoring is really the value. It's the interface for the customer, it's the feedback that you get from your system. So monitoring is absolutely important. So it's giving you visibility of how much solar you are actually producing or how much power you're producing from solar, how much you're using and when, and how to use different appliances based on that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CY_twoWDU18 1.21 2023-06-13T20:17:31.229Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-better-to-invest-in-a-solar-battery-or-more-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgCt2AGugm8 Is it better to invest in a solar battery or more solar panels? \- Batteries are becoming now much more popular. We have seen the numbers grow literally by hundreds of percent from three or four years ago, the price has dropped. We are still looking at about a seven-year payback, so if I would build a new house, I'd say I just put the battery in it already at the same time, make it part of the overall cost. You won't feel the pain, and you've got possibly the ideal system. If you renovate, and again, it's a solid renovation and you think of putting solar on it at the same time, I would also just put the battery and get the one solution. On the other hand, if you're just thinking about solar and the financial situation, it might be worth put a big system on, high-efficient panel, keep bit of spare roof space and export during the day, and then make money and then use that money to bring the electricity in at night and pay for it that way, and then have it battery ready. So you buy the right panels and you buy the right inverter that has batteries that can be connected to it later. And I would say in two, three years time, battery prices will have come down quite a bit again and that's the same time when you go in and maybe put a couple of extra panels, and put the battery in at that time. So you can either do the one stage now and bite the big bullet, or you can do two stages. But the most important thing is do not put a 270, 280, 290-watt panel on your roof because if you don't have a mansion, you will go back to it and you go, "Oh, now I want a battery and I need a bit more grunt." And suddenly go, "Oh, I've got to expand my system." And you actually put an inefficient panel on it and you have no more roof space. So if you put an efficient panel on right now and play for spare roof space to later expand in the future, you'll be actually doing the smarter thing. They're a little bit more expensive, the older technology's much cheaper, but you're actually future-proofing your investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgCt2AGugm8 1.55 2023-06-13T20:17:27.444Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-should-i-check-before-i-buy-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/qTMCRH_IfKw What should I check before I buy a solar power system? \- Check how long they've been around, check how many systems have been sold, look at reviews of other people selling something of the company, and look at the brands they sell. For example, in inverters, the key brands are Fronius, SMA, Enphase, Solar Edge. Those ones are usually going with quality gear, but also, sometimes, they put a quality inverter in, make it feel like a quality gear, and they put a really crappy panel with it, and that's when the system is cheap. The going rate for a five kilowatt that is of a quality level would be starting at about six, six and a half, going up to eight, eight and a half thousand. If it's in the three to $4,000 price bracket as a five-six kilowatt system, you will within two to three years' time have to spend a lot of time chasing someone that is the phantom. The way it's gone unfortunately, in Australia is I buy a relatively cheap panel, maybe I give it a German name. The German name is really, really big, on the box made in China is so little you can't see it. And we've had instances where panels have been pulled off after two or three years and the customer swore black and blue he had German panels. And yes, the name was German sounding, but then we had to tell him the ugly truth that he actually got the bottom of the pile in terms of quality. Probably charged him still an arm and a leg as well, and a lot of people really had their bubble busted when you actually tell them the facts. I think a lot of people have been not always told the truth about the quality of the gear they get. They've gone in, in good faith, and they have been later on disappointed. And some people are now in the second time around buying a system, and they've learned their lesson and they're actually now buying quality. So the old saying which is buy cheap, buy twice, definitely applies to solar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qTMCRH_IfKw 2.08 2023-06-13T20:17:23.618Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/should-i-think-about-the-size-of-my-roof-space-when-i-m-investing-in-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/4eY8pvbGoq8 Should I think about the size of my roof space when I'm investing in solar power? Your roof space is your resource. If you would have land to grow wheat, it's the square meters you have. You want to use a panel that creates the most sun out of that square meter because the value of roof space is underestimated now. But where we are going in the smart home direction, you will want later charge your car, you will want later charge your battery. So right now, old solar is dead. The reason why inefficient panels are cheap is because it's the old technology. If you were lucky and you owned a huge mansion and the system only took up half your house, no problem, you can add additional systems. But if you actually filled up your roof at the time and there is no more room because 20, 25 panel's all they can fit in a lot of Australian roofs, at that point in time you actually got to look at it and go, "I can't have a battery, I can't charge my electric car, or I'm now going to rip it all off and start again." The problem is that we are getting a rebate right now but in years to come the rebate is reducing, so there will be no more rebate. So you then have to actually pay for that new system that is much more useful for what you need completely out of your pocket. So again I say to people, you're getting a rebate now, get the best possible system that is the most future-proof system right now. Use the rebate for that and do it once. On a normal little house, an inefficient 270, 280, 290, even a 300 are not washing it anymore. But most people don't get that explanation. That's really what people have to get, because the guy who's coming in wants to sell what he's got in the shed. If it's cheaper, it's easier to sell, don't have to explain the truth. Or thank God, I got a high efficient LG panel because we do 335s, 360s. The industry average is around 280 now, so you're saving roof space and you then can expand later on. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4eY8pvbGoq8 2.02 2023-06-13T20:17:08.165Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-performance-design-environmental-advantages-of-rec-alpha-pure-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJ9QZVmnWPg What are the performance, design & environmental advantages of REC Alpha Pure solar panels? - REC Solar's Alpha Series Heterojunction technology combines the best of both worlds. We have the benefits of the N-type silicon wafer, which has a high efficiency and high power density, and the amorphous thin film is laid over the top, back and the front, to provide the low temperature coefficient, and the low light performance. REC's Alpha Series has market leading temperature coefficients, so on these hot days in Australia, our panel is producing more than the competitors, so for every square metre of REC panels you put on the roof, you are maximising the generation on your roof. So if you have a small roof or limited space, REC Alpha's are the way to go. REC Solar's award-winning half-cut cell technology is quite innovative. It not only cuts down the amount of current running through the panel, which can increase the temperature of the panel, it also splits the panel into half. Meaning that if there's any shade on the bottom of the panel, only half the panel shuts down. - The installers want to be proud of the job that they've done when they walk away, and they also want to have products and solutions that help them to convert the sale as well. - The REC Alpha Series, with the aesthetics of having a pure black panel with no buzz bars, the wires are a nearly invisible, fully black frame, full black cell, full black backing, gives a fantastic finish on new and old homes. - I can tell you what, when you see the difference with the all black, black frames, black rails, black clamps, the whole thing, compared to just a traditional install, I personally, and I know many others feel the same way, I think it looks beautiful. It really does. It looks cool. - Consumers are quite sensitive to the aesthetics after they've bought their dream home. They want to make sure it's complimented with a great finish on the roof. The REC Alpha Series with it's strong frame allows the installers to clamp right to the edges of the frame. They have a variety of very versatile clamping zones, so the speed at which they can install that and the ease they can install that saves a lot of time on the roof. An REC Certified Solar Professional is protected by REC with the manufacturer's guarantee on 25 years product warranty, 25 years performance, and 25 years labour guarantee. REC's Alpha Series provides multiple environmental benefits. Firstly, our lead-free panel is RoHS compliant, and our power density. Also, the production of our panels consumes the least amount of power in the production process, providing the least impact on the environment. REC Solar being a Norwegian and Singaporean manufacturer, we have very strict protocols into ethical sourcing in all components that we use in our panels, and we are very proud of what we've achieved with our Alpha Series panels. https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJ9QZVmnWPg 3.31 2023-05-29T19:37:28.209Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-positronic-solar-helping-queensland-homeowners-maximise-their-energy-savings-and-sustainability https://www.youtube.com/embed/_W-LPhKSv20 How is Positronic Solar helping Queensland homeowners maximise their energy savings and sustainability? - Positronic Solar is an installation company based in Brisbane. We've been in Brisbane since 2007, been doing solar for about 32 years, been an electrician for 45. So, plenty of experience. And we specialise in good quality, affordable systems that are intelligent and suited to the customer's needs. These days, we're removing quite a few systems, which is a bit upsetting. We pull about 40 or 50 panels a week off roofs. We send our panels to Zimbabwe, where they get a second life, but it's still a waste. I'm an old hippie from Nimbin, and of course, old hippies are into saving the planet, and I'm trying to save the planet one panel at a time. Starting from the racking, we put more feet on the racking than required for the area. We basically design systems to cyclonic conditions, twice as much copper that is required to get to the roof, basically to stop voltage rise. Voltage rise constrains the inverters, cuts down the power they can generate, so we put lots of copper on the jobs. For years, I've been saying, stick as many panels on the roof as you can fit and afford. When you look at the return on investment, between, for example, a six kilowatt system and a nine kilowatt system, even with the poor feed-in rates that we've got now, the difference in payback is like six months. Loads are only going to increase in a few years because you will end up with a electric vehicle. You'll be looking for something to charge that with, and the purchase rates of electricity are going up. So, you want a system that can handle your daytime loads. And although feed-in tariffs are low at the moment, as the grid gets more storage online, feed-in tariffs will start increasing again. So, my advice still holds, put as much on the roof as you can fit and afford. - Positronic's workmanship has been outstanding here today. It's great to see the team being so synchronised and out focused on a very good job. - Three main factors make the difference between a quality installation and a cheap installation, the installer, the panels, and the inverters. - We're really happy to make Positronic a platinum partner of our EIN, Enphase Installer Network. What they represent in terms of customer service in terms of the way their customers perceive them, is very in line with how we perceive the Enphase brand. So we know that when we send customers to Positronic that they're going to get a great service, they're going to get looked after, they're going to have knowledgeable designers and installers that really look after that system and do a great job. - Our reputation, just about all our work comes from referrals, word of mouth. They have confidence in our installation, in our design, and in our backup service. - Absolutely a trusted team and someone that we're very happy to recommend, anytime customers come to us, and to really hold out as an example of what a good Enphase Installer can do. - The workmanship was top class. They are an REC certified solar professional, so they've done all the full accreditation with us. And, we support them with warranty on both the product, the performance, and also labour guarantees. So these panels, the next 25 years, we will cover the labour to replace anything if there's any concerns with the panels. - Most of our customers want to buy a solar system to save money, but, our customers in particular are interested in saving the planet as well. Reducing their carbon footprint, bringing more renewable energy onto the grid. We do only install quality systems. We're not the cheapest, I think we're the best. So, if you want a quality system that's been designed properly, that has been installed properly by our own employees, we don't use subcontractors, that you know you're going to be looked after in years to come. You want to choose a Positronic System. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_W-LPhKSv20 4.30 2023-05-29T19:36:54.213Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-enphase-microinverters-help-to-maximise-system-sizes-reduce-maintenance-time-for-solar-installers https://www.youtube.com/embed/Px0hcW3bwvA How do Enphase microinverters help to maximise system sizes & reduce maintenance time for solar installers? - Enphase Energy installers find the key benefits of safety, toughness, and intelligence of the product are really what makes it a stand out for them to use. Look, I think when installers are talking to their customers today, and they're looking at systems that they're going to design and install that will be around for several decades, they need to be thinking about full electric homes. That's the absolute focus for their business. Now, in that particular case, you need to maximise the amount of solar generated from any given house. The only way you can maximise it is by individually optimising the performance of every single panel. So inherently, an Enphase microinverter allows you to get into every single little corner of the roof and squeeze out every bit of solar energy that's falling on the house. So I think, fundamentally, an installer today who wants to grow their business, wants to install more every time, wants to install bigger systems, future-proof systems, expandable systems, and if they're concerned about safety, which I really think they should be, that is something that Enphase can help with very, very clearly. - There are many reasons for installers to choose Enphase. One is risk, you have no risk of a DC isolator fire using Enphase. Ease of installation, it really is quicker to install an Enphase system than a string system. - By requiring that all systems are connected to the internet, it means that not only can we diagnose and troubleshoot problems, but we can also proactively fix issues that may come up with changes to the grid or regulations by pushing down new firmware, pushing down new software to the microinverter. - The other reason is that you've got very good control over the system, all from the office. Another interesting advantage for installers is that we can remotely turn the system off. - By not having to go to site, inherently an installer is able to save a lot of money in terms of their truck rolls knowing that they can systematically go through and analyse problems, and maybe even fix them remotely. But also because when one microinverter fails, you're only losing a small portion of the overall system. It's not a single point of failure, that's also really helpful. A customer is a lot more patient when they know they've only lost 2% of the output from one microinverter, versus 100%. So the system itself is inherently future-proofed. So really every microinverter is a small software-driven computer that's optimising and calculating what's going on. Now that means that as the regulations change for solar energy, as the grid requirements change, all it takes is us updating the software that operates on those microinverters to comply with any future requirements that may be out there. Yeah so as you get more and more systems, as an installer, you want to be able to manage those as a fleet. So fleet management for us is a really nice way for an installer to see what's going on with all of their customers, and not only proactively look for faults that may be occurring, but also look, if they'd like, for behaviour change, for opportunities to upsell additional energy products. They can extend that really depending on what they want to do in their business. You know that wherever you put an Enphase microinverter coupled to a panel, it will be optimised and outputting the most energy it can for that particular orientation and position. So when you go back to that system and a customer might decide they want more solar than they originally ordered, they might decide they want a battery, again, you're working with a holistic system that enables you to incrementally increase the size, incrementally add one or more batteries to that system to provide a full solution for the customer. It enables you really just to grow that system as the requirements, and the budget expand. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Px0hcW3bwvA 3.49 2023-05-29T19:36:50.553Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-customised-solar-power-system-help-to-optimise-the-financial-savings-for-homeowners https://www.youtube.com/embed/D92FmZTKlr8 How does a customised solar power system help to optimise the financial savings for homeowners? - All right. We've got 20 of the Jinko 390's here mate. - Yes. - 7.8 kilowatt system. As you can see the boys have done a great job. We've got two rows of 10 there on about a 27-degree pitch, directly facing north. It's an Enphase system, so if we get any shading off the surrounding trees, it's not going to effect the rest of the system, so it's a really good system, this one. We're from Jet Solar, we specialise in residential solar and battery installations throughout the South East suburbs of Melbourne. The client first came to us looking for solar because his bills were quite excessive and when I mean quite excessive, I mean 100 kilowatt hours a day. He's got a pool, a spa, and a massive air conditioner that gets used a lot because there's kids home. Which your standard house is around 20 to 30, so you can imagine he was after a big solar panel system. The issue we had was his roof, he didn't want to put the solar panels on his nice roof, due to aesthetics. It is quite a steep roof, as well. So, therefore, we were limited to his shed. With this system, we can monitor each individual panel, and also the system as a whole, and also the bonus about the Enphase, we can monitor the customer's house power as well. And then he can look on an app or his computer and see what the net result is, to see if he's either buying power off the grid or if the solar's producing more, he's going to be selling power back to his power company. We don't do a stock standard system for everyone. You can't just ring us up and say, Can I please have the 6.6?, because we don't do a standard 6.6kW. We dive deep into their bill, have a look how much power they use, and then specify a system depending on their area, as well. And from that, it just gives them the quickest return on investment and also the best value-for-money system they can buy. Yeah, it's very important to design the right system. Every house is different, so there's no set formula for each house, so we specify a custom design for each house, depending on the location, and depending on the site visit, as well. There's a lot of cheap products and nasty products that have been available in the past, and along with that, there's a lot of sales companies out there. Now, Jet Solar is not a sales company, that's the first thing. I'm the owner, I'm the electrician, I'm on-site, I'm installing, and with that, you don't jeopardise any quality. So if you go to a sales company, they're great at selling the product, they're great at marketing the product, but then they'll find a subcontractor, that they don't even know, to install the system. And if anything goes wrong in the future, they've got no one to come back to, to look at the system. So that's where we're different, we value the customer and we'll be there for post-sales support. Yeah, so basically, with the system they'll buy off us, they just want the reassurance that their system's going to last them that 25 to 30 years, that the product gives you the warranty for, and with that it has to be installed properly. https://www.youtube.com/embed/D92FmZTKlr8 3.17 2023-05-29T19:36:46.182Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-reasons-homeowners-are-deciding-to-invest-in-a-solar-storage-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LHnMPt48No What are the reasons homeowners are deciding to invest in a solar storage battery? So today we're in Croydon South in the South East suburbs of Melbourne. We're installing 6.6 kilowatts of Jinko solar panels with Enphase microinverters, and that's also coupled with a Tesla Powerwall 2, which has 13.5 kilowatt hours of battery storage. A lot of people nowadays we're finding are choosing batteries. It has grown rapidly over the last six months, I must say. A lot of contributing factors would be power outages are a big one, obviously depending on the area. And also we find that people, they've got all this excess solar power they're not using, and instead of sending it to the grid, they want to harness that themselves and put that into a battery. So the client's energy usage wasn't huge. Their main target was to be 100% independent from the grid. As a bonus, they will also have power during a blackout as well. Yeah, so the client here is a big believer in renewable energy, obviously, with their new solar panel system, which will help provide power to their house during the day. We also have the battery which gets charged from their solar, and the battery will discharge at night, effectively meaning that they don't have to buy any power from the grid. So the client now will be 100% energy efficient, obviously charging the battery from the solar panels during the day, and then at nighttime, they're just reaping the rewards by using their own power, which they've charged during the day. And the good thing about it, it's all green power. It's all from their renewable energy sources that we've installed. Our customers are always so happy after the installation. We don't just instal the system and say, See ya later. We follow up with them as soon as we install. We let them know what's happening with their system after the installation, a step-by-step guide. We inform about all the paperwork sent to the retailer to organise their feed-in tariff. And we also send them a detailed user manual on how their system operates and set up their monitoring for them as well. And the good thing about that, we also monitor their system as well, so if they think there's any issues, we can have a look at that online as well. It's very, very, very important to get a good installer. A solar panel investment is probably the second-biggest investment besides buying your house. It's a 25-year investment, so if you're going to spend big bucks, you might as well do it properly. Pay a little bit more, get a good quality electrician. Don't go for the cheapest sale because you'll get the cheapest installation, and it won't last 25 years. So getting solar doesn't just help on your electricity bills. It also contributes to the environment and the long-term effects of the environment. If we can reduce the carbon footprint, the world's going to be a much better place. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LHnMPt48No 2.41 2023-05-29T19:36:42.441Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-have-evo-power-solar-storage-batteries-been-designed-for-australian-homeowners-and-businesses https://www.youtube.com/embed/hVdc-icBx5o How have EVO Power solar storage batteries been designed for Australian homeowners and businesses? EVO Power is a ESS manufacturer so that means we're an energy storage system manufacturer. So we make fully designed integrate, test, and support energy storage systems for the Australian renewable energy market. It definitely is a high quality industrial design solution, predominantly, it's very popular for the off-grid markets so people completely disconnected from the grid. Other markets is commercial energy storage, so on the grid, small commercial businesses. Also, there's other markets for farming and agricultural which really have power quality issues in general, just larger energy consumers so premium homes that require bigger solar and battery system. We see quality is the main thing for success for our customers, but also for our business. So we've entrusted our key technology and components within the systems to be well established and trusted brands, brands like LG Chem and also Selectronic. We've been working really closely with Evo Power over the last 12 months or so, we work with a very limited number of partners and we work very closely, cooperatively, our R&D team and quality assurance team works really closely with our integration partner to ensure that we have a product to market that we can be proud of. So we're developing a whole range of different solutions. Our first solution to market is the Evo Prime which is designed, as I mentioned for the off-grid markets, small commercial and high end residential, but also developing larger solutions for projects. So that could be from 50 kilowatts up to a megawatt. They have a deep understanding of our products, how to get the best out of it, and also they employ great Australian made technology to produce an Australian made product, which is using our cells to deliver real value to Australian customers. We have our own in house environmental chamber as well, so with this chamber, we can test to extreme conditions of what we'd see within Australia. We can test our systems down to minus five degrees and we test up to 50 degrees, ambient temperature. So we've designed these systems to comply to the harshest conditions that you'll see in the Australian market that could be in the desert or in the cold mountains of Tasmania. We've also designed the system to be very easy to install. So that's important for installers minimising time and costs for them on site. All the cabling inside has been already terminated and is ready to connect straight into either the batteries or the inverters. You've got a system here that could be installed in essentially probably four to five hours. We've taken all that hassle out of this, we've made a turnkey solution, which is scalable, flexible, and fully certified. What we've developed is an all in one energy storage system. This will give you up to 22 and a half kilowatts of continuous power and up to 60 kilowatt hours of storage in an all in one compact solution. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hVdc-icBx5o 3.06 2023-05-29T19:36:37.805Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-g-store-warragul-helping-homeowners-businesses-and-farmers-transition-to-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/bArMhIGkVDw How is G-Store Warragul helping homeowners, businesses and farmers transition to solar power? - Well, I've got three car washes. We've got some big three-phase cat pumps inside there. And the biggest energy user is when they kick into gear, and they really suck the juice. Yeah it's a big, big drain, on the electricity out of the grid. And car washing goes hand in hand with a summers, or a sunny day, and the sun and PV go hand-in-hand. So sunny day, a lot of car washes and a lot of PV getting used. - Ken's got a long-term view of his business. It's not just about what he can save today or next week, it's a long-term over decades. If you spend less money, you're getting a substandard product. You spend more money, a little bit more money, and you're going to get a lot more in return. - So he wanted a quality system with excellent backup and performance, that he could rely on for the next couple of decades at least to come. - You don't have solar on your roof. Well, to me, you're not serious about maximising profit. - When we're pricing up a solar system for a client we're taking into account their usage we're then designing a system based on on what they need, then what we can fit on their roof of their home, and then where their budget sits as well. - G-store did the install on the house, that was the last install we had done, after the car washes. And I thought well in for a penny in for a pound. And we went with batteries at home, and that is a plus as well, because when the sun's out you're making electricity. When it's not, well, you can use what you've stored in your batteries. Which is great, especially when you're running peak power times you know, it does add up. - Yeah, so, the LG NeON black is our aesthetic option because he had an ideal roof area facing kind of Northwest on the front of the house. It was decided to use the NeON black panels there. - Yeah, we used LG panels and we went for the LG. Same as the commercial LG, they've got the backing. They've been in the industry for a long time. - So Ken's system has been going for a few months now, and in May, he was 91% energy independent. Which is fantastic for that time of year, it's only going to get better as he gets into the warmer months. - Yeah, G-store, they are approved to sell the LG panels. And we know that we can just ring up G-Store and say, oh look, if we have a problem that they're going to basically drop everything and come and sort it out. - In Warragul, you know, we're not only selling residential and commercial solar, it's farmers, it's rural properties, acreage. - So the Spargo's have a spud farm, and dairy operations as well. They were looking to get more efficient in their operations, obviously to be more competitive and make savings. We looked at quite a few things on their jobs, and one in particular was a ground mount system, that was used to offset the running costs of some fairly significant pumping costs. - And they want to have it, put a system on that they know they don't have to worry about, moving forward into the future. Sustainability is the main thing that we're looking at. So having high-performance solar system helps to generate more power and keep generating power, for many many decades, with the quality product that has a long warranty and superior backup from the manufacturers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bArMhIGkVDw 3.28 2023-05-29T19:36:31.983Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-g-store-helping-to-create-the-all-electric-solar-powered-home-of-the-future https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVJ5MNqhUKg How is G-Store helping to create the all electric solar powered home of the future? - I think it's extremely important that the customer and G-Store go on a journey together. Essentially we're looking at their consumption at a particular point in time, and that does change over time. So if they are looking to increase panels, or if they're looking to add storage to their system, not only that monitoring, we take them on the journey of monitoring so they're monitoring their equipment. We look at the total energy consumption as well, so we do get involved in heating, cooling, and hot water. And so we're really going on a journey with the customer about their energy usage, with the ultimate goal of having an all electric solar powered home. The significance of the store reopening was to leap into the all electric home and all electric buildings. We felt that now was the time to make a clear and unequivocal statement that the all electric solar powered home is the way of the future. - Congratulations for bringing together a store that is going to deliver for Higgins what we need to deliver, not just for this country, but for the globe. We really want to get behind a clean green future, not just for us, but for the future generations that will follow us. It's not just an environmental imperative anymore. It's an economic imperative. In fact, it's an economic inevitability. It's all about getting emissions down so we can save the planet. So congratulations to G-Store and Dion Epstein for the wonderful work he's been doing. - We look to have long-term sustainable solutions. We're all about sustainability, so we want our solutions to be sustainable, and it very much relates to the family business values that we have in our business. We've been running now for 14 years. We are connected to Gottliebs builders suppliers, which has been running for over 50 years. So the philosophy of G-Store is to offer high quality solar offering, and also look at the total energy picture within a home. We look at key brands that have outstanding reputations, such as LG, Enphase and Tesla, and they really form the backbone of our offering. They're trusted partners for us, and we like to think that we're a trusted partner for them to offer really high quality service. - You've come in as the highest ranked solar installer in all of Victoria. So on behalf of everybody at Enphase, we'd like to present you with this. - Thank you very much. - So G-Store won this award today due to their commitment to high quality and providing a fantastic customer experience. And that lines up exactly with what Enphase's mission is. So we're excited to provide G-Store with the Platinum Installer trophy. Homeowners should be looking at the longterm payback of these systems. So using high quality components and working with a high quality solar installer. - We decided to go with a high quality panel because I want it to last. I don't want the headache of having power issues at work or potential interruptions. I don't want the headache of having to replace them. I don't want the headache of the cost of possibly having to replace them. I really want it to set, forget and reap the savings. - So the value of being part of the LG dealer network is that customers can be assured that they're getting a quality product, performance that they can count on, and it's going to be backed up by not only G-Store, but LG themselves. Their warranty and product performance is outstanding. - It's absolutely paramount that you find a good installer like G-Store to handle very sophisticated products, like what we have installed. Like anything, you get what you pay for. And I think G-Store and LG have been fabulous. - The full experience was we got informed of how things are going to work. We got a quote, we said, okay that sounds good, let's book it in. They gave us a date. They came and did it the day they said that we're going to do it, and then we had solar power and it was just so easy. - Because it's a long-term investment, because it's not simple to replace them, because they're on the roof, because I don't want to have to replace them in a short period of time, we just, in consultation with Dion and G-Store, we decided to go with a high quality panel because I want it to last. - Being part of the LG network is very important to us. We feel a close kinship with the LG brand. They have invested heavily in quality and R&D, and in the face of cheap Chinese products that are flooding the market, they've always stood that downward price pressure. They've maintained an emphasis on quality over price. That being said, ultimately it is that value investing. So being part of the network means we're part of a team of dealers that believe quality and safety is the most important thing, rather than just a quick buck. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVJ5MNqhUKg 5.08 2023-05-29T19:36:28.098Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-homeowners-around-cairns-get-better-solar-power-performance-with-a-higher-quality-solar-panel https://www.youtube.com/embed/arKOc_v5mzQ Do homeowners around Cairns get better solar power performance with a higher quality solar panel? It definitely makes sense for a lot of people around Cairns to consider solar for their residential requirements, just to mitigate. A lot of people have suffered bill shock and to reduce that, we consider that solar is a pretty good hedge for their requirements. Some of the design challenges that we've faced, because we're in the green leaf environment with a lot of rainfall, sun cast, especially in the residential area, do get potential shading. We're having a ton of shading issues. We gotta address those with certain type of products to either optimize those systems, also the type of panel that's required, these are the high wind loading. LG is known globally as one of the strongest pascal rated wind loaded panels or modules in the marketplace today. Final part with regard to our space is the heat. Temperature co-efficiency for the panel is crucial. If you buy a selected panel that is just par or subpar, you're gonna notice the performance output compared to a high quality LG panel. I stick to high quality LG, the neon range or the neon R range. They are high quality twenty-five year product warranty coupled with, depending on the solution required, a Fronius inverter orSolar Edge or even Enphase, depending on the application and requirements. We can't stress enough in regards to the quality that needs to be deployed and we look at the monetary cost more of the secondary. We say to a lot of customers, If you need financial requirement, you're better off doing it, because a poorman pays twice. You've gotta pay for quality. You've gotta look at the overall package of the solar solution, not just the panels, not just the converter, the whole installation, the quality, right through the switch gear that we use. If you stick to that in the market, you'll be assured and you'll get a far better return on your investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/arKOc_v5mzQ 2.43 2023-05-29T19:32:15.373Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-serra-farming-bring-down-the-operational-costs-of-their-plantations-using-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/nel4NREnizU How did Serra Farming bring down the operational costs of their plantations using solar power? With regards to this operation here. With the bananas predominately because it's seasonal they pick and pack the bananas. They wash them, and they distribute it to large wholesalers typically, Woolworths and Coles, in the sun state, especially Victoria. All I put on this Serra farm here there's 300 kilowatts getting installed. We're right in the midst of it now. We've done 80 kilowatts in the main packing shed. There's 100 kilowatts here as we speak. LG panel solar system made up of LG neon two 335 watt panels and they got two other sites and two other for avocados which are 40 kilowatts each. So all up 300 kilowatts. As a grower we're price receivers in this industry so quite often we're under very, very strong the inward price pressures from the big players and the only way we can really control that is by reining in our costs, being efficient and at the end of the day, choosing a system, a solar system which is going to give us a good quality, good back up service and a longevity was paramount to our decision. Costs come from the packing operations over here and also come from the pumping irrigation system. So the irrigation system runs 24 hours a day probably 320 days of the year. And so as you can imagine that's quite a large energy user. At the end, our business energy costs per year are about $220,000 a year so expecting to reduce our energy usage by about 120,000 kilowatt hours a year which in dollar figures, it could represent up to $140,000 a year of savings. So it's quite large and has a five year pay back so yeah to us it was a no brainer. They wanted a non-invasive ground mount system with it so that requires Surefoot design from Victoria, it's an Australian invention. Where there's no concrete required. Ground mount is all about the aluminum and that's not cheap and the costs of shipping it around from, bringing it from the supplier to us. We used Clinergy ground mount we minimize the amount of legs on the ground mount by using LG products. By getting a 340 watt panel in the space where typically you might only get a 270 to 300 watt panel. Yeah the solar is a good decision to lower the environmental footprint and also to rein in our costs. So get a hold of our energy costs and move forward. Make positive changes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nel4NREnizU 3.10 2023-05-29T19:32:10.575Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-factors-should-townsville-business-owners-think-about-when-investing-in-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/XL2P7NwXFKg What factors should Townsville business owners think about when investing in a solar power system? Our commercial clients are fairly varied. We've done work for the army, we've got medical centers, dentists, pharmacies, we've got farms, cane farms, powering pumps. So yeah, it's a vast, very varied clientele, with the commercial space. And the perfect thing about most businesses, is they're operating during the day, so it makes perfect sense. You're producing that power during the day, and you're offsetting those power bills during the day. Some of the important factors for businesses, you know, in Townsville, you know a lot of them can be energy dense, so meaning that it might be a small building, but they're using a lot of power per square meter. So the LG solar panel makes perfect sense for that. We can fit a lot of power into a small area, and offset as much of that power bill as possible. And also, operating a business from these premises, they can't afford any downtime. They don't want anyone coming back and interrupting their operations. They just want a hassle-free, risk-free install, and we find the LG perfect. Yeah, so generally your return investment on solar with the business, the average business out there is paying anywhere from say 28 cents a kilowatt hour, to 45 cents a kilowatt hour. So we've had systems as low as a two year, 18 month payback on installation, so it's quite phenomenal. There isn't another investment in the world that you can get that sort of return. So it's quite remarkable. Quality is everything, because quality leads straight to safety, so a lot of the instances out there with you know, water in isolators and faulty panels, and things like that, it all comes back to the quality. Quality of manufacturing and also the quality of the installation. So, we've just implemented ISO accreditation just this year. And that comes back to safety as well. We just need to make sure we eliminate all risks out there, both for the customer and for KDP True North Solar. Quality is paramount. Being solar such a long term play, people expect these to last 25 years. I mean, I've got panels in here that were brought back from jobs eight, nine years ago that, you know they're just not lasting the distance. So at the time, everyone thought they were high quality panels, but when you put them beside an LG panel, you know they're in a different price bracket. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XL2P7NwXFKg 2.35 2023-05-29T19:32:07.013Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-invest-in-a-local-team-of-qualified-electricians-to-install-your-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/_j5IBhThSFE Why should you invest in a local team of qualified electricians to install your solar power system? - I'm Kash Patridge and I'm the director of KDP Electrical, here in Townsville. We kicked off KDP back in 2004, so been operating 15 years this year. So starting out purely just as electrical play, then adding fibre optics, cabling, comms and solar thereafter. True North as the name, the specialising in solar, that started 2010. So getting, approaching 10 years with the solar game. And now that's pretty much overridden the other parts of the business and probably formulates 60 to 70 percent of our entire business now. So I guess having a company from Townsville, True North Solar installing your solar system, it's not about getting in and installing it as quickly as possible. So we don't care where the system gets installed, we just want to make sure it's in the right spot that's going to produce the most power over a long period. So we're not from out of town, we're not going to come in, slap it up right next to the switchboard, just 'cause we know we can save an hour or two. So I guess it can be quite alluring to go for a system of say three or four thousand dollars that you might see on TV. Typically there's a lot of strings attached to that installation. It's from a southern company, it's from a sales company, you don't know who the installers are, you'll never see that company again. So I guess operating here in Townsville, we take every installation personally. Sure, you might get charged that few dollars more, but you know it's going to last longer. If you do have any issues, you've got somewhere to come to, and get everything resolved. As far as sizing a system correctly, for any installation, there's a lot of considerations. The system might be split into two different sides. Some might be facing east, some might be facing west so. A good starting point is looking at someone's power bill. That way we can gauge when they use power and how much they use power. So there's a lot of times we can offset or do some power shifting, especially with a hot water system for instance. So we might install a timer and make sure that comes on during the day, so you get more opportunities to use that power and save more money. Yeah, so generally your return on investment on solar, with the business, the average business out there is paying anywhere from say, 28 cents a kilowatt hour, to 45 cents a kilowatt hour. So we've had systems as low as a two year, 18 month payback on installation, so it's quite phenomenal. There isn't another investment in the world that you can get that sort of return. So it's quite remarkable. Payback period for your average residential, Mum, Dad, two kids, you're looking at three years. And there may be an extra six months for an LG system, so for the extra money you have to pay to get a high end quality system, you might have to wait another six months to get that money back. But from there on, you've got nothing to worry about. We take a lot of pride in how much power our systems produce, and we want our systems producing more than anyone else. So, it's making sure you do pick the right installer, you want someone that cares about that installation. That way, it's installed properly, it's to the CEC requirements, and you don't have any issues. - We have chosen them for their electrical services in a high quality environment, for solar, batteries, off-grid. We have seen their work for many, many years and we get a lot of positive customer reviews. We choose our partners specifically for their technical capability and the quality of their work. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_j5IBhThSFE 3.45 2023-05-29T19:32:02.981Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-adelaide-homeowners-choose-an-expert-to-install-their-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pqvw3HZS4GU Why should Adelaide homeowners choose an expert to install their solar power system? South Australia is a great place to be buying solar, basically because of our higher cost of electricity down here, we're able to generally get return on investments between three to four years. So, that makes it very attractive to put solar on your roof. I started the business back in 2009. We specialize in solar systems for both domestic and commercial applications. Solar is a main part of our business these days. Over the years, I guess we've installed in excess of 2000 systems. I've kind of lost count these days, how many systems we've installed. A homeowner should be thinking about more than just panels and inverters when their buying a solar system. They should be looking into the company that's behind the installation. Warranty was a big factor. Some of the other companies, as I said, I've read some pretty bad stories about. First of all, them taking weeks to get back to you for any issues with either the inverter or the panels and sometimes those companies disappear. And that's not a headache I want to face in the future. [Don] There's a lot of things that we take into consideration. We tailor-make a design specific to each customer and then with that, we then choose a panel and inverter combination to suit the customer's needs. It's quite a pointless exercise for people to be buying cheap solar because generally, by the time the system's even paid for itself, it's time to replace it because panels fail, there's micro-cracks, burning, inverters failing. It really can be a minefield out there. So, we like to choose panels that design to last in the conditions here in South Australia in terms of the extreme high temperatures in our summers and also the low temperatures in our winters. Homeowners are trying to achieve a one-stop-shop. We design everything here at our workshop. It's all done by our own full-time electricians. We do not subcontract any of our installation out to anyone. So we tailor make a design for a homeowner. We make it very easy for them. We recommend high quality products. We don't use any of the cheap, nasty products that are out there that are prone to fail. They come to us, we design a system for 'em, we install it, all done under one roof. And they go away with lower power bills and that's the whole objective of the whole thing. And that's why I think it's a good idea to do the research and get the right quality product so that you can have the long-term benefits from installing solar. I would get the biggest system that you can possibly get and put on your roof. I would also consider the aesthetics of where you're gonna put it and how it's gonna look, because I think that's important as well. You want it to look nice on your home and also for your neighbors. Not only was I able to reduce my energy costs, but also play my part in environmental factors in using clean energy rather than energy that perhaps contributed to carbon pollution or had some effects on our climate. [Don] Picking the right installer is very important. Like I said, a lot of people solar systems are more than just panels and inverters. There's a lot of things that can go wrong with solar. So it's very important that you pick an installer that's gonna do all the correct things. We've always been a heavy believer in the LG product. I've been using them since 2013. And over the years, I don't think I've been back to any job where I've used LG with a reputable inverter. It is really a set up and forget type scenario and it gives you years and years of hassle free green electricity. DQ Electrical works with us in the wider Adelaide area on solar, batteries, energy efficiency solutions. We get a lot of positive reviews about them. They would come, give you free advice, get the best solution for you and they carry the LG brand with pride. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pqvw3HZS4GU 4.30 2023-05-29T19:31:58.390Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-will-the-installation-of-solar-energy-at-the-historic-beechworth-goal-help-to-power-the-local-community https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPp8Af3ND_g How will the installation of solar energy at the historic Beechworth Goal help to power the local community? The old Beechworth Gaol has great significance in history for Australia, it's very well-known for housing Ned Kelly when he was caught at Glenrowan, and we have been installing a 30-kilowatt system here on the roof. The Beechworth Gaol's incredibly significant to the local area here, and across the country, really. So it's really essential, pivotal point and a recognised point for the community, and they all feel ownership of it or connection to it. Everybody's really excited for this installation in Beechworth because it's that bringing together of the history and the future, and it can be done, and this is how we can do it. So this will showcase exactly that. So here at the Beechworth Gaol, we've fitted 89 panels up on the section of roof that was selected, used the Neon 2 335-watt to just get on the 30-kilowatt size. The Indigo Power Group were the ones to instigate the inquiry with us, and they pretty well had an idea of what they wanted to do size-wise. Indigo Power owns the solar installation that's going up on the roof. We've decided to use really good, high-quality equipment, so we're putting LG solar PV panels on the roof. So that is going to be a system that's a really high-quality system, and it's going to also last for a long time as well. So that's all about longevity and return on investment. High-quality products are very important as a qualified electrician and a solar installer. The technology's come a long way in the last two, three, five years. It used to be very plug-and-play. These days there's a lot of communications and monitoring as well as programming, so we really need to do the training in the products and know how to install these. And we can really customize that for the customer as well. When we're talking to customers about what they should look for in solar, we always head to quality. It's an investment, and we see that for them, because they're choosing something that they want to have longevity out of, and we want to see that for them as well, so we certainly always talk to the level of quality, the warranties, where those warranties are held, and who's going to look after them post-installation. We're looking at technology that's going to last them many, many years, so that's why we recommend certain brands and certain levels of quality, to ensure that they're going to get that value, not within the first couple of years, but over the long-term. We've done a lot of installs with our solar installer, Solar Integrity. They do a wonderful job, they're really a part of the community energy network that's developing as well. I know that they're doing some work for us, but they're also doing some really exciting work on lots of other exciting community energy projects as well, and that's not only community-owned solar, but also solar for social housing, so they're working on lots of interesting projects. The Old Beechworth Gaol is an extremely good one to be involved with, very historical in the area, and wouldn't wish it upon anyone else but a local company to be doing the job on it. The community are very, very active in this area about renewables as well, so it's been really good to see a building of such significance wanting to include renewables into their landscape effectively. So this is a real mold of the old meets the new, and it's how we can tie in with our heritage and bring new technology in and power themselves effectively, and then help power the greater community as well. Personally, I'm incredibly proud to play our part in this, and from a company perspective, Solar Integrity, we are all local people, we all grew up in the area, we've all been educated in the area, and now we own a business or we work in the area. So our staff are incredibly proud of this as well, as much as what we are, because it is part of our background, and it's part of our backyard. In the Albury-Wodonga wider regional area along the New South Wales/Victorian border, we strongly recommend Solar Integrity. They can look after you for off-grid, for batteries, for solar solutions. They will give you free advice of what is the best opportunity for your house to save money with solar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPp8Af3ND_g 5.10 2023-05-29T19:31:54.177Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-investment-considerations-councils-and-commercial-operators-need-to-think-about-when-installing-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/cW3B379bXlc What are the investment considerations councils and commercial operators need to think about when installing solar power systems? Yeah so we service around about a two hour radius of Albury-Wodonga, but operating across Northeast Victoria and Southern New South Wales. We have great partnerships that we work with as well so sometimes we do go beyond those boundaries. We do commercial and industrial, but what we also specialize in is actually working with the local communities. Commercial clients have some important factors, particularly council. The design challenges, particularly in Beechworth and Heritage is layout. The streetscape. The trees are a big thing as well. There's a lot of trees around Beechworth, down the Main Street, et cetera. So it can be a bit challenging, and yes Heritage is a big one with that visibility from the street. The system up on the town hall was as well LG panels. Again, the 25 year warranty was a big tickbox for them, as well as the all black option with the panels there. So Solar Integrity chooses to use brands such as LG Solar. The reason why we choose to use them is they actually have a greater return on investment over the long term. So not just within the five years where then generally you get your return on investment and your payback's done, but in to your ten year, twenty year timeframes, your thirty year timeframes, to get the longevity out of those products. They also then have a greater efficiency, and they produce more over the time. So, if you're looking at the actual facts and figures on the products, and you're having a look at their outputs over that time, or their efficiencies of production, they are just absolutely beating the cheaper options that are out there. So, that's where you really wanna create that need for investment and that return on investment. it's not just the timeframe that it takes to pay for itself, it's actually the money it's gonna make you over the longer period, over twenty years. Customers choose Solar Integrity because they know us. We've been around for a long time, our faces are well-known, and we're also incredibly active within the community. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cW3B379bXlc 2.34 2023-05-29T19:31:49.586Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solarhub-helping-canberra-tackle-climate-change-lower-electricity-bills-using-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPjWWebKKV0 How is SolarHub helping Canberra tackle climate change & lower electricity bills using solar power? - Well I grew up in Canberra. Canberra's my home. So certainly this is where I wanted to grow the business. This is where my family are. And this is where I intend to stay. Fairly entrepreneurial at heart so I thought it would be a good business to get into. And certainly it's a very rewarding business. I know what we do, needs to be a profitable business but the environmental aspect of this is really the reason I got into it. I see solar as a very key part of our sustainable future and a way to tackle climate change. Our warehouse has just gotten bigger over the years as we've grown so we've moved offices in Canberra about three times now as we've sorta grown, grown as a business. But yeah recently we just moved into this new showroom. And we've got a big warehouse just down the road. Which is about 600 square meters now. Well our testing site's on top of our warehouse. We got about 30 kilowatts of solar panels up on there. A number of inverters that we're testing in the room as well. We've got batteries also on the outside wall which we test, again, run them through their paces. We put these in here for several months before we go and install the bulk of them out in the field. And ultimately that leads to better quality. But we have lots of installation teams. They're all on staff. And the quality of the installer, to us, is just as important, if not a touch more important, than the quality of the product that we're installing. So they're all very highly trained. We've got about seven or eight teams that work for us directly. And they're very very passionate about solar and very very passionate about the workmanship. - We're here today to do our one year maintenance check. We installed this system in June last year. So it's time for the one year check, just to see how things are going. The system's performing really well. Quality is everything. We're installing something for a customer. So obviously the customer wants it to work. I want it to work. - [Benn] So we have internal quality assurance programs. So we do regular audits of our own installs. And then there's also an additional external inspection that's done for every system that we install. So right the way through, from making sure that, the panels are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines, right the way through to making sure that all the components we use are gonna last just as long as the equipment that we're installing will. But one of the main differences between SolarHub and some of our competitors is that we do it all in house. There are solar only retailers out there that will sub-contract the installation. And for me that tends to lead to a lower quality outcome for the customer. So we have lots of internal teams. And those teams are very passionate about what we do and it means that there's very good lines of communications between the people that are selling the systems, the people designing the systems and also the people installing it. So overall the customer gets a better outcome because all of those people are working on the same team. When people are looking at solar, really the main drive is to reduce their electricity bill. Probably the second thing is obviously doing something about climate change. It's particularly evident in Canberra. We find a lot of our customers are very focused on that and that's another driver for them to buy a solar system. I think the key thing here is thinking long term. You know there's no point going out and buying a cheap system it's only gonna last you three to four years and then you're back replacing those components. So one of the biggest cons in the industry is this concept of a performance warranty. So what you'll see is a product warranty which is really what we're used to in terms on manufacturer's warranty. That they'll replace it if there's a fault. And that's typically 10 years for most panels. And then there's this idea of 25 year performance warranty. So they warrant that the panel will perform in a certain way for all that time. It's really fairly worthless. Because at the end of the day if the panel isn't performing properly it's usually due to a fault. So there's a way for them to wriggle out under these performance warranties. LG is different. They actually offer a 25 year parts and labor warranty all the way through that period. So if there's a fault in that period you're gonna find that someone like us, or anyone in the LG dealer network, can go out, remove that panel, put a new one back on and it won't cost the customer a cent. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPjWWebKKV0 4.55 2023-05-29T19:31:43.941Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-high-quality-solar-panels-help-increase-the-income-of-canberra-homeowners-connected-to-a-vpp https://www.youtube.com/embed/JCIaUs6Xr08 How do high quality solar panels help increase the income of Canberra homeowners connected to a VPP? - First and foremost home owners are looking to reduce their electricity bills. But there's no point buying a cheap system and then having that fail after three to four years. When they're buying systems, you really need to be looking past 10 years. And ideally if you're buying a really good quality panel, you'll get a 25 year warranty out of it and this system will last you that long. So, homeowners in Canberra, are quality focus probably more so than any other region that we're focused on. And I think that's a fantastic thing. The worst thing I can think of, is all of those cheap panels going to landfill in such a short amount of time. Having a panel that lasts you and inverter beyond that sort of five years is really important. Yes so VPP is a virtual power plant. So, you could have 5000 batteries installed in 5000 different places but the technology that stitches them all together, makes them work as one. All these batteries should respond to commands. They respond to price signals in the wholesale market that provides that control layer across all these batteries that allows them to work in a coordinated fashion. There are additional revenue streams available to the homeowner for the use of that battery. So, a retailer may say okay, I'm gonna buy the power out of your battery because we're gonna see a grid issue in the afternoon when everyone comes home and turns the air conditioner and I'm gonna pay you for that. And certainly that amount that revenue stream is much higher than what you would typically get from a normal feed in tariff. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JCIaUs6Xr08 1.46 2023-05-29T19:31:40.158Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-sydney-homeowners-optimise-their-solar-power-generation-to-charge-their-electric-cars-free https://www.youtube.com/embed/0p1w7iaiot8 How can Sydney homeowners optimise their solar power generation to charge their electric cars free? - Today we're at Duffys Forest, up on the northern beaches. We've got a beautiful day beginning. We've got sun on the panels. We've got 40 of them up there and this system's a lovely 12.8 kilowatt solar system. Scott, the owner's put in a Tesla Powerwall as well. He's got a Tesla car and we're putting in a couple a car chargers as well. So this system has got him pretty much off the grid. He's not actually buying any energy from the grid. He's in fact putting more in than he's taking out. So it's been a real successful install, and as you can see, quite a beautiful looking install as well. - The end goal for the system for us was to add a battery. By doing that it was able to pretty much take us off-grid, which was a great attraction. The reason we didn't go with a cheap system was because we were after quality. We were after something that'd last the distance. It was a no-brainer for us. I see long term value as being something that's going to last the distance, it's going to not be, there doesn't have to be a conversation about doing a replacement because it's a cheap and nasty. It's something that's going to outlast me. Solarpro, with Dave, I was looking for an offering that had quality, experience, and these guys have been around for a long time and they know exactly what they're doing and there was a lot of comfort in that for us. - Yeah, well as you can see from the panels behind me he's put on an all black panel, and we've pretty much filled up the roof space. It was really important for Scott to have the panels looking symmetrically perfect and looking, matching the roof, which is what we've achieved. And the size of the system has been perfect for him. He's now charging his cars with a car charger that we've installed as well, that can make sure he's only using the solar electricity off the roof, so he's not drawing any power off the grid for a slow charge. We're also installing his Tesla car charger, which will allow him to draw at about 22 kilowatts, so it's a really fast charge if he wants to charge his car up quickly. - More than happy, absolutely ecstatic with it. Completely off-grid, which is from a bill perspective, fantastic environment, fantastic. We've then gone to the next step. We've done the electric car scenario. We've jumped into Zappi charger, which punches the extra kilowatts off the roof that aren't going into the battery, once the battery's full, into the car, so it's just a win-win. It's been really, really good, great experience. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0p1w7iaiot8 2.59 2023-05-29T19:31:36.288Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-main-things-brisbane-homeowners-should-consider-when-buying-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQfDOEieRlo What are the main things Brisbane homeowners should consider when buying a solar power system? - We're in the greater suburbs of Brisbane. This is a suburb called New Beith, out towards Ipswich. Utilising LG NeOn-2 panels here, 330 watt NeOn-2 panels. 52 panels, which gets them just a touch over 17 kilowatts. Excellent savings here though. This is a large home, ducted air, could be looking at a bill over 800 to 1200 a quarter. With the system we've got and the battery we've got here, we can get that down to zero. Springer Solar only utilizes employees for their systems. We don't subcontract our work. We have a team of electricians and apprentices and qualified roofers amongst our staff to ensure the system gets installed correctly to first time every time. The things to consider when installing and choosing your solar system provider is the quality of the components that they're using, the longevity of the company, the longevity of the providers of the equipment. How long has that company been around? Are they using their own installers? Are they subcontracting their work? What does the design look like? How has that design been presented to you on the roof? Are you aware of how that system's gonna look on the installation? Where's the inverter going? Is that inverter going out in the sun? Is it going in the garage? All these things make up an installation. Solar is not just about price. We're not just comparing a five kilowatt system to a five kilowatt system. There are so many more factors to think about. Houses with multiple roof surfaces with multiple azimuths might also need a micro inverter or an optimised solution. No point having a high quality product in your panel with a poor quality installation or the wrong inverter chosen for the job. Most residential properties can install a high quality solar system and have it paid back under five years, and that would be our worst case scenario. This many solar systems have never been more viable and more economical. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQfDOEieRlo 2.32 2023-05-29T19:31:31.132Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-maximise-the-energy-generated-on-your-roof https://www.youtube.com/embed/MRH87-SeyeY How does a high quality solar power system maximise the energy generated on your roof? - Hey roll in when you're ready. All right we've got Dashy's team over at Toowoomba, Dashy and Bryce's team. They started Wednesday with the set out it's clip lock it's going well. - My name's Eddie Springer from Springer Solar. We're a electrical contracting business in the greater Brisbane region. We specialize in residential, commercial renewable installations. Springers been around for 17 years, we operate on the north and south side of Brisbane. We have Capalaba and a Lawnton store. We operate in the greater Brisbane region, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast. We do rural Queensland for our off-grid installations. - Beautiful. - You have a smart meter in there? - Yeah, with a smart meter I connect it to the Fronius, just single phase. - Our clients are choosing Springer Solar because we're an honest ethical business. We're a family orientated business but we have a large scale corporate profile. We're installing for local councils, for homeowners, for businesses because we use quality components. We have longevity in the industry, we are reliable and what we install is designed to last for decades. Just finishing up down here in Newport, 20 LG Neon 2 panels, all installed by our teams, here this morning about 7.30-8 o'clock, just after lunch now and the guys are commissioning the system. So we talk about maximizing the system size to suit your roof space and that is within your budget. Feed in tariffs from retails are getting better and better each day. Electricity costs are getting higher and higher, getting the maximum system size you can to suit your budget is the best investment you can make. Choosing a high quality high performance solar system allows you to maximize the energy on your roof space. You know the smaller the block, the smaller the property, we're still able to get a large amount of kilowatts on the roof to future proof that property against rising power prices. Why waste your roof space with an inefficient product? Traditionally solar has been a part of the residential homeowner market but today we're seeing more and more commercial clients. Larger roofs are becoming available, the cost of power is no where near as cheap as it used to be so it's making more sense for larger scale systems to be installed. The things that commercial customers should be looking for is lifecycle costs of the equipment. You install a quality system and a quality component you can guarantee those savings for a long period of time. A cheap system or an inexpensive system will need to be replaced two or three times before a good quality system will ever need replacing. Choosing the right installer for your solar system can mean the difference in having somebody to service them and maintain that system in the future. We see so many orphaned systems in the marketplace, every day we're getting phone calls from customers with systems on their roof where the installer or the sales company is no longer around. You really need to choose your installer, choose your sales company to ensure they're going to be around to honor the warranties, honor their service and maintenance obligations for that system to ensure that you have a happy and well performing system for many years to come. Warranty is your insurance policy. Without a company that you can rely on, without a decent warranty you could end up with a system that needs to be replaced rather than serviced or fixed. We see so many solar systems advertised on a 25 year warranty and those manufacturers are talking about a 25 year performance warranty from a company who may not be around in another five years. When we work with LG we talking a 25 year product and performance warranty. This is a whole of system warranty on the panels. - Springer Solar in Brisbane is one of our key partners in that wider region. They are focusing on high quality outcome, they are using LG panels to give you the best longterm financial return and their service level is excellent. I can only highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MRH87-SeyeY 4.45 2023-05-29T19:31:27.062Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-ballarat-homeowners-and-businesses-able-to-get-better-savings-with-their-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/_DRSWg9XQqs How are Ballarat homeowners and businesses able to get better savings with their solar power? - What we have been trying to achieve for a really long time is to be able to provide customers in the Ballarat, Greater Ballarat region with access to quality products at realistic prices. What we are looking for is the customer that's actually after quality, not after a price-based solution. I reckon most homeowners want to put the system on, and then not have to worry about it. So the reason people invest in a quality system is to ensure they've got the lifespan, the output that they need, and the security and comfort of knowing that they're not up for any sudden bills. As a business, our primary set of customers are residential. We do have a number of commercial clients. When we delve further into that, we look at, we have both our off-grid and on-grid customers. Definitely say that all of our off-grid customers have chosen LG. None of them have actually picked a lower-end panel. I believe there are good reasons for all of our customers picking this. A, we're able to communicate the value that the brand brings. We're also able to communicate the performance that they can anticipate over the lifespan of the product, or for how long they intend to have it. We've also been able to quantify it using numbers to show that, you know, it's not just what we express as an opinion, but it is backed by numbers. - So, at Fed Uni, they were looking to get the best that they could on the roof at the time, and that is the 300 watt LG's. We've installed 100 kilowatts, there or thereabouts. - With commercial properties that are looking for solar, businesses in particular, what they are looking for is a certainty in what the power costs are going to be over a period of x number of years. They're also looking at what is their return on investment on a quality product, as opposed to a cheaper product? The return on investment on a LG is probably a couple of years more than a cheaper product. However, when you look at the lifespan of the product and what you're hoping to achieve at the end of that, the answer's pretty evident once you do the math on it. At the end of the day for businesses, what they're looking for is profitability in the long run. And if this contributes towards long-term profitability and gain, it's a no-brainer for them. - You can't build something, and then just throw it on a roof. You have to go and look at what you're doing. You have to visit the site, because there so many things that get missed. It's really important to get out there, take a look what the customer's got, and make sure that you're doing the right thing by them. - In every one of our installations, with each one of our team that actually goes out to the installation, we take pride in the work that we do. All of our parts and components are genuine. We use that because that is the best way to get a quality result that will last. We're not a large volume retailer or installer. But what we are is a quality focused installer that does a reasonable number of installs, and our aim primarily is to make sure that we do a fantastic job. And we're in it for the long run. With Ballarat Solar & Electrical, we try and encompass every single product that is of high quality. Yes, it does cost us a little more, but that's all right because part of our promise is that we will deliver a high quality system, and to deliver a high quality system, we do have to charge a little more. - So I want to have confidence in what we're putting on the roof. That it is going to be there for a long time. Having the confidence in the product that we're working with. So with LG you know it's going to be there for 25 years genuine manufacturers, as opposed to spruked 25 year warranties, which are horrible, when they say it's just a performance warranty. - We've been with LG since 2012, and look, it's been a fantastic ride so far, and I think for us and for our customers that have chosen LG, I think they've had a fantastic run. - Ballarat Solar is our authorized partner in the wider Ballarat area. I've known Sanjeev and his team for many years. He's very much focused on a long-term quality solution that gives you the best financial outcome. I can only highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_DRSWg9XQqs 4.33 2023-05-29T19:31:23.270Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-choosing-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-on-the-central-coast https://www.youtube.com/embed/MU3w9nB9xCg What are the benefits of choosing a higher quality solar power system on the Central Coast? - Superior Solar started in 2001. So, we've been operating locally for 18 years on the Central Coast. We run a solar power company and solar power is what we specialize in, and what we're passionate about. We love putting in solar power systems, and love seeing our customers save on their energy bills. I think our average customer, when they come to see us about installing solar power, have a few things on their mind. One is, they want to reduce their energy usage. They want to reduce their CO2 footprint, and they want something that's going to keep working long-term, to keep offsetting these rising energy costs, that just keep going up every year, year on year. Batteries are a fantastic idea. They are in the early infancy stages at the moment, so having what's called a hybrid, which is where your home is still grid-connected, so still connected to the electricity network. The biggest bang for buck is getting a good size solar system to be able to put on your roof first. Second, is be able to put some energy storage in a battery, so that you can harness the leftover power, generated from the sun to be able to store for evening use. Most of our customers who have chosen to put a battery in, have done so, so they've got back up for blackouts. So, we hook up the essential services, so that they can keep running in the event of a blackout overnight. Secondly, is to be able to store their own power, and use their own power in the evening. Really blessed to have this team. Passionate guys. They love what they do and they love to be able to do a great job. We've been doing it for a long time, and I've got several staff members that have been here for more than 12 years, who are just dedicated to their job and love their job. I think why our customers choose Superior Solar, is we've been in the area for a long time, and we've built trust. Often I'll have customers ring and say they've been referred to us off two or three different people. We've been here for 18 years. We've built up the trust. We're not going anywhere, and we love putting in solar power. We've got a passionate team who just pride themself on doing quality workmanship, and choosing quality products to go with that. I think the value of being local, means that we're only a phone call away. We can respond quickly. In the end, it costs more when the system's failing, and there's no backup. There's thousands of systems out there that have failed, and that have no company that back them any more, and we get the phone calls to come and help. We gladly go out and help, but there's not a lot we can do when the system needs replacing. So, having a local company, that's been around, to back you up, gives value added for the long-term. Putting in quality up front is definitely cheaper long-term. The best value is not being able to have to replace products twice. But, it's not only just the cost. Let's think about what we're trying to achieve. All of us are putting in solar power. Yes, we're trying to reduce energy. All of us trying to do our bit for the environment. I don't want to be taking out a panel in three years time, and putting it in landfill. That's going at totally against what we're trying to achieve. Putting in a system that's got longevity, means that we're not putting panels back into landfill. Warranty is only as good as the brand that supports it. A lot of the solar systems that are out there, you've never heard of the brand. You've heard of LG. They're backing their warranty with 25 years, and that's a product warranty, not a performance warranty. Huge difference. A lot of these cheap brands, banter around a 25 year performance warranty. That performance warranty doesn't mean a thing, if the product has failed, because there's no warranty to support it. So, a 25-year product warranty is what you want to look for. Having a company like LG, which is a known brand, with big warranties and having a local company, gives you assurance. - Superior Solar looks after the LG dealer network in the Gosford area. Derek and his team are focused on a high quality in the installation. They are also giving you very, very good advice of what is the best system and best design for your particular circumstances. I can only highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MU3w9nB9xCg 4.36 2023-05-29T19:31:19.054Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-pacific-solar-help-save-bidfoods-1-6-million-in-energy-costs-at-their-dandenong-facility https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqsqUChH6aU How did Pacific Solar help save BidFood $1.6 million in energy costs at their Dandenong facility? - [Austin] Today we're at the cold-storage facility in Dandenong, which is just on the outskirts of Melbourne. The job here today is a 210 kilowatt system, 532 LG 400 watt panels - they're the high-efficiency, premium panels on the market. Paired that up with seven Fronius inverters. It all ties into the main switchboard and produces power enough to supply this entire building. - On this job here, because we've got a north-south aspect to the roof, the rows on this north side are a little bit closer together, all the panels are tilted up at 15 degrees. So, on the other side, with the roof slanting back towards the south a little bit, we've just spaced the rows a bit further, just so that the row in front doesn't shadow the row behind. - [Austin] The solar for cold-storage facilities is very relevant just because it's a very stable energy load. They have the fridges on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the solar energy can cover about 40% of their load. The return on investment on this particular site is 4.6 years until the system pays for itself. We set that up conservatively with a 3% increase on their rate of power, over the next 25 years. So the site here at this cold-storage facility has got a 210 kilowatt system - it's going to save them $80,000 dollars in the first year. At the 25 year mark, the system will still be producing and they'll have a total saving of $1.6 million dollars. We get to these figures because we analyze the interval data for the site, we design the system to suit their actual requirements that they need. Through that data we get at every 15 minutes, it's very accurate, then we base that on weather data from the Bureau of Meteorology that goes back 20 years. The LG panels will return a higher efficiency, so the higher efficiency they'll return more power every day, long term, for the next 25 years. It makes sense to go for the more premium-grade panel. - I think that energy saving is a real cost for businesses these days, so if they can save anywhere then solar is a pretty easy, low-cost investment. For customers like this, it is about saving money. The solar is really an easy decision to make, it saves a substantial amount of money, reduces their energy costs, and gives them energy security for the next 25 years. I think installing solar is really an easy decision for a lot of commercial businesses. If you own the roof space, you are going to save money, it's as simple as that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqsqUChH6aU 2.40 2023-05-29T19:31:14.654Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/who-are-pacific-solar-and-how-do-they-design-a-solar-power-system-to-optimise-your-returns https://www.youtube.com/embed/dwS7CXmi83w Who are Pacific Solar and how do they design a solar power system to optimise your returns? - So, at Pacific Solar, we've been doing solar since 2007. Our background is in electrical commercial contracting. So, a lot of big warehouses, things like that, since all the way back to 1998. We diversified into solar power in 2007, and we've made that our primary focus from here on. I like to think that we bring a lot of expertise in the design and the engineering side the things. We bring in a suite of contractors that we'll use, that we've built up over the years. That can be the structural engineering guys, or the electrical design guys, along with the installation contractors as well. So, Pacific Solar, we're an Australia wide business. We have jobs from Cairns to Launceston, to Perth, Adelaide, you name it, we do sites everywhere. Our office is currently based in Melbourne, but we service clients all over the place. The other parts of the things that we do are a lot of rural properties of inland, around the farms of Bega, Nethercote, Greigs Flat. LG will give you a 25-year product warranty, which covers you for everything, from parts, labor, freight, materials, you name it, LG will fix it for you. They do that extra salt and corrosion testing. They're a higher efficiency panel. Basically, that means that they produce more power. If they produce more power, you're going to save more money, and basically, that's what it's all about. Commercial businesses really are the sweet spot for solar. They operate during the daytime, obviously when the sun's out, when the solar can have its greatest impact. You have a business like this one here, which is cold storage. They have a very stable energy use which is 24 hours a day. So, we try to maximize what the solar can cover in that daytime period, for these type of customers. Each one of these pallets weighs about 700 kilos. We lift them up with a crane. On this job it was a 120 tonne crane, and before we drop anything onto the roof, we do work it out with the structural engineers, where we're going to place them. Make sure that there's good solid beams below it, so we don't have any issues with the roofs. Our job, with the design phase of every commercial solar system, starts with the consultation with the client. We talk about their energy bills. Their energy consumption. We then approach their energy retailer to get the interval data out of their meter. So, the interval data comes every 15 minutes, from their meter and then we analyze that through our software to design a system that specifically suits that customer requirements. Then we pair it up with their rates of power, and design the system so that it exports, just a little bit to allow for some extra growth in the business. Once we've designed all that, after we work out if it fits on the roof, we talk to the structural engineers. So, on is particularly job, we had to reach a long way in. We've used a 120 tonne crane, just so that we could get 40 meters worth of reach, and we could drop them in above the structural beams underneath. I think, with all commercial businesses, if you guys own your roof, then you've got to go for solar. It will save you money. It will ensure your energy security over the next 25 years. Further to that, the ongoing stability in their energy pricing. Because obviously, we all know that energy prices are up and down a fair bit these days, and generally heading in an upwards direction. So, they get stability in their energy cost, which is something really important for a business with their cash flows. And, the other thing is, look I think big corporates these days, they do have an environmental code, that they need to keep to. So, if they can present themselves as a green energy type business, then that's only going to be good for their business. The energy security that a commercial solar system offers, last for 25 years. The warranties on the panels is 25 years. It covers you for all products, parts, labor, freight, materials, you name it. If anything goes wrong they will be fixed by LG. I think, if you're considering a commercial solar system for your business, then you've always got to look at it, like with everything, you got to look at the premium products, as well as the standard range. And weigh up what the differences are for you, and what suits your business. There's obviously a cost difference between those two things, but there's also an efficiency return that comes from the more premium product. Ultimately, most customers are looking for a cost-saving on their energy bills. So, it really comes back to your return on investment. You're going to get your return on investment. The figures are so accurate these days. We base them on 20 years of weather data from the bureau. Put that in, together with the type of panels, and the efficiency of the panels that we're using, and the figures that we can return are so precise. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dwS7CXmi83w 5.05 2023-05-29T19:31:10.654Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-three-key-factors-needed-for-solar-power-systems-designed-for-schools-in-the-nt https://www.youtube.com/embed/waq9ZYVAgFw What were the three key factors needed for solar power systems designed for schools in the NT? - Today we're here at Palmerston College up in Darwin, Northern Territory. The Darwin NT Government has recently put together a NT schools' program where we put solar on schools. Great initiative. The process of that obviously goes to tender, so we obviously had to tender against a couple of other solar companies. And lucky enough that we were awarded that tender. - Our college was really lucky to be on the first round to get the solar panels installed. And it worked out really well because the government actually have covered everything with the installation. - We've got the LG 400 watt Neon's. We utilized the 400s on this job because we had a minimum roof requirement that we could work with. So being able to put 225 panels on this roof, meant we could achieve the higher system for the school. - [MaryRose] We are getting savings of around $3000 a month and that will equate to around $40,000 a year, and that money, it can be used elsewhere. It can be used to buy the students more furniture, replace things like our whiteboards, especially we always need more computers. - Within the tender specifications for this job, the NT Government were really looking at quality, longevity, reliability. With these three words, first thing that came to mind was LG. With a 25 year product and performance warranty, there was really no other product on the market that we were happy to use. LG came to the party with the 400s to really increase the system size. Palmerston College, we really had to work with two roof bases there as well as a walkway. We had a limited amount of room, so we had to go with the 400s, obviously, so we could get a bigger size on that roof. - [MaryRose] It is stressful working with budgets, so with the savings on this solar, I can use the money far better in areas for our students. - It was about decreasing their power bill. So, right now after we've finished, we're probably sitting around 27% of their entire load we're offsetting, which is great. And on the weekends, obviously, a little bit more due to the school being closed. - So I've found it very easy to work with SEM. The team was able to communicate with us really well and they did it without any interruptions to the school at all. With SEM on board, we know that we have plenty of savings coming up. They're also going to be monitoring and helping us out with any difficulties from now til lifetime, I believe. https://www.youtube.com/embed/waq9ZYVAgFw 2.52 2023-05-29T19:31:05.912Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-difference-in-claiming-a-warranty-on-low-quality-versus-high-quality-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Z7egUvOEzQ What is the difference in claiming a warranty on low quality versus high quality solar panels? - I was given the bum's rush on the last warranty claim. They didn't want to proceed in a hurry, It took 18 months and I still got no satisfaction. And anything that I had a relevant point to bring up, they just ignored. They didn't answer it. They just pretended that I didn't say anything. It was distressing. um, my blood pressure went up. I was not well. I'm not. I'm a self-funded retiree, so I can't afford a lawyer and I had to let it go. Not happy about it. But I had to let it go. - You know they were just the cheap, budget, Chinese panel. That a lot of the panels have actually burned through the backing board as well. So they were in real bad shape. So it's gone to the landfill. And in Jane's case, they got to the stage where they just wore her out and she just gave up. - And dealing with an inter-state company was the pits. I think their whole modus operandi, is to keep me running around, long enough, until I just got too tired. Which is exactly what happened. I felt I had a valid case, but I didn't have the money, to follow it up. And I think they knew that. - I've been doing LG now, I think for roughly five years. And, no issues whatsoever. - We chose LG, decided to go with LG, because that was the product, that talking around town, had been in the field as an electrician, that was recommended, by a lot of people around town. Yeah, I had an issue with one of the panels, it was faulty, it wasn't working. Now, I thought, Here we go. We got to go through all these issues of warranty and, you know, they want this evidence, they want that evidence. But, it wasn't. It was a totally new experience for me. And dealing with LG on a warranty claim wasn't a problem at all. They acted on it, and they were real polite. Real easy to deal with. And they sent the Quality Solar around. They fixed it, no stress. Nothing at all. It was really easy, pain-free and, um, quick. That's the big thing. It was just quick. I rang up, they took the call. They responded. It was replaced. And all done within a week, I think, from memory. - If anyone is smart, and does their homework, and research. I find that you deal with a local company, get a good warranty, get a good system and you're not going to have a problem. - Oh, I couldn't be happier with Bill. He's very patient. I've gone for LG, because it's a big company. It makes everything. And I'm thinking that they wouldn't renege on any claims they make because they can't afford to. - I've recommended Bill, Quality Solar, to a lot of people. And, Bill's actually gone and done my sister's place. And they were happy with his work. And he's gone and quoted other people I've known and, look, I can't give him enough of a wrap, in regards to, the work that he does. You have to pick quality and I would pick Quality Solar, to install it. You look around at the workmanship and everything that goes with it, as a tradesman. No, he did a fantastic job. Him and his crew, are the people to see. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Z7egUvOEzQ 3.17 2023-05-29T19:31:01.609Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-picking-a-high-quality-solar-system-and-a-local-darwin-installer-help-you-save-money https://www.youtube.com/embed/NiSOlyyhnk8 How does picking a high quality solar system and a local Darwin installer help you save money? - [Bill] Quality Solar has been now in operation for roughly 10 years And I've lived in Darwin for well over 40 years. My installations are just around the Darwin region. The main thing for me and with Quality Solar is specialising in high end. You go the lower end, it might be cheaper but the poor man pays twice. - I definitely believe both as an engineer and as a consumer, that I'd rather spend that little bit more money. Get the quality, get the workmanship get materials that are Australian compliant. - [Bill] Comes down to value for money. You might pay a little bit more at the top of it but works out cheaper. - [Nicholas] If you do go straight ahead and buy a decent panel like LG, and you get your decent installer a quality solar, it will be cheaper. You are getting a better output into your grid. You're getting the back-up and the customer service and you are getting a far more superior install and product on your roof. And it's an investment at the end of the day and it does add value to your home. - [Bill] My main clients that I have around Darwin, the Darwin region, are the normal mums and dads that are looking for a good investment. - I'm laughing, honestly, I am laughing about the output of the system. My bills are non-existent to be honest, all right. And, you know, you want to do that commercial on TV and point to the solar panels, I tell the wife and kids that all the time. It's a cliche, I suppose, but they are fantastic. - [Bill] When it come down to designing the system is what the people's needs are. One of the great advantage that we have here in the Northern Territory, we have a one for one feed-in tariff. - [Janice] 37 kilowatts is above and beyond what I'm using. That's pure profit. And as Darwin sells and buys their power at one for one, they sell it for about 24 cents a killowatt, and they're buying mine for 24 cent, the same price. - [Rino] Dollar's in my pocket. I'm used to have these bills of $1500 to $2000 depending on what time of year it was. I'm going to have this thing paid off in two and a half, three years I reckon. And with a 25 year warranty, I still got 22 years of care free that no-one that, I don't have to pay a bill. - [Anthony] Everything kept coming back that best installer in Darwin was Bill and the best quality product was LG. - By sticking with the local installers, it's a great piece of mind. You're knowing who you're dealing with. There's great reputation, reputation is everything here in the Northern Territory. - [Bill] A lot of customers that come over to Quality Solar is because they're looking for a good warranty, good back-up, most importantly is dealing with a local person. Clients that I get are word-of-mouth. So they've been referred to me because I've done a job for a neighbor or a relative or five-six people out of one family. Because they just see what savings they're getting on their power bills. - [Rino] I've recommended Bill, Quality Solar, to a lot of people. And Bill's actually gone and done my sister's place and they were happy with his work. And he's gone and quoted other people I've known and look, I can't give him enough of a rap in regards to the work he does. - Outsourcing to non-local installers, there is a great risk that they could just close the door at any time and walk away with you money and poof, there goes the warranty. - You don't just want to get any old installer especially one's that don't have the back-up and aren't local. - If you want the best, go with the best. Quality Solar, that's what we do. Honestly, there's no point in mucking around. Hey, you might have to pay a little bit more and what you pay extra is minimal for what you get in return. You can guarantee they have the system that's going to run for years and years and years. - [Bill] By putting the top-end LG system on, you're saving yourself money. You're also saving the environment because less land-fill and at the end of the day you're getting a far better return on your investment. Return on your investment is roughly three and a half years. - [Anthony] If you get an LG product, you make more power. The warranty is 25 years across the board, parts and labor. These are the panels, LG's the best. Honestly, that's it as far as I'm concerned. - Just by putting the top-end of the solar, the LG on, gives me a good piece of mind that the customer's got good value for money at the end of the day. - [Markus] An LG partner has to have good design services, good advice, good customer service, uses excellent equipment, in the long run gives long-term warranty support and is responsive to customer's inquiries. We're a big brand, we cannot afford people carrying our brand who do not do the right thing by the customer, so we only choose the very best. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NiSOlyyhnk8 5.05 2023-05-29T19:30:56.957Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-think-about-the-holistic-energy-profile-of-a-property-if-you-re-installing-solar https://www.youtube.com/embed/-60xTLEF23c Why should you think about the holistic energy profile of a property if you're installing solar? - In 2005, we started doing air conditioning, and 2010, we started with the solar. We've been specialising in energy efficient houses, and packages that will provide the customer with solar and air conditioning to help reduce their energy bills. So, we're trying to achieve a energy efficient outcome for our customers. We look at the house as a whole and offer our recommendations on the air conditioning and the solar, as a package or either one or the other, just to try and minimize the customer's energy usage. We have a broad customer base, we do a lot of building work, the apartments and townhouses, multi-story, and we also do a lot of residential moms and dads, and we also do some work for the architects, as well. So, we've been a preferred contractor for solar and air conditioning for a couple of architects in SA now for the last couple years. - The payback for solar is not a quick thing, so it is a number of years that they have to work, and work optimally, for the payback to be there. It is important that there is a good balance between the quality of the panels, the quality of all of the hardware, of the inverter, and of the battery, and that needs to balance with the economics. - Adding a higher-efficiency panel, you can put more panels on your roof. So, it's allowing you to squeeze the biggest system possible onto that roof base. It makes sense to go with a LG panel with the higher efficiency. You're reducing your costs and helping the environment at the same time, which is a win/win for everyone. - And Matthew was really flexible in experimenting with the options that were available, so he was really very, very good, very, very pleased with installation. And LG's a reliable, good quality manufacturer. So, I'd rather pay extra to get good quality panels, rather than have something less expensive that goes to landfill in five years time. - [Mark] Personally believe that if you go with a quality system, which is going to be on your roof with long warranties, got long warranties on the panel, you've got long warranties on the inverter. That you've got guarantees, you're using reputable companies, the installation and for the materials. - I could certainly recommend LG, the panels are beautiful, not one of them has caused me a problem, and it all matches up to the electricity provider that I sell the excess solar to, so everything adds up. - We haven't had one single LG panel fail on us since 2012, which says a lot for the panel. - We like design aesthetic, and we'd had one LG TV we bought a long time ago, and we love that. So, I guess it's just familiarity with the brand as being reliable and of high quality, and good value for money in that, as well. - We spend time with customer, looking to their system as a whole and look at their individual circumstances to make recommendations which could help in their energy consumption. They should be looking at their return on investment of the system over the 25-year period of the warranty. With the LG Panel and the 25-year product warranty, guaranteeing yourself the next 25 years that this panel is going to be on your roof. So, it's a long-term investment, you might as well do it once, do it properly. - An LG Partner has to have good design services, good advice, good customer service, uses excellent equipment. In the long run, gives long-term warranty support, and is responsive to customers' inquiries. We're a big brand, we cannot afford people carrying our brand who do not do the right thing by the customer. So, we only choose the very best. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-60xTLEF23c 4.08 2023-05-29T19:30:52.949Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-bill-shock-help-malcolm-discover-the-financial-returns-of-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/v5l1Ea1XRRs How did bill shock help Malcolm discover the financial returns of a high quality solar power system? - Malcolm Mitchell of Angaston. Just moved into town in February, so this is the first time I ever lived in town in my life. I thought when we moved in town, I'll wait until we got our first bill, and just see what it was, whether to go the solar or not, whether it's, and got our first bill, and it was fairly big, so we decided to go do solar, so that later on when I do stop work, that I, you know, we haven't got that expense later on. - So, Malcolm had just started the research process, just, sort of at that point where, finding out the differences between different types of solar system and products, and what it means for an investment longer term. - I had a lot of quotes, I got referred to Mick from a local person in a business in Angaston, and the reason I went with Mick was because he's local, because his farming background, that's why I didn't want to go with the city-based insulation. - Good quality products, warranty, the back-end support from LG, and, you know, I guess a lot to do with ourselves as a company, having been around. - We installed a 6.55 kilowatt solar system, 350 watt LG modules on Malcolm's home, coupled with a good European-built inverter. - And then Mick talked me into going into the LG panels, which are, you know, a bit more expensive, but better made panels, longer lasting, and the output as well, was another reason, yeah. They're proven product, you know, so, just a better product, and it might be a little bit more expensive, but not in the long run. https://www.youtube.com/embed/v5l1Ea1XRRs 2.20 2023-05-29T19:30:47.830Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-solar-power-specialist-help-get-you-a-better-system-with-a-more-reliable-warranty https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZLpZUaSexM How does a solar power specialist help get you a better system with a more reliable warranty? - I'm one of the partners of Generate Energy. We're a electrical contracting company, that specializes in solar installations and battery storage. - [Daniel] At the moment, we have two full teams of installers, and they come in the morning, they load up their equipment, with all the picked materials from the store, and they go out all over Adelaide, Metropolitan Adelaide, installing solar panel systems. - [Jarrod] We are specialists in solar and battery storage, it's what we do day in and day out. - We have a bit of a mix of residential and commercial. Probably about, at the moment, 70% is residential, 30% on the commercial sector. So, we cater everybody from a three kilowatt system, to 100, 200, two or three hundred kilowatt systems. So, the first thing to look at is obviously, how much energy the property is using. So, we sort of try and get some history from electricity bills to see how many kilowatts, on average per day, that the customer is using. And then from there, we start designing a system, we sort of speak to them and say, Is it more of a morning or afternoon, or during the middle of the day, that there's a majority of consumption? and try and match the solar panels in the facing of the maximum consumption. Most people of Adelaide do a North and a Western orientation so that means during the middle of the day, right into the late afternoon, we're generating good amounts of energy to supply to the household. And obviously, if you got a battery there, the battery would be topped up with the additional energy that's not being used from the property. Homeowners around Adelaide, should really be thinking about quality. You know, we've seen a lot of cheap and nasty panels come into the market, and everybody's got a friend whose got that story of, Oh, my solars don't work anymore, my panels don't operate, my inverters had to be replaced. What you should be just done from the start, you spend a bit of extra money, and you get it done properly. - Yes, we believe that homeowners in Adelaide should choose a high quality product. There's many products in the solar industry, that some of them are good, some of them are bad it's hard for the average punter to know what is good in the industry. So, using well known brands is always a safe bet. - [Daniel] Typically, just out of installing a solar panel system, we would expect a 50-70% reduction in your energy bills. You're not really going to achieve a zero energy bill out of just installing the solar. You need to install the battery because you're going to use energy in the evening. So, you need to recoup that energy during the daytime, store it in the battery, and then use that energy off the battery, in the evening for your property. - [Jarrod] And the feeding tariffs, are generally being eroded over time, so now, it can make economic sense to actually charge up your battery with that excess power and then discharge it at nighttime, when, generally, you're actually buying power from the grid. - [Jarrod] With the South Australia's a bit highest energy bills in the world, so, you know, it can be anywhere from a three to five-year return on a solar system. We're in the commercial sector, so it's the same, for up to 100 kilowatts you can easily get anywhere from a two to five-year return, which, the bean counters always love. So, it's definitely cheaper to pay a little bit more upfront, because the return of investment, like the LG product has a high-yielding panel out of the box. - We see, time and time again, systems that'll last three to five years and we happen to go out and remove the customers. And you know, yes, they've saved a little bit of money from the start by going a little bit cheaper. But in the long run, it's going to cost them more, 'cause they're having to spend thousands of dollars to repair or replace that system. - All panels have a 25-year performance warranty it's more of a performance guarantee. Someone years ago got smart with marketing, but at the end of the day it's impossible to actually prove a 25-year performance warranty. You have to pay someone to take the panel off your roof, send it to Sydney and then, you know, if they do find there's a problem with it in 10 years time they might say, Oh, well here's $25 back. You know, it's the cost of that panel. So, it's cost you $400 to actually get it sent there. So, at the end of the day the 25-year performance warranty is not worth the paper it's written on. - [Jarrod] Most products have a 12, or 10 to 12-year product warranty. That includes labor, companies like LG have gone the next step and extended theirs from 15 to, now, 25. So, they actually have a real 25-year warranty. - [Daniel] We highly recommend the LG product, with the 25-year warranty. So, everything on the roof's top, that's exposed to the elements, has the full 25-year benefactors warranty, which is parts, labor, frock, everything including, and also has one of the best degradation warranties on the market, meaning that, in 25 years or in the future, those panels won't degrade as much as other panels that are on market. - Generate Energy has been with us for many many years, and they're the authorized LG dealer for the Wider Adelaide area. There have been lots of good positive customer reviews, that focus on the best financial outcome, of a system that lasts for long long time, with the LG panel and great inverter solutions. We can highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZLpZUaSexM 4.59 2023-05-29T19:30:44.131Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-some-of-the-custom-engineering-challenges-for-the-solar-power-installation-at-the-arc https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rfo_E7KRADs What were some of the custom engineering challenges for the solar power installation at the ARC? - The ARC Campbelltown was a project tendered out by the Campbelltown Council, that Generate Energy won. The challenges of the ARC was the building couldn't actually hold the load of the solar panels initially, so we had to get creative with engineering. - Commercial buildings are a different kettle of fish altogether. You've got engineering of roofs, and shading objects from air-conditioning ducts, and vents and flues coming out, so we really need to hone in and specialize, and again, see what the demand of energy for the commercial businesses are, and get their interval data from their electricity meter so we can paint a picture of their consumption profile, and then we try and match a solar panel system based on that consumption profile, and the available roof-space that we have for the client. - [Jarrod] The size of the system was 174 kilowatts. It was 432 panels all up, of the 400 watt LG Commercial 72-cell panels. There was three roof areas that the system was spread across. There was two sections that had tilted panels, and there was also a section where the panels were laid flat on the roofs. So at the ARC Campbelltown we actually had to have risers engineered that actually integrated into the existing structure of the building. We had GANT Energy engineering weld them into place for us. It's what out Schletter rails actually attach to, on top of those, and then the panels on top of that. So, the engineering had quite tight tolerances to the weight loading of the building, and these risers were engineered especially to integrate into the building. It was a custom job that we were comfortable doing. We quite enjoyed the challenge. - For commercial operations, return on investment's even more important, because they're going to, in the long haul, they're not in and out of the businesses within a short period of time, so having a product that's going to be warranted for output and generation, for 25 years, is ideal. - Well we could achieve the ARC's tender requirements with the size of the system, by using less panels, and therefore less weight. One of the advantages of using the LG panels were we use less of the panels, and therefore overall, the overall load of the array was decreased. Yeah, companies are specifying higher quality products. The ARC Campbelltown specified a high-efficiency panel, because they had limitations of the roof-loading on the actual building. They want a product that's going to provide a long-term return with minimal fuss over the test of time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rfo_E7KRADs 2.39 2023-05-29T19:30:39.838Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-and-a-local-bathurst-installer-help-you-achieve-a-better-long-term-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/c7znvPuPUKk How does a high quality solar power system and a local Bathurst installer help you achieve a better long term investment? Bathurst to me is a town that, it's nice and quiet compared to a city environment but you get a mixture of both, city and country living. - Look our business tagline is advice, service, assurance, and it's about giving the customer great advice, advice that I'd expect someone to me. We want the customer to have assurance in the products and services that we've provided for them. - A customer wants to put solar on, obviously the first thing is to reduce their energy prices, they want a good return on investment, obviously energy prices are going to increase, they're looking at reducing that cost. - [Rob] That's what they want, that's exactly what they want, they want a system that they've got full confidence in, that they know that the system is going to perform. - [Chris] Bathurst has got a climate that is 40 degrees plus in summer and minus eight in winter and sometimes we can even have four seasons in one day. - I did a fair bit of research on the web looking at what panels were around, saw LG were one of the leading producers of panels. We want a production throughout the day, that's why we chose LG, the high capacity panel and more capacity in low light for winter use. - [Chris] And that's right, LG ticks all the boxes when you're looking at the temperature coefficients and power factors of the panels. - It's imperative to look at both price and efficiency as reviewed, as assessed by as many sources as you can find. Price is one determine of course in life but definitely not the only one. - We didn't look for the lowest price system, we looked for a system that would last and had a reputation for quality. - Look there's a mix of customers out there that some of them are well researched and know what to look for. But there's a lot out there that are targeted that have no idea and they will just take whatever's put in front of them at the best price thinking that they're getting apples for apples and they're not. - And it comes down to education, if you buy a crap solar system, realistically you're going to have to replace it within five years, if you have to replaced it in five years, then any return on investment that they might've been thinking about has gone out the window because you now have to factor in a removal of the first system, installation of a second system, where if they'd just looked and done a bit more research to start off with and put a quality system in, they wouldn't of been having these issues going forward. - Installation is a major part of the job and if you've got quality products that aren't installed properly, it's not going to last. We won't cut corners, that's why we take pride in our installations. - We used Bathurst Electrical to install the solar system. I've used them previously for other work and quite happy with their workmanship and professionalism and they did an excellent job of doing the installation. - For picking a good installer, you're looking at somebody that's going to be there, that can give you technical advice, give you support, we want to make sure that the end customer has a great product that's not going to just last for five years, it's going to last for a lifetime. - Anyone living in a regional center, if they want to see that regional center flourish, you always look to buy local where you can, it's worth doing that to support the community and continue to make the community viable and flourish. - A high quality panel like LG, carries a good warranty period, 25 year performance warranty, 25 year manufacturer's warranty backed by LG Electronics, so you know that you have got peace of mind while that system is on the roof of your house or premises. - Yeah that's correct, you don't have anything to worry about because of LG's warranty and because of the company, LG itself, they're there and they're there for the long haul. https://www.youtube.com/embed/c7znvPuPUKk 4.46 2023-05-29T19:30:36.224Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-a-higher-quality-solar-system-get-you-a-bigger-return-on-your-financial-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWO5WeULPMk Why does a higher quality solar system get you a bigger return on your financial investment? - I've been in solar for over seven years. I've being in renewables for over 13 years and been in the electrical industry for over 20 years. - He's an old hand. I've just been in solar for over a decade so between the two of us, we've got a fair bit of experience. - We've done literally thousands of installs across the Illawarra and we're really trying to push that quality system. - The LG, which is a premium solution, is a solution that I see will work in this particular environment. It's quite a hostile environment next to the coast. - We have a lot of clients who live on the coast and corrosion is obviously a big issue for anyone who lives within cooee of the water. - I wanted something that won't rust, something that's non-corrosive, something that's durable. - You need to have a panel that's not going to crack under those conditions. - And also high wind loading environment as well. - And so we do tend to preference higher quality components like LG because they come with a 25-year performance and construction warranty. - Price of power is enormous. This was an opportunity to mitigate that. And also to actually do our bit around the environment. - It absolutely makes sense to invest in solar because you're saving dollars. You're saving the planet. It's a win-win. It's just good for future generations. - Certainly yes, cause I think it's up to every individual. If we can all contribute in our way. It's important, we will help the universe and make this a greener planet and leave it in a better position and condition for our children. - As accountants we do numbers all the time and often we will see that yes, trying to explain to somebody that it's worthwhile upfront, paying a bit more upfront and then getting it back over a longer period of time rather than saving a few dollars now where you'll have to replace it again in a much shorter time frame. - Absolutely, pay peanuts and you get monkeys. You really have to spend a little bit more to get a good quality product that will see it through. - Once we show 'em the full calculation on the potential of generation from system and how much savings they can make, it really is a no-brainer. - The one I have in front of me at the moment is showing a $300 credit for 90 days. - I'd love to say that most people buy solar purely for environmental reasons cause that was my whole rationale for getting into solar, but most people are doing it to save money and we have clients who have $0 bills. We have clients who get the credit from their energy company to porter. - It was a minefield. I found it just a minefield when I started and the research that I came across was the CSIRO and CHOICE research about the LG panels and we decided to go with LG parts. And went and proceeded and we've been absolutely gobsmacked with the success with everything. - The Energy Experts were recommended to me by a number of friends of mine who've had excellent experience with them. - One of the things I guess that differentiates us from other companies is that we project-manage the whole thing from where to go. - That's correct. Yeah, so when people choose The Energy Experts, they can trust that we're going to do a quality job from start to finish. As Carolyn mentioned, it's from the design quotes, the installation, the government rebate paperwork, the meter upgrade requirements. - Absolutely first class. They were incredibly efficient. They arrived one day, installed it, and virtually gone the next. Everything done, very neat, and it was up and running. It was just outstanding. I can't speak more highly of them. - It was seamless. From the first phone call through to actually having the panels put up on the roof, it all flowed really well. - We chose The Energy Experts over a couple of other suppliers mostly because of the credibility we got from them. - And they were very amenable and weren't pushy, but they worked out a way for us to have solar panels that are doing the job that we hope they would do. They've outdone themselves, really. - We definitely recognize that when you buy quality, you're going to pay more for product, but if you're going to pay more for a product, and you want it competitively-priced, then we are definitely in the mix. So you get the best of both worlds. You get a local company, you get it professionally installed, and you get it competitively-priced. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWO5WeULPMk 4.51 2023-05-29T19:30:29.331Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-the-ocean-coastline-effect-the-performance-and-longevity-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_HNwcZMc64 How does the ocean coastline effect the performance and longevity of a solar power system? The diversity of our area is amazing, the location having the escarpment on one side, having the ocean on the other, It's a nice place to call home. Our region is predominantly coastal, so there's going to be high winds, there's going to be high salt, a lot of our properties that we've done installations for have been beachfront, so it's going to have more exposed to the elements than some of the more inland areas. So the ability to withstand and have high salt ratings have high quality anodisations, just make sense to make sure that the gear is going to last a long time, the last, the warranty period and more Our general environment is, it's just, yes, it's really harsh, it's coastal, the product that we use matches the environment that we put it in We service the greater region of the Illawarra as well as touching some of the sections of the Southern Highlands and in the coast a bit. We've been servicing these areas for almost 30 years in the electrical game and 10 years in the solar. This is our area, we understand, if you tell me where you're from straight away I already have an idea of where, that might be designed complexities or design restrictions, so we'll then work with you to go and as best as we can around those restriction. Were all electricians, so all the people that will carry installation for federal solar or federal solar employees, so we carry out our installation, no subcontractors, therefore there's a pride in our work within the size of our own company, we've got our own CC installers and designers, so really understanding what goes into the process of the quality design, the quality selection of product, the quality installation process, and you'll end up with a quality result. The quality aspect is it that we ensure that aesthetically the installation is pleasing, we use all-black racking for all our residential installation because it might as well function well and look well. The design aspect is extremely important, having a completely oversized system just for the sake of going big or go home also makes as much sense as going too small, size the system according to your usage and future usage. Understand that there's going to be changes and evolutions as it goes. Things like taking battery and self-consumption, is a must. Things like electric vehicles, electric vehicles are not that far down the track. Within a few years, your next vehicle is likely to be an electric vehicle or a hybrid. So having excess generation or at least enough to cover that future usage will make sense now and into the future. For the moment, the majority of places we're able to have a feed-in tariff. That feed-in tariff is any excess generation that occurs from your system, when it goes back into the grid, it will create a certain credit, which could be whatever amount is set by your retailer. That credit can then start to offset some of your evening consumption while the sun is not shining or towards your daily charges of just the fact of being connected to the grid. So for us, there's an obvious win on environmental case. There's an obvious win on return investment case. There's an obvious win on reducing your bills on a quarterly basis. So it's a win win situation, there is no negative view on why you should get solar for your home or why you should get solar for your business. A product like LG having 25 years product warranty versus a lot of other competitors that will offer a 10 year product warranty. When you break down the cost of that warranted period and you break it down on a yearly basis, you have the cost divided by 10 that's your cost per year. Then you look at the similar costs slightly higher because it's a premium product, you divide that by 25 and that will be your cost per year. You put those two together and LG stands out every day of the week. It just makes sense. So for us, LG panel, LG quality, it's a direct association. If you were to do a very simple Google search, what is the best panel available to you, right now in the market in Australia and all your searches will come up LG. There's a reason, it's not my opinion, this is independent research opinions that has been throughout tests and generation tests and efficiency tests and viability tests and financial tests, to see why is this company the standup product? All of that has been provided with evidence that LG just stands out, heads above the rest. https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_HNwcZMc64 5.10 2023-05-29T19:30:25.909Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-main-reasons-why-homeowners-invest-in-a-solar-battery-storage-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bj7aUvbYAy8 What are the main reasons why homeowners invest in a solar battery storage system? The key drivers to invest in a solar plus battery system is basically return on investment. So energy arbitrage using your green generated energy day and night, rather than purchasing from the grid. Another big driver is backup power as well. So in different parts of the market there's lots of blackouts and that can cost them from hundreds to thousands of dollars per year. Maybe they're losing all their meats in their freezer, or it's affecting their business. So there's really big drivers, that's probably the two key ones. Energy security is really important, that's something that a battery can help you deliver. Predominantly, it's very popular for the off-grid market, so people completely disconnected from the grid. A big driver for off-grid, the off grid applications, is not having to pay for the poles and wires to be connected to your property. So most people now that are building a new off-grid site will do that with a lithium battery and a solar system. But also they're used in more higher end homes, that have higher power requirements. It's very, very popular for areas where they have power quality affected regions. So that could be blackouts, cyclones, or bushfires. You don't have to have a solar PV array system. So you could get an AC coupled battery system, so it's got inverter and a battery inside there and charge off the grid, and then discharge when you need the energy. But generally that's not done, it's not the most cost effective solution. Having a solar system there that's generating very cheap energy during the day it's the most cost effective solution. There's a lot of new comers into the market, new technologies coming out, different quality levels of batteries and inverters. We've going with the big brands and the ones that have a really proven track record, is really important to guarantee that you've got a warranty in a system that's going to work into the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bj7aUvbYAy8 1.55 2023-05-29T19:30:21.783Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-important-factors-to-consider-if-you-re-choosing-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/jQOwM2D1P1k What are the important factors to consider if you're choosing a solar power system? You may have a longer payback if it's a higher quality product, so there might be a bit more up front capital, but it will present a better value proposition over the longer-term generally. Not always. If you put cheaper product that's more expensive, that's probably not a good investment. Some of the cheaper end products might get a quick payback period, but then they will fail or they will stop producing, they'll drop off in their production and that's not representing a good longer-term investment. And also, it's not good for the environment to be able to throw away panels. We're not in the business of throwaway culture, particularly being in the environmental business. We don't want to see these products coming on and creating a waste product down the track. The important things for homeowners to think about when they're choosing a solar system is what is the payback period. That's always an important consideration, but I think it's not just about getting that payback. It's about the return on the investment over the life of the investment. Putting in a quality system that you know that if there's going to be any problems with it, it's going to be fully covered by a reputable manufacturer and an installer. It's about having the right advice and putting panels in the right orientation, making sure that those panels cater to your way of life, not necessarily a cookie-cutter model. And that is peace of mind for people investing in a high-quality system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jQOwM2D1P1k 1.33 2023-05-29T19:30:14.747Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-is-it-to-size-and-design-a-solar-power-system-to-your-specific-usage-patterns https://www.youtube.com/embed/gHRfrxqbzFY How important is it to size and design a solar power system to your specific usage patterns? The design aspect is extremely important. Having a completely oversized system, just for the sake of going big or go home also makes as much sense as going too small. Size the system according to your usage and future usage. Understand that there's going to be changes and evolutions as it goes. Things like taking battery and self-consumption is a must. Things like electric vehicles, electric vehicles are not that far down the track. Within a few years, your next vehicle is likely to be an electric vehicle or a hybrid. So having excess generation or at least enough to cover that future usage will make sense now and into the future. For the moment, the majority of places are able to have a feed-in tariff. That feed-in tariff is any excess generation that occurs from your system. When it goes back into the grid, it will create a certain credit, which could be whatever amount is set by your retailer. That credit can then start to offset some of your evening consumption while the sun is not shining, or towards your daily charges of just the fact of being connected to the grid. We'd say that we probably do a site assessment to almost all our sales. We have a face-to-face meeting with the end user. So it'll generally be the mum and dad, the young couple, the retired couple, the family, the single homeowner. Whichever it is, we have the site meeting, not just to put a face to the customer, we have a site meeting to understand what their consumption profile is, what their home looks like, what the complexities of the home, the designs are, how much free space there is, whether they use, whether they've got a swimming pool and whether they've got heating for the swimming pool. So there's a lot of variables that make up the decision, what size you should have. It's not just, You've got a roof, here's the size, voila, thank you very much let's move on. There's a lot of factors that need to, we need to get from the end user to match the size and then they'll end up with exactly what their expectations should be. Slapping just a general random size, let's go with a 6.6 kilowatt just because that's the stock that I have and that's the inverter that I'm trying to flog off is wrong. It just doesn't make sense. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gHRfrxqbzFY 2.19 2023-05-29T19:29:54.262Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-type-of-research-should-you-do-when-you-re-looking-to-buy-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/3CPWYXnrf0Q What type of research should you do when you're looking to buy solar power? I think you want to get it right the first time. I think you want to do your research and make sure you make an informed decision. I guess, we're there to educate the customers, help them understand the difference in the different quality components, the different types of systems out there. And at the end of the day, once they're educated and they can decide what they spend their money on, they're a happier customer because they make an informed decision, and that's what we're about. So they get it from us, so we help them understand. We have a lot of information, videos. We also, you know, we can point them to independent studies where they can also get independent information on the panels we sell. So that's not just coming from us. It's backed by independent studies like Choice Magazine who have done a good study on modules recently. Ask some other customers what's the experience they've had. Try and I guess do as much research as you can. There's a few independent websites you can get quotes through I guess. But it's just about making sure you do enough research to validate, sort the chaff from hay I like to say. You know, making sure you get the right stuff. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3CPWYXnrf0Q 1.18 2023-05-29T19:29:49.486Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-it-pay-to-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-panels-if-you-re-creating-a-sustainable-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/iuUMRjpgDUI Why does it pay to invest in higher quality solar panels if you're creating a sustainable home? Mark from Good House, we've been a preferred contractor with them for the last couple of years. They work on designing sustainable houses, which integrate solar energy, energy efficient air conditioning, and passive cooling and heating. We've worked in with Mark on these projects to come up with a solution that's going to bring as close to a zero carbon emission house as possible. Most of the clients have also got EV, so they've got the electric vehicle. So we're looking at also installing EV charging in their garages, which works very well with the solar and the battery. The customers that are building with good house are planning on living in these properties for a substantial period of time. They're not looking at building these and on selling. They're looking at staying in these properties for, you know, more than 10 years. So putting in a cheap system on a property like this would be, especially with the emissions of producing the panels, because if you have to pull the panels out after five, 10 years and replace them, it sort of defeats the purpose of their whole ethos of sustainable housing. So when we put these panels in, they'll be on the roof for 25 years and producing good power for that period. https://www.youtube.com/embed/iuUMRjpgDUI 1.32 2023-05-29T19:29:36.336Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-solar-power-and-air-conditioning-systems-be-br-integrated-to-create-smart-home-automation https://www.youtube.com/embed/5LH_Og7JYSQ How can solar power and air conditioning systems be integrated to create smart home automation? There's a lot of stuff coming out now with the new air conditioners, we can control them via an app, which means that you can switch that unit on remotely. Also, we can integrate the air conditioning into the solar system. So, as a total package it's automated. When the solar is producing, we can turn the air conditioner on. With smart homes and the like, everyone will be going that way, so it makes sense to have it all automated. With the solar and the air-conditioning, having the solar there to offset the air conditioning loads during the day, will really help the energy consumption being the highest consumption appliance. Well a new inverter air conditioner will reduce your energy costs of about 30% from the existing non-inverter 10 year old air conditioner, so about 30% less running costs. The energy efficiency, if you're not maintaining it correctly, and you don't have high quality and new especially R32 refrigerant, high efficiency compressors, the older units would definitely cost you more money to run. And the chances of them breaking down when you really need it is very high, 40 degree day and then you're stuck. The better the ER ratio or the star ratings on the units, the less power they're going to use. So using a high quality, high efficient air conditioner is going to help reduce their energy costs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5LH_Og7JYSQ 1.45 2023-05-29T19:29:32.456Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-goodhouse-architects-design-a-new-home-optimised-for-solar-power-production https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wf5W4GXPgjc How did Goodhouse Architects design a new home optimised for solar power production? So I'm Mark Thomas from Goodhouse Architecture, we specialise in sustainable architecture. So Goodhouse really came to exist, because of the perceived lack in our market for a sustainable architecture that was low energy, zero carbon, affordable. Goodhouse 13 was a lovely project that we did in the hills, it was a very very tricky site. And one of the challenges of Goodhouse 13 was to try and get as much solar access as we possibly could into the living areas, as well as give as much solar access as we could to the solar panels. So each Goodhouse is really important to be an all electric home, because of the technology that we now have available to us in solar panels and in inverters and in battery systems. We can actually have a house that is pretty much zero carbon and zero energy use, when it's balanced out with those things. So Goodhouse 13 was always going to be a trick because of the site. It's very very hilly, steep site, and it's got lots and lots of trees giving shading to the roof. So on site you can see that we've essentially punched the house into the side of the hill, raise it up into the trees as high as we possibly can and in that position, we're getting around about 70% effective solar access to our panels. Which is fantastic, it was more than we thought. So Goodhouse 13 has got about a 6.6 kilowatt system, with a five kilowatt inverter, and it's got a 10 kilowatt battery. Now we're in the process of getting some post occupancy data done on that building. The evidence is showing already that the energy consumption will be well and truly met by the power generated on site. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wf5W4GXPgjc 1.52 2023-05-29T19:29:27.383Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-environmental-and-financial-advantages-of-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/TyPhw9Wdf3o What are the environmental and financial advantages of a high quality solar power system? So initially the average customer, say eight to 10 years ago, will be primarily wanting to reduce their power bill. We find now a lot of people are coming to us which they want to reduce their carbon footprint. They want to do the right thing for the environment, so it's almost a secondary thing now to lower their power bill. Although it's still a high priority, sort of 50/50 now, so there's a lot of different mindsets with solar. Payback period for the average residential mum, dad, two kids, you're looking at three years for the extra money you have to pay to get a high end quality system. You might have to wait another six months to get that money back, but from there on you've got nothing to worry about. I guess the average homeowner, if there's a bit of indecision around solar, just with the extremely fast payback you're always going to get that money back. Even if you move, you're still going to get that few dollars more for your home with solar on it, even if you don't take advantage of that system and the power savings. So monitoring is really important to us, five to 10 years ago people just sort of, if you had a green light on your system, that was good enough for some people. But now with the changes in the feed-in tariffs, you need to make sure that not only your system is producing at a certain level, you want to know how much your home is using. With some of the monitored systems that we have installed, you can see how much your solar is producing in real time, and then also see how much your home is using at any one time. So you can start making smart decisions. You might be producing more power and some power is being exported to the grid, so then you're able to use that power, so you can maybe turn on the air cons or start using appliances knowing that you're not going to be using any power from the grid. The other things are electric hot water systems, but the great thing about electric hot water systems is they can be set up to run during the day, so it's absolutely perfect for solar. The other thing is air conditioning. Air conditioning on the weekends, you have people sitting around watching TV, they want to be able to put the air con on. A lot of people don't, purely because of the power bill. So, having solar allows them to put the air cons on sit back, relax, and not have to worry about bill shock at the end of the quarter. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TyPhw9Wdf3o 2.07 2023-05-29T19:29:20.567Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-have-a-home-inspection-before-you-buy-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/jC47Kt5cSzI Why is it important to have a home inspection before you buy solar power? From the initial contact that we make with the client, we try to find out what their expectations are around what they're going to get out of the solar system. And that'll almost always involve going to site and meeting them face-to-face, getting a good understanding of what the site's like and just managing their expectations about what it's going to achieve. If they're looking at other solar systems online or from other providers, they might see a system that is $3000 or $4,000 and it's just not going to do what they think it might do. So being able to have the face-to-face with the client and explain the pros and cons of what we offer, versus what that system might offer, gets them a better understanding about what solar can do to help them. I suppose there's a lot of misinformation online about what's good and what's bad. So again, being able to have a face-to-face discussion with the customer is always helpful. People that do more research before we get there, before I start the conversation is always beneficial, because the more educated I think the customer is and the client already understands, Yes, I don't want that product that's down here. And I know where you're coming from with panels, and the sorts of inverters that we offer. The more research a customer can do and the better understanding that they have of the products that are out there, the better decision they will make at the end of the day. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jC47Kt5cSzI 1.28 2023-05-29T19:29:07.822Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-fiona-s-environmental-reasons-for-buying-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/XttQfraI2KY What were Fiona's environmental reasons for buying a high quality solar power system? I'm Fiona, we're in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. John and I are both very keen and passionate birdwatchers, and we're conservationists. And I see alternative energy as a wider, wider umbrella that we all fit together to contribute back to the planet. I love nature. I want things to continue to be beautiful. And I think we're part of a bigger picture and we all need to contribute to that. But we need to make this planet last longer, and be as beautiful as it always has been. We've been very happy to become more self-sustainable, environmental. And I thought doing solar energy was our first step, it was very achievable. And I do like that domestic way of making a contribution to the larger picture. Solar energy is a big part and something we have really concentrated on. We really wanted to be early adopters on taking on the solar revolution so that we could personally make a contribution that we felt we could do. And we've actually found it quite easy to do, not as intimidating or as difficult as you'd think we. We're now completely self-sufficient without power, I think we've paid about 18 cents in power since we put this on. I would recommend a high quality panel. I've always been very keen on buying good quality products, I want things to last. I don't want things to go to the tip all the time, it's a lot of waste. So if you can buy good quality stuff in the beginning, make it go for a long time. It's good to have a local company that will come and give you back up if there's any problems, tweak things a little bit if they need to be. And if you want to expand into the future, which we do plan to do. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XttQfraI2KY 2.06 2023-05-29T19:29:03.139Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-types-of-questions-you-should-ask-your-solar-power-installer-prior-to-purchase https://www.youtube.com/embed/rysyx7X7jEo What are the types of questions you should ask your solar power installer prior to purchase? So the things to consider when installing and choosing your solar system provider, is the quality of the components that they're using, the longevity of the company, the longevity of the providers of the equipment. So how long has that company been around? Are they using their own installers? Are they subcontracting their work? What does a design look like? How has that design been presented to you on the roof? Are you aware of how that system's going to look on the installation? Where's the inverter going? Is that inverter going out in the sun? Is it going in the garage? All these things make up an installation. Solar is not just about price, we're not just comparing a five kilowatt system to a five kilowatt system, there're so many more factors to think about. Ask questions. Look at the design. Ask for the credentials of who's installing the system, and then you can make an informed purchase. People are coming to us for quality components, proven performance. We are getting our clients coming to us, they know someone who's had a system installed that hasn't lasted. We are now meeting with people who are looking to plan their next 20 years of life without an issue. They want to put something in, forget about it, and capture those savings over the life of the system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rysyx7X7jEo 1.28 2023-05-29T19:28:41.664Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-long-term-benefits-of-installing-high-quality-solar-power-system-components https://www.youtube.com/embed/hsElgI2Zn4k What are the long-term benefits of installing high quality solar power system components? Solar's such a long game, you know you're investing for the future. If you install inferior components, you're only going to be replacing them in the short term. So we're installing quality components, so we can do it once. Solar is a labor-intensive investment as well. If you're having to change that product over every three or four years, you're spending a lot of money on labor to remove and reinstall. Good quality components go in once, they stay there for the life of the system. It's something that you can have that peace of mind in the installation. So a large scale solar system using high-performing panels, means we've still got plenty of roof space left if we need to go bigger later. And then also allows for electric vehicles in the future, allows for other appliances to come online, vehicle charging, battery charging. The client here is absolutely ecstatic, with the way the installations happened. The aesthetics on the roof, how the system has been installed, how the inverter and battery have been mounted, and then also the specific savings. They're monitoring their data on their phones. They're able to log in to their data on their laptops, they can see their savings straight away. They know where they're at any day of the week, any day of the month, in their billing period, in their quarterly billing cycle, they know how things are going, and they're wrapped. They can't talk highly enough about the quality products that have been used, the quality of the installation and the proven performance that we deliver. We have created a system here that does protect them against any changes in the future. With the quality products that are installed here, we're talking long-term investment and long-term warranties. We've got a 25-year warranty on the panels, that's a product and performance warranty. Some manufacturers will quote just the performance warranty, without the product warranty. So high quality components, long warranties, meaning savings for the life of a system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hsElgI2Zn4k 2.04 2023-05-29T19:28:34.610Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-financial-and-environmental-benefits-of-solar-power-at-kedron-wavell-services-club https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nm6HA7ocQu0 What were the financial and environmental benefits of solar power at Kedron-Wavell Services Club? Kedron-Wavell Services Club have a real community vibe and a community feel. So they're looking at it from an economic point of view, but it's also a decision that they made, as to be part of the community to reduce their carbon footprint. To reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, but, it is a driven more so by economics. We're meeting with the accountancy, with the financial planners, they ran the numbers on it. Financial planners make the decision on whether this project can proceed. The carbon savings of the project, that's the bonus, the economics are the driver. So the carbon savings and the green benefits are phenomenal. Here we've got up on their website and up on their Facebook page, we're constantly updating their CO2 reductions in kilos. We've got full monitoring on this site, using the monitoring platform, as well as the solar analytics monitoring platform. So we're getting two streams of data for energy consumption, energy production, we're seeing our savings in real time. So this installation is allowing the system to be paid off in under seven years, because there are such a large consumer of power, they buy power at a much cheaper rate than some of the smaller commercial structures we do. So the payback here is a little bit longer, but again they're insulating themselves against power price rises, that saving equates to about 400 kilowatt hours a day. On average, this system is doing big things for energy reduction in the premises. The commercial installation for Kedron-Wavell was a no brainer. The energy savings are real savings, they're getting day in, day out. They've chosen high quality equipment, high quality installation team, things went well from start to finish the installation. The savings are there from day one, the benefits will continue to pay itself off year on year. Now we've got a 25 year warranty on these panels, we've got 12 year warranty and 25 year warranty on the inverters and optimisers, 10 year installation warranty. This system is a set and forget installation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nm6HA7ocQu0 2.06 2023-05-29T19:28:18.214Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-choose-a-high-quality-solar-power-installer-for-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/SIiLzwwdaaE Why is it important to choose a high quality solar power installer for your home? Choosing your installer is very important in today's market. We've got companies that are proven reputable. Having a reputable installer install your solar system is just as important as installing good quality products. I think there's a very big difference between the mentality of a good quality installer versus a standard or the generic installer. Finding someone who's going to take the pride in their work, treat your home as if it's theirs and do the right thing is really important. System designs are very important. We've got the situation that we're in, where a lot of solar systems are very similar. There are the challenges that we get from special needs. We take control of those system designs, we're qualified to do so. We're able to site specifically design solar systems for customers' needs. Those key factors are what make us very different to the generic or average installer. If a customer's to choose an installer, we do encourage that they do their research. Make sure the company is reputable, choosing the right installers is very important. Choosing the wrong installer is certainly a case which we do see a lot of. A good part of our business is fixing up solar systems that have been installed by others, and either are not operating correctly or need significant changes to make them operate. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SIiLzwwdaaE 1.51 2023-05-29T19:28:10.027Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-there-a-difference-between-cheaper-and-more-expensive-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/UcxJKwDTGmI Is there a difference between cheaper and more expensive solar power systems? I think customers really should recognise the difference, when they're thinking about purchasing solar and looking at the different types of solar systems, they really should think about the quality. The the cost is understandably important, but the quality of these systems that they can use is probably going to have the most significant effect to the total running costs, and reliability of a system into the future. So customers really should think about the differences between cheap solar panels or cheap solar systems, and good quality solar systems. How is also the solar panels? There's a significant difference between good quality solar systems and particularly solar panels. The biggest differences is typically the term of which those systems will operate. So the long-term reliability out of a better product, is going to offer a far better return investment over time. I think customers need to or want to feel like they have a value when they're purchasing any solar system, but in the process, education is probably the most important thing. So I think what makes us different as a typical solar company is the fact that we choose very, very selectively. Our methodology really is to, to use only products that we will put on our own home, and those products then being good enough for us will be products that we are happy to show customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UcxJKwDTGmI 1.40 2023-05-29T19:27:55.596Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-bill-shock-help-stockman-malcolm-discover-the-benefits-of-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/OQ8R1b3n6JQ How did bill shock help stockman Malcolm discover the benefits of solar power? Malcolm Mitchell, of Angaston. Just moved in to Angaston in February of this year. Farming background, come from station country originally. Muloorina Station Marree, near Lake Eyre, and then moved down to Eden Valley for 14 to 15 years, and just moved into town in February. So this is the first time I ever lived in town in my life. Yeah I was born out there and went to me schooling, and worked there for 30 odd years. So pretty much what I know is desert country. Yep, so sheep, cattle, horses, yeah, in the desert country. That's what, you know, I've done most of my life. Yeah, just came down here for - do a bit more with me horses, and now I've come into retirement, so we've just moved into town. I thought when we moved in town I'll wait until we got our first bill and just see what it was, whether to go to solar or not. Got our first bill and it was... ...fairly big. So we decided to go and do solar so that later on, when I do stop work that, you know, we haven't got that that expense later on, yeah. Oh, it was, it was a pretty big bill - that first bill we got was a thousand dollars for a quarter, and we thought we can't afford that. So that's why, you know, we decided to go solar. It was mainly heating, because that was the winter months when we - in that quarter was the winter months, so that was mainly heating's what that cost was. Our cooling we've got a rapid air conditioner so that doesn't take a lot. But there was the heating through the winter was where that cost was. It's got upfront costs, but we're hoping that we can pay for this in you know, four years, four and a half years. And then, you know, we won't have those bills when I stop working. So, you know, it's not cheap to put in, but down the road it's going to be a big saving, yeah. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OQ8R1b3n6JQ 2.12 2023-05-29T19:27:43.635Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-the-quality-of-the-installation-effect-the-performance-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eiydYQRI7o Does the quality of the installation effect the performance of a solar power system? It's one thing to have great products, that is a big bonus, is choosing quality products, but you also have to back it up by the person installing it. You need to choose an installer who knows how to install these products properly, and not just using the big brands for the main products. So not just the big brands for your inverter, and not just the big brands for your panel, but also the quality other components, your consumables within the system. They also need to ensure that they are installing them to not just Australian standards, but to the best practice within the industry as well, because then you'll get the longevity out of it. Because if you're choosing cheaper versions in the consumables, there's just too much room for error. We do you see horror stories out there, and people are aware of the horror stories. So if you're installing products, but it's being installed by somebody who's just entered, or somebody who's not working in the industry full time and that's not their primary business as installing solar, that can lead to systems failing and not producing. Choosing a quality installer who does have the continuous training and continuous improvement plans in place is vital, because then you know you're going to get the best quality system overall and not just the technology. So it still has to be installed correctly regardless of what the brands are that you use. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eiydYQRI7o 0.00 2023-05-29T19:27:36.960Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-homeowners-in-regional-australia-looking-to-achieve-from-their-solar-power-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/7f9VxoaP0zw What are homeowners in regional Australia looking to achieve from their solar power investment? So customers that we deal with or homeowners that we deal with, in north eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales, they're looking for a number of different things. They're looking for longevity out of product, they're looking at reducing their electricity bills, or trying to nullify it as close as possible to zero. They're also planning for the future and interested in battery technology, and how they can integrate that by making the plans now. And then they're also looking at how they can participate in the community energy programmes. Which is really exciting, because they're not just thinking of their own personal needs, they're thinking of the needs of the greater community, and that's something that's completely different in this region of Australia. We do stand-alone systems where people don't have power at all, and they are effectively their own energy system and their energy management system. We've also done a number of mini-grids already as well which is emerging technology, which we're really excited to be able to operate at the cutting edge of our industry. And then we do your standard grid-connect systems with residential and commercial and industrial as well. We take in also energy management and energy monitoring, because having those aspects of your energy system, gives you greater power to then know when you're using your power, how you're using your power, and have more control over your power. And we're also incredibly active within the community. We do a lot of work with community energy groups where we help them achieve their goals, and create a buzz around renewable energy. We also do a lot around education, and that's something that a lot of people other people don't do. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7f9VxoaP0zw 1.56 2023-05-29T19:27:32.545Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-chris-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-installed-by-a-local-company https://www.youtube.com/embed/gIbcepyIIQY Why did Chris invest in a higher quality solar power system installed by a local company? When I purchase items, especially electrical items, I go for the quality. And so when it came to solar panels I wanted to do the same. I wanted something that was going to last, and the backup and service from the installers for, with confidence in that it was going to be safe and lasting. In terms of quality, 25 year warranty on the panels. I had the backing of that large corporate money, the likely all of them going broke, as is unfortunately the problem with a lot of the smaller companies, was negligible compared to some of the others that I had looked into as a potential alternative. The inverters again, the quality of those was rated as one of the best. They're rated amongst some of the top installers from some of the reviews that I had read. The company has been extremely helpful. There was a couple of teething problems in the first couple of days, they were rectified instantly. And the monitoring is online, all I have to do is press a button on my phone, I know what's happening with the system. I did a little research on the internet as to what system may suit our purposes. We were umming and ahing, there's a lot of 6.6 kilowatt systems being advertised by the cheaper companies. We looked into their actual panels, their inverters, and some of the companies were fairly new to the markets. And especially the ones that advertise in the papers. I have read also a lot about them rebranding or renaming their companies to avoid future claims of warranty. And therefore basically voiding your warranty. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gIbcepyIIQY 1.51 2023-05-29T19:27:16.519Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-susan-decide-to-invest-in-a-premium-quality-solar-power-system-for-her-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/YiGLZHVXANE Why did Susan decide to invest in a premium quality solar power system for her home? I believe that solar is a long-term investment and the amount of energy that we're producing is definitely going to cover our bills every month, and it will also maybe cover some of our other utility bills. The payback period I believe will be shorter than what I anticipated, and I think that in the current economic climate, getting solar is actually a really good long-term investment. It may even be better than having money in the bank, or buying shares because you are getting a return every single day on your investment. And if you choose a quality panel, then the investment will go on and keep producing over the longer term and a greater amount of power. And I think that's really important because you're spending the money to have it installed so you want to have a really good system. Definitely do your own research. I would interview the people that you would like to consider to install your system. I would get the biggest system that you can possibly get and put on your roof. I would also consider the aesthetics of where you're going to put it and how it's going to look, because I think that's important as well. You want it to look nice on your home, and also for your neighbours. And I think that we all need to think about being positive about the environment and producing more solar electricity. And we have such a huge amount of sun here in Adelaide and in Australia, we would be crazy actually not to do it. So I think it's a really excellent environmental thing to do, long-term investment. I'm very happy with the choice, I would recommend it to anybody else. I'd say go with a quality product because in the long run, you'll be happier with it. Oh, I've definitely put my money where my mouth is, yes. And I thought it was actually better to maybe pay a little bit more, because in the long run, it will give you the return and you won't be sorry that you've done it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YiGLZHVXANE 2.04 2023-05-29T19:27:10.489Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-a-solar-power-virtual-power-plant-vpp-and-how-does-it-help-you-make-money https://www.youtube.com/embed/QuWbVMLnnao What is a solar power Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and how does it help you make money? Yes so VPP is a Virtual Power Plant. Typically we've had power generation very centralised. So we've had it centralised in coal plants, in gas plants, in hydro plants as well. What we're seeing with battery technology that's installed in homes and businesses. Is this ability to spread that power plan across multiple locations. So you could have 5,000 batteries installed in 5,000 different places. But the technology that stitches them all together, makes them work as one. So it doesn't matter whether it's all coming from one particular location, all these batteries respond to commands. They respond to price signals in the wholesale market, that provides that control layer across all these batteries, that allows them to work in a coordinated fashion. Really the key thing here is connecting these batteries to the grid in such a way that they provide, more value to the grid than just the self-consumption benefits for the homeowner. Really what that means is that all these batteries work together. They might be in disparate locations, they might be installed with slightly different technology, but they all work in unison to support the grid when there's issues with the grid. For example a voltage problem, or an outage these batteries kick in and export power to the grid, to support that grid when it's in a state of need. So one of the additional benefits of having a battery in is that you can charge it when the rates from the grid are cheap. So for example off peak time during the night, and then you can use that when you pay more for power, in the early hours of the morning. So having a smart control layer allows you to do all of these things with your battery. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QuWbVMLnnao 1.41 2023-05-29T19:26:59.979Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/are-higher-quality-solar-panels-stronger-in-high-wind-loading-conditions https://www.youtube.com/embed/LSRm0JmPV8Q Are higher quality solar panels stronger in high wind loading conditions? We've done here in Darwin in conjunction with my engineer, is that we've done the wind loading tests, to verify documentation. And because here in Darwin, we have the toughest building regulations in the world. And it's a test bed and a with an air mattress, underneath that, put it up to, we took it up as high as 15,000 Kilopascals. So that would be a wind speed of over 1000 kilometres an hour, roughly I think. And if you had a wind speed like that, you'd be in a hole in the ground, because there'd be nothing left up here, be gone. And cyclone Tracy I think from memory was something like 250 kilometres an hour. They're classed now, they say it was only a type two, but it was a lot higher than that. So when we do the test, we will take it to the panel, to there, to what Tracey was. And then just show you how much flexion, there is in the panel. We've done a couple of tests on another brand panel, and they had the earth hole right in the centre, at the top and the bottom. We put it under pressure, it just went bumpo right where that screw line was, and it failed big time. Didn't even reach anywhere near, what they're saying is on the documentation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LSRm0JmPV8Q 1.32 2023-05-29T19:26:49.787Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-many-years-will-it-take-rino-to-pay-off-his-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYp_TtAA4PE How many years will it take Rino to pay off his high quality solar power system? I've got a three-phase system and the output is fantastic. You know I've got a 7 kilowatt system up there and dollars in my pocket, I used to average bills of $1,500 to $2,000, depending on what time of year it was, and I'm going to have this thing paid off in two and a half, three years, I reckon. I'm doing around the 53 kilowatt output a day and I've learned to try to run things during the day with the panels as well. You know, if you can put your washing machines on and everything else on the weekend or during the day, that extra little bit of output you get is fantastic. I'm in credit with my power bill, so you know I can get money back from the power authority here. If you haven't got solar yet, you need to put it on there. It will save you money long-term, does the environment well, and it just pays itself off. I can't say that enough. It pays itself off in a short period of time and it's money in your bank, that you can do what you want with later on in life. But you have to pick quality, you look around at the workmanship and everything that goes with it, as a tradesman did a fantastic job. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYp_TtAA4PE 1.17 2023-05-29T19:26:41.376Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-challenges-of-installing-a-commercial-solar-power-system-at-federation-university https://www.youtube.com/embed/B5JIxAF3mKo What were the challenges of installing a commercial solar power system at Federation University? So Fed Uni, we're looking to offset power bills, they needed something that's going to have long term return on investment. We've installed 100 kilowatts, across a couple of roofs a few inverted locations. Challenges Federation University, access. So, basically with the access, we're using scissor lift to get up onto the roof, you've got the sawtooth roof as well. So, that's casting significant shadow behind it on some days, they have to allow for shading issues, everything is optimised on that roof. So, if there's one slight shading issue in one area, that's not going to effect the other performance of the other panels on the system. So, at Fed Uni, they were looking to be as green as possible. It was a gutted building, so, they went with energy efficient everything. They're looking to get the best that they could on the roof at the time. So, we had four guys working on that one, took two weeks to install. We had a scissor lift, manual handling, obviously getting stuff up onto the roof. This is a fun install, a few challenges with the sawtooth and the fact that they were very steep pitches, and that was the 300 watt panels, 25 year warranty and it's going to perform with, over the 25 years, as opposed to something throw about 10 year warranty. It's going to perform a lot better than existing products on the market. https://www.youtube.com/embed/B5JIxAF3mKo 1.22 2023-05-29T19:26:29.086Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-frank-decide-to-invest-in-a-high-quality-off-grid-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/d32zI2Q1iZA Why did Frank decide to invest in a high quality off-grid solar power system? Hi, my name's Frank. We've build a new house at Durham Lead. We came from living in town to out here, though from start to finish it took us roughly three years to build out here, and that was from start to finish, obviously getting all the permits, council permits and excavating, building, from start to finish three years. No, I don't miss neighbours, we actually chose this because we have no neighbours. We're in the bush, we're remote, as you can probably see, not only that, the cost of living with the price of rising electricity bills and gas and water, and so yeah, we chose to live a self-sufficient lifestyle and really good to know that you've got no bills. You're self-sufficient, you're living off the land. We've invested in the solar panels. The reason why we invested in them is because they've got a 25 year product warranty on them. We went through about three to four different companies. Some of the other companies that we actually went through, they were selling the Chinese brand. I think they only had an eight to 10 year warranty on their solar panels. Yeah, no, it looks really sharp. Matches the style of the house. Yeah, so we're totally off grid and we've got the lithium batteries, yeah, convenience of no bills. When they've installed the solar system, they've actually installed the touch screen, so we can monitor and see everything that's going on with it, which is very helpful. It's very cost-effective. I liked the idea of not paying for water, not paying for electricity, being totally self-sufficient. It's absolutely great. https://www.youtube.com/embed/d32zI2Q1iZA 1.45 2023-05-29T19:26:22.486Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-solar-power-monitoring-help-northern-territory-schools-optimise-their-system-performance https://www.youtube.com/embed/43BW8_bJUuM How does solar power monitoring help Northern Territory schools optimise their system performance? Yes, so I look at Casuarina Senior College and Palmerston College we've successfully installed around 90 to 98 kilowatts on both sites. At the moment at Casuarina we're offsetting around 19% of their daily usage and at Palmerston College it's around 27%. This is great because we're able to put some smart meters on and we can monitor exactly how much solar those particular properties require to offset their power usage throughout the day. The correct installation, we can offer the customer to preview what their solar production is against what they actually consume. So they can see whether they're using their solar, selling their solar or utilising from the grid. Along with that, they can then see what each individual panel is doing. With all that combined, they've got full control over their entire system, which is great. We find that it's fantastic due to the fact that the biggest question that we get asked every day is, where does my power go? To be able to give them something like the monitoring platform where they can actually understand where their power goes, what time their power increases or decreases gives the customer a real sense of satisfaction. It gives them an opportunity to change how they do things through the day. So especially with a commercial property where zero export, they might want to change night-time usage into daytime usage so that they can actually save more money by monitoring and showing them where they use their power and how they use it. Because it just gives us the opportunity to have full control of the system from each individual solar panel to what the entire system is doing. So from the owner's point of view and our point of view, being able to see the same thing from a reactive maintenance point of view, as well as an installation point of view, ticks the boxes. Basically just gives the customer a better product at the end of the day. Being able to optimise every single panel and get the full potential and efficiency out of each individual panel is very important for us when it comes to commercial due to the fact that every commercial you sell is based on an ROI and the customer's looking for it to be paid off in that particular time. So it really gives them the opportunity to have a look at how each panel works and what it does and what it means at the end of the day as a whole, when the inverter pumps out, what the inverter pumps out. Obviously the NT government was very happy with what we achieved. We're very happy with what we achieved and most importantly, the school is very happy with what we achieved. https://www.youtube.com/embed/43BW8_bJUuM 2.31 2023-05-29T19:26:18.678Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-helping-homeowners-and-the-environment https://www.youtube.com/embed/u67B1rXX8n4 How are higher quality solar power systems helping homeowners and the environment? We really believe in renewable energy, we believe in climate change. We believe that solar is the future, renewable energy, whatever it may be. But solar is predominantly probably the largest part of that at the moment. And every day we get up out of bed and we make sure we do our part to try and bring renewable energy to Australia and where it should be. Residential customers when they're thinking about purchasing solar, and I think it's becoming more and more apparent, as people are doing their research, they're really looking for quality. They're looking for reliability, sustainability, longevity. They're looking for, you know, those key components that are going to make their system last. I think people are realising that the investment of solar is something you're going to have on your roof for 20 years. So I think they're really starting to do their research and find quality in the market with a 25 year product and performance warranty, what better panel to put on a residential roof. I believe homeowners now realise that they're paying for something that's going to be on their roof for 25 plus years. Look, I think solar is definitely on the rise. We have a lot of sun up here. And I think people are now starting to understand that it will save them money and actually put the, you know, a dollar in their back pocket. And it's becoming you know, more socially acceptable to put solar on your roof. People are becoming educated and realising that it is a good thing. We've got solar bore pumps, solar air conditioners, just general solar grid tied systems, standalone systems. So solar is really getting out there and becoming a piece of equipment that can be utilised on so many different levels. Solar is very important to the environment. Like I said before climate change is happening whether people want to admit it or not. with solar, people have the ability to take care of their own power. They're able to utilise their power however they want, store their power, sell their power. So I just think it really gives the opportunity for the customer to really hold on to what's theirs. It's a win for both the environment and the customer at the end of the day. https://www.youtube.com/embed/u67B1rXX8n4 2.08 2023-05-29T19:26:13.385Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-eliminate-the-grid-connection-costs-of-doug-s-bore-water-pumps https://www.youtube.com/embed/7lqixe2sS7Y How did solar power eliminate the grid connection costs of Doug's bore water pumps? Doug wanted a solar system for his property, he had a couple of bore pumps. So we were able to offer him a solution where solar could be predominantly the main power to basically pump that water out of that bore. So there's a little controller it's inside of the box here, basically gives the opportunity to switch between, if Doug requires generator backup on days of autonomy, especially in the wet season up here, we can have days where we don't get a lot of sun, Doug come out here, he can have the ability to put a small generator if need be. But obviously, the primary point of power here is the solar and it does most of the work here. So, but in saying that, days of autonomy in the wet season when it's raining, we don't really require to get the bore pumping as much as it usually does. So we hooked him up with a Grundfos bore pump and panels to pump the water out of the ground. When we're talking about customers like Doug, Doug lives on 600 acres, it's not easy to get power over to, you know, 250 acres away. So when we talk about the cost of installing cables to try and get to that bore, I mean, the price outweighs the return on investment. I mean, there's no return on investment or something like that. Putting solar there and giving him the availability to pump water whenever he wants through the day, so we can feed his cattle or water his cattle without him worrying about the cost of diesel or electricity, I think we really helps Doug out. So if we had more solar panels, it definitely gives you the ability to be able to pump more water per second out of this bore. At the moment, we've got it set to around half a litre to three quarters of a litre per second, which is enough for Doug to be able to irrigate what he needs to irrigate and obviously, water the land like you said before. I think Doug, I can't speak for Doug but if I was Doug I would probably say, being on a farm where, like I said, 600, 1200, 3000 acres, it's very hard to get electricity and to check on those diesel generators that they want to pump. So having the ability to utilise solar and utilise the sun which is a commodity that comes out every morning and lasts all day long. If they can use that without spending too much money. I mean it's a win for everybody. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7lqixe2sS7Y 2.21 2023-05-29T19:26:08.779Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-online-monitoring-showcase-the-environmental-savings-of-your-commercial-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/gd6w-csqcno How does online monitoring showcase the environmental savings of your commercial solar power system? With all of our commercial clients nowadays, we have the follow up procedure with their online monitoring portal. Everyone has access to that. We monitor it for any errors or issues that come up, so that we can react as quickly as possible to keep the system operating. That way, maximising their return on investment. The other sweetener with the online monitoring portal is we can put a display screen in behind your reception desk or somewhere, to give the business a real sort of presence with their customers and their staff so that everyone knows that they've done something great for the environment. That's a bit of a feel good factor that's just a little sweetener on top. So the online monitoring portal is great. When we put the display up behind the reception desk for certain companies that choose that they want that option, it displays a really user friendly interface, so they can say how much the site is producing, how much the site's using daily, weekly, monthly, annually, whatever you need to see. It also has a nice little thing there that tells you how many CO2 tons has been saved, or how many cars off the road, or how many trees planted. It's a little bit of a feel good moment that sort of gives the company the kudos that they can have for it. So ongoing with our commercial customers, we keep an eye on the monitoring polls as well. We have regular reporting to the customers to get some feedback on where they are with their savings. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gd6w-csqcno 1.24 2023-05-29T19:25:58.155Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-process-to-designing-and-installing-a-solar-power-system-for-homeowners https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qe6Aa8f895o What is the process to designing and installing a solar power system for homeowners? So when we're designing systems for every customer that we do a specific design for each house. We look at three factors generally. First thing we look at is their, how big is their power bill? How much has their daily energy use? How big is their roof area? What can we fit on there? And the last thing is we have to look at their budget. What they're going to fit into their budget. Sometimes isn't always the same as what can actually fit on the roof. So you bring those three factors together and we design a system that's specific for each customer. Everyone pays around about the same amount for their power. It's roughly about 30 cents per kilowatt. So when we designed the system, we try to make it so that they're going to utilise the majority of the solar energy that's being produced. In doing that, we make their sort of payback in that sort of between three and a half to four to five years mark. Somewhere in there depending on how much you use the power. When you use the power, how much you can utilise and how much it's going to get exported. So with that, all the retailers offer a different rate for the feed in tariff to the grid. We can help you with that decision. We can advise you on what other customers have had, what they've achieved, what's been good, what's bad. We'd like to think that we can walk you through the process the entire way. So the process for us, we get in touch with the customers first. Have a long discussion with her over the phone, just to work out what their energy requirements are. We do a roof assessment. We'll email you through some indicative pricing and the design from there come back to us, ask us any questions you've got. There's a lot of things to take into account. The next step is we get organised. We get our installer to come out and do a site inspection. So he'll look at everything from your roof to the shading, any trees, he'll look at the switchboard. That way we can capture anything that's involved in your system at that point. If there is any extra additional cost at that point we can include them before we finalise the quote. From there, if you accept the quote, we're all happy to go. We move in and we get insight within about four or five weeks. Mostly the jobs finished on site within one day. So at the end of the project, we organize all your paperwork, all your warranties. We set you up on the online monitoring portal so you can monitor the system. And we organize to get your meter changed with your whoever your retailer is. Before we leave the site, we make sure that the system is operational, and that the customer is up online, with the online monitoring system for every solar system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qe6Aa8f895o 2.17 2023-05-29T19:25:46.282Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-australian-solar-businesses-think-about-partnering-with-rec-as-a-certified-professional https://www.youtube.com/embed/mCX__tDag6U Why should Australian solar businesses think about partnering with REC as a certified professional? - REC Solar was founded in 1996 in a small silicon factory, and it's grown into a world leading brand with major manufacturing in both Norway and Singapore. REC don't outsource any of our panel manufacturing, we do it all in the one site. We're in full control of every panel that comes into Australia. REC Solar pioneered the split cell, they pioneered the development of it, and they were first to market with the technology. We secured many awards for that innovation. We then transferred all that know-how and technology to our N-type Monocrystalline panels, and now today, to our Alpha series panels. - REC Solar are a great company to work with. We really love the product, we really love the way it fits with what our customers perceive to be important around performance, leading warranties, and a general commitment to quality that we think fits very well with Enphase. - When an installer becomes an REC Certified Solar Professional, they are able to generate through their login portal a manufacturing guarantee, so they get a certificate branded with both their brand and ours, assuring the consumer that the manufacturer will back this installation. REC Solar will guarantee the consumer that even if a installer that's put a system in, let's say 20 years ago, decides to leave the market, that we will bring in another Certified Solar Professional to correct the panel. - It's the confidence in installing a good product. I know I won't see these panels ever again, because they'll just work for the next 25 years. - No callouts? - No callouts. No. And the performance will keep the customer happy, so there won't be any phone calls; Why isn't my panel doing this? Basically, the confidence in a good product. - Just last year, REC Solar launched a loyalty program here in Australia, where we have a grading of gold, silver, and bronze, where we offer marketing support and technical support. REC Solar will compensate Certified Solar Professionals for their time when attending to a labour claim. - We recommend REC panels for a number of reasons; they've been in the industry for 25, 30 years, they're a very high quality panel, they spend a fortune on research and development, and they incorporate this research and development into their panels. They have a good, strong warranty. They have good warranty backup. We've never had to call on it, and they're a very pretty panel, as you'll see. They look excellent on a roof. The boys like installing them because they're lovely and square. We can install REC panels with confidence, knowing that they're well built, well made, excellent technology, in fact, and we'll never have to see them again. - Solar installers should be partnering with REC Solar, because one, we protect their business, secondly, we have a market leading product, and thirdly, we have a world-class warranty package, guarantees that we protect their business with both the labor and product warranties that we offer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mCX__tDag6U 3.40 2023-05-18T19:59:58.695Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-solaredge-home-batteries-helping-a-collaroy-homeowner-become-energy-independent https://www.youtube.com/embed/Me-fnpvR0Jc How are SolarEdge Home Batteries helping a Collaroy homeowner become energy independent? - We're here in lovely Collaroy Beach today, and I'm fixing some batteries into an existing solar system that we installed back in 2016. Yeah, so Bill's reinvesting back into his solar system, obviously putting a battery in it. So, this is just going to give him more and more power than what he used before, because he's now storing more of that solar energy and not exporting the excess of what he's not using. So this is a good investment for Bill because he's going to make more money from it and save more money from it. - We believe that the system that we're installing now will probably give us 85% to 90% off-grid power, but as the need for more electric vehicles come on board, there's the potential for more storage. So we've given ourselves the option to expand it if and when it's needed. - Solarpro are a preferred partner of SolarEdge here in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Been working with them for many, many years, and they're a crucial partner cause we share the same vision of trying to take care of both our customers and our customers' futures long term. - Now what we're doing is we're actually taking one of those solar inverters out, and we're installing a new 10 kilowatt inverter on the SolarEdge Trade-Up program. - The customer has been with SolarEdge for a long time. They're embracing the new SolarEdge home battery, and as part of that, we're rewarding that long term relationship with the Trade Up program, where every customer who purchases the battery and the backup system gets a free upgrade from their old SolarEdge inverter to the new cutting edge home hub inverter, that helps become the brains of their new energy ecosystem. - So we've installed a 10 kilowatt Energy Hub Inverter, we've installed a backup box, and we've installed two 10 kilowatt hour SolarEdge DC coupled batteries. So Bill has now got 20 kilowatt hours of storage. A big reason that he wanted to go with the SolarEdge was he needed a big output. - I first met David Veal back in 2016. He provided a no nonsense and professional approach, spent a lot of time analyzing our needs, delivered a good product, delivered a very professional service. I've recommended David and Solarpro to many friends. They've all been very satisfied, and I'm back again buying from Solarpro. So I think that that echoes, you know, that the satisfaction that we've had with them. - Up and running and storing plenty of power for us. - Yeah, mate, well you're going to have plenty to store, that's for sure. And when we install these systems, I really feel like we're future proofing every house because everyone can move forward with the system they've got and add onto it. - I've got seven kids as a blended family, they've got grandkids coming. I think that there's a real need for for my generation to be serious about trying to reduce our carbon footprint. As a homeowner and a vehicle user, it's one small thing that one individual can do, but if enough of us do it, it makes a difference. It's nice to save some money, but I think you got to look beyond that and think about what you're doing to the planet. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Me-fnpvR0Jc 3.28 2023-05-18T19:59:54.660Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-clenergy-s-hollywood-all-black-series-helping-solar-installers-overcome-design-and-aesthetic-challenges https://www.youtube.com/embed/PD4_REKJP9o How is Clenergy's Hollywood all black series helping solar installers overcome design and aesthetic challenges? The all black racking for us has been over the last few years, our fastest growing product. People have demanded that the whole thing has to be black, and it looks really sexy. And the black gear is really for Clenergy become, I would say one of our most popular products now. There can be challenges to winning sales and it's not only the cost, it's also the aesthetics. And so the Hollywood racking solution is just such an easy thing to be able to say, Hey, I know you might be a little bit concerned about what this is going to look like on the roof, or maybe your partner has concerns about that. But, look at what we can do for you. Here's some images and some pictures of other houses that have implemented the Hollywood solution. It enables you to get that beautiful shot, that pinnacle of shots. And a lot of times it'll help the installers get those jobs over the line. And it also can act as a closing question during those sales. The ones that are installing Hollywood it also, it gives them an air of quality as well. I love the products, really I can't talk about it enough. When it comes to switching to Clenergy. I think the main reason that a lot of the guys will make that change even though it can be quite difficult, is usually because they can see that dealing with us as a company, we're very mature. We've been doing this for a long time and it's just easier at the end of the day. And it comes back to as an installer, what do you want to be spending your time doing? Do you want to be chasing up that clamp that you can't get your hands on? Do you want to be thinking, was that job really engineered? It's many reasons. It's not just one reason why installers decide to choose Clenergy over other products. I think it once again comes back to, we're a mature company and we really care about the customers at the end of the day. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PD4_REKJP9o 2.20 2023-05-18T19:59:50.376Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-easier-and-safer-to-install-a-pre-wired-ac-unit-for-an-enphase-microinverter-job https://www.youtube.com/embed/A2dpyX9Q31Q Why is it easier and safer to install a pre-wired AC unit for an Enphase microinverter job? - Enphase systems are a bit different to a normal DC string system. You require an Envoy, it's a bit like a gateway. It's the brains of the operation. You require Q-Relays for islanding from the grid and you require circuit protection for the Enphase system, in the form of switch gear. So our AC boards are a pre-made solution that our customers use on-site. We have indoor and outdoor enclosures, we utilise quality switch gear, quality brands such as Hagar, Legrand, ABB, and they house all of the hardware required to install an Enphase system. So the Envoy, Q-Relay, and the circuit protection. We design our boards in-house and manufacture in-house. So there's always an engineer at the end of the phone, if you'd like to question them about a particular board, or if you need a custom board. Installers can install the hardware components themselves, but each site's different. Sometimes there's no room in the board, they have to plan it, they have to buy the gear, and they have to figure it out on the hop. By using AC boards, you're saving time, you're probably saving money because we buy all our gear in bulk, and you're ensuring that your job is compliant, and that you can install it easily and with consistent results. Yeah so all of our boards are fully compliant to the latest standards. They're designed by electrical engineers, qualified electrical engineers, and they can be signed off as required. - I think knowing that the installer is using a pre-wired board means that there is less things that can go wrong and need to be tested later on. So I know our customer service guys, when they get a phone call coming in, if they know the board's been pre-wired by AC Warehouse, there's a lot less things that they need to verify when they're trying to troubleshoot a particular issue. - When installers use AC boards, they know they're getting consistent results, compliant installs, it's faster, and they can install with confidence. https://www.youtube.com/embed/A2dpyX9Q31Q 2.08 2023-05-18T19:59:46.084Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-it-important-for-julian-to-oversize-his-solar-power-system-for-his-home-in-nanneella https://www.youtube.com/embed/BpOPwClcjd0 Why was it important for Julian to oversize his solar power system for his home in Nanneella? - We started thinking about solar when we moved here, it was something that we wanted to do. It's something we were looking forward to installing prior to our retirement up here in Nanneella. We've only been in the area six months now and like I say, we looked to get installation soon as we arrived. - Hello Mark, how we goin'? - Good. - Good to see ya. - Good to see you. - Yeah, how's it all happening? - Good, come on and have a look. - His problem was obviously like most people, he had a massive, massive, big power bill. Yeah, he contacted us, we gave him a lot of good service. We popped out to his house and had a home visit, a lot of people don't do that. - We got advice from Mark at SolarRun on the installation and the size of the installation we needed. We were very keen to stay with local company. We wanted to have support and service that was local, and the installation was by a local team, and we're very pleased with that. - The right solution for him, obviously we look at their power bill and we look at their daytime consumption of course, a lot of solar companies don't. A lot of solar companies will size the system based upon summer. We think that's probably not the right thing to do. We like to look at the winter bill, and size the system on that. So we tend to go slightly bigger than what they call needed now. We tend to go slightly bigger for that reason, because in winter obviously, the systems produce a little bit less power, but people still have big power bills. So yeah, if you size something to suit a winter bill, we find that a bit better. - And being able to install on the shed was a bonus. - Because it would've been right on the front roof-- - Exactly. - You and I discussed. - So we're very pleased to get it all done. - No, that's worked out well, mate. - Our energy bills were high, I guess probably no higher than most people's, but we were sort of looking down the barrel to $150 - $200 a month. Well, our first quarter power bill was reduced by $500 since we went solar. - Ripper day. Every day up is a ripper day for the country. Well, it's 11 o'clock in the morning and that thing is absolutely pumping. And the other reason like to go slightly bigger as well is a lot of people don't want to buy a battery yet, and that's okay. A lot of people want to sit on the fence and wait, and again, that's all good, but you need to have a system that's big enough down the track in two or three years time to not only supply your house and feed your house, but to have enough left over to feed a battery as well. - For us, it was the local support that we received from SolarRun, you know, before and after the installation. And that what sort of got us over the line, and I was happy to do it. And I think it's something that everyone should take on board because you know, there's a lot of people in the industry and to have local support, is worth peace of mind. I'd recommend Mark and his team to other people who are looking to install solar. In this area, you know, like I say, Nanneella or Echuca, we've been very happy with their service and support. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BpOPwClcjd0 2.50 2023-05-18T19:59:40.228Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solarrun-bendigo-echuca-helping-homeowners-save-with-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/koKS8-EL0tY How is SolarRun Bendigo & Echuca helping homeowners save with solar power? - Well, the paddle boats, I mean, Echuca, Echuca is known for the paddle boats. You know it's what the is built around. There's been countless movies and videos. There's an element of the nostalgia, I suppose, that goes with the history of the town. I mean, it's an 1800's town for God's sake and there's paddle boats and then the history. And yeah, it goes back a long way. Our company philosophy, I suppose, is we want to be around for the long term, you know we're long-term players. I call myself a dinosaur, 11 years in the industry. There's so many companies that come and go, there are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of solar companies. And that's what makes it difficult for the consumers to sift their way through. It's an industry that's just full of misinformation, it really, really is. And one of the things we love to do is just demystify all that, bring it back to something people understand, make it simple because solar is simple. You know unfortunately a lot of people try to complicate it, and make it more complicated than what it is. It's not a complicated industry, it's just saturated with people who will give you the wrong advice. We're part of a network with 50 odd franchises now, we're as we speak today, we're the fourth largest solar company in Australia, we're the second largest solar company in Victoria. That's a whole level of credibility and capability and experience that we're, you know, we're now part of that big network. So that's, that's why we joined SolarRun. - Servicing an area of like a hundred kilometres around Bendigo or even Echuca, if there's something that's gone wrong with a system, our installers are usually there that day or the next day, so they can rectify any problems. - No one will ever change my mind on this, you need to pick your company first. You know because a good company will always use good quality gear, but they will also always use good quality balance of system. This is what I always say to people, you pick your company first, you pick a company that's got credibility, that's got longevity, that's got history, that's got, you know, experience. And all the things that you're looking for that are local, and the rest will just take care of itself. - Getting the right system to suit your needs is what I thrive on. I've make sure I do before moving on. - Choosing quality for this area for Bendigo, Echuca and the Goldfields region as well. I mean, it's important for a number of reasons. I mean, you're investing a considerable amount of money. You want to make sure that what you're putting on your roof is going to actually work. And more importantly, it's going to be safe, it's going to be reliable, it's going to be efficient, and it's going to give you longevity. - People want to get the benefits at the least possible cost. And it's our job to explain to them that sometimes the least possible capital cost, i.e. cheap equipment, ain't worth it because of its lack of longevity, its lack of efficiency, reliability, safety in some cases as well. - Cheap systems do not last it's when you start cutting corners, it's when you start going out and getting quotes all over the place and confusing yourself, and buying cheaper options, that systems don't work. They might last 12 months, two years, three years tops, but they will inevitably fail. In 11 years of doing this, no one will ever, ever change my mind. That is, if you do this right from day one and you invest the right amount of money that you need to do, and you buy the right system from the right company, use local people, and do it right, these things will pay you spectacularly for the next 20 years and give you no grief. https://www.youtube.com/embed/koKS8-EL0tY 3.42 2023-05-18T19:59:36.982Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-yawa-aquatic-centre-in-rosebud-maximising-its-energy-water-savings-for-the-local-community https://www.youtube.com/embed/idB1Rcki9IE How is Yawa Aquatic Centre in Rosebud maximising its energy & water savings for the local community? Yawa Aquatic Centre is a community facility located in Rosebud, at 100 Besgrove Street. It's a wonderful community facility and Yawa actually means to swim in the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung language of our local traditional owners. Construction started in August 2019, so it's been two years, just under two years in the making. It's super important that we're energy and water efficient. We're leading our community in making sure that we're ahead of the game on this one and working towards carbon neutrality, and also working towards water savings across our Shire. And to do that, the council need to lead and show our community that we can all do this, and go the full journey with them. We obviously have a mixture of electricity and gas here. We're able to source electricity from the 916 solar panels that are on the roof of this building, which supply 50% of the power on a daily basis. It's about a savings of around $100,000 a year to actually power this place. It's also 406 tons of greenhouse gas emissions that we're saving as impact on our planet. Gas is for heating the pool, the water, and that was a really tough decision, but the technology just isn't there yet to use renewables in that area. It's interesting though, our pool doesn't have pool blankets and people have asked about that. But our pool is insulated and we have insulation lining the outside of the actual pool frame, which actually helps to keep the heat in the water. And also, this space out here is air locked, so it's kind of like a balloon. The air that escapes is very minimal and so that means that we can keep our heat in and stop losing energy, and so that creates a really efficient environment. The other way that we're being energy efficient is we're actually getting water from our roof and store 100,000 liters in four 25,000 liter tanks under our building. And by saving that water, we are able to use that water to top up the pools, but to also do the backwashing of the filter systems. And so that saves us drawing on water from outside. In our garden areas, all of our gardens are irrigated by a purple pipe, and that comes from just down the road at the Boneo Treatment Plant, which is a fantastic initiative. This building is really energy dense, really at the end of the day it uses a lot of energy. So this whole project allows us in its efficiencies to reduce energy, to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and to save water. As a member of Yawa, and a community member, I've loved being involved in the Yawa concept. And I've also been one of the first swimmers to take part in this facility. I've really loved how it actually connects people and brings people together. It's kind of like the heart of our community and the heart of the Mornington Peninsula. And I can't wait for everybody to come down and be a part of that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/idB1Rcki9IE 3.35 2023-05-18T19:59:33.682Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-help-lower-the-operational-costs-for-aberdeen-paper-merchants https://www.youtube.com/embed/JLkLLyzUfxs How did a high quality solar power system help lower the operational costs for Aberdeen Paper Merchants? - Aberdeen Paper is a importer of paper products, and a distributor of paper products to cafes and restaurants, and they have a large warehouse facility and we were tasked with reducing their electricity bills. We provided a 60 kilowatt system using high quality LG panels. - It's costly. It's costly on a monthly basis. It's costly on a quarterly basis. It changes between the seasons because in the winter we're consuming more energy because we've got the lights on for longer, and we've got the heating on. In the summer, we've got the air conditioning on. So it's costly and energy prices are rising. They're not going down. - He chose to go solar because he saw the obvious return on investment. So investing in a good quality system means that he's going to have a reliable system. If he has interruptions to his business, due to any risk of power supply or safety issues, then that is going to cost him a lot more than the small amount of savings that he's going to make from a cheap system. Plus the fact that it lasts for many, many years, means that he's actually getting a better value investment. - I'll give you a very simple equation. So we moved into this premises two years ago and I got my first power bill and it was $5,000 for the quarter, which is significant. After we put the solar in, the next quarter was $1,500. - The important elements for a commercial operation is to make sure that their system is trouble-free, ideally maintenance free, but ideally the biggest thing they're looking for is a return on investment. So they want to make sure that that return on investment is commercial and in line with some of the other investments that they're making within their business. They're looking to control their operating costs and give themselves an edge. - For me, there were two elements to the transaction. One is the economics of it, how does it stack up? And that was very clinical. That was based on analysis, that was based on our actual bills and comparing that to our energy savings. It made it a very simple decision. And then the second one was the installation. Did it cause us any business interruption? Was it difficult? Was it challenging? And they're a great bunch of guys to work with. - Businesses are looking at the dollars and cents. They're looking at a return on investment. They usually get it pretty quickly, even with high quality product, which has a premium price tag. But they get it pretty quickly because their operations are during the daytime primarily, and so they're getting that while the solar is producing its power. They're actually getting that offset quickly. But return on investment is one thing, they're also looking from a corporate responsibility and governance and sustainability, that they are good corporate citizens that are showing environmental responsibility and a response to climate change. - Solar is a win economically for our business, and solar is a win for the environment as well. It ticks two boxes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JLkLLyzUfxs 3.10 2023-05-18T19:59:29.281Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-and-installer-worth-the-extra-investment-expense-for-john https://www.youtube.com/embed/idYpolwR2oM Why was a higher quality solar panel and installer worth the extra investment expense for John? - There's no place like this anywhere in the world, and really the vibe we get living here in Mount Eliza is very unique, with very warm and friendly vibe, and a very, very well catered for growing family and children. We've had solar panels before at our previous property, and we wanted to replicate that here at the new house. And so we went and searched. - John has a large energy demand. He has a pool that he has to run, he has all the air conditioning, and other appliances that he needed to run. So he needed quite a large system, so roughly a 25-kilowatt system is what we put there. We've utilised most of his roof space there, and he had quite a lot of roof space as well to use. It was put on two buildings with different orientations. So he's very happy and we're very happy because he was convinced that quality was the way to go. - I researched a plenty of solar panels online, and through also reading and talking to friends. And having looked at the industry here in Australia, there were a lot of junk offers, and very inferior products flooded in the market. And when I looked at the LG panels and their reliability, their superior product quality, and the warranty period that it provided, it was a natural choice for me to gravitate towards a high quality system that could last a long time. - I think there's more and more customers going for quality. There's more information in the marketplace about shoddy installations and shoddy product. What they're looking for is something that's going to be reliable, have good warranties, be installed by good installers, is not going to be a safety risk as well. - I came across G-Store through a recommendation from the LG website. LG had authorised installers that were listed on their website, and then I rang and got quotes. And G-Store was the most prompt and exact on their promise of delivery dates, installation services, and more comprehensive package from planning right to after sales service. - John really is a perfect client. He likes quality products. He sees the value in quality products, and he really was just looking for a trusted dealer to partner with. - So our experienced after solar installation has been quite a significant saving on a monthly energy consumption. And we did spend a little bit more than what's out there, but I would highly recommend it. I think it's worth the investment. It really is a win-win for me in terms of taking up solar energy, living environmentally friendly, and leaving as little carbon footprint as I can, doing my bid for the planet. https://www.youtube.com/embed/idYpolwR2oM 3.16 2023-05-18T19:59:24.160Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-common-problems-that-can-go-wrong-with-cheap-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/9nVg4LR6Bds What are the common problems that can go wrong with cheap solar power systems? There's many shortcuts that can be taken in an installation, like the balance system components that aren't actually listed. I mean, normally a quote just has the solar panels and the inverter. But, you know, a lot of the balance system components aren't actually listed. You can use cheap isolators, unknown cabling. We've seen installers that actually roll up to jobs in budget vans. So they're actually, they're not in the game for the long term. They're just in the game to actually make money as fast as possible, and then exit the industry. If you do have a problem with your system, I mean, you just, there's no number to call. You can try to call the installer, but he's not going to be around to take the phone call. A homeowner's not going to know if their systems actually up to scratch until something goes wrong. And by then it's, it can be too late, because that installer might not be around anymore. The number of the company's gone bust. There's 250,000 estimated orphaned solar systems, where if something does go wrong, the customer will ring up and they'll find the company's not in business, Solar panel manufacturers that have actually been delisted from the CEC approved panel lists. So you'll find that you have no warranty, they're not in Australia, good luck with that because you're not going to get through. They're not going to speak English. They're not going to return your emails. Yeah, there many a horror stories in the industry. I mean a lot of installers, it's, there's government money involved. So, you know, there's a lot of companies that actually pay contractors to come out to actually install your system. You buy the, you buy it off a sales company, they just look up this clean energy council installer list, find an installer in the area and just, you know look for the lowest, the lowest priced installer to install the product. It does pay to pick the right installer. Solar is, it's a game that's not hard to actually get into. You can just do a two day course and become a solar installer. Yeah, these are common things that we've noticed in the industry and our time. Which is why we find think it's very important to, you know, to pick a good installer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9nVg4LR6Bds 2.05 2023-05-18T19:59:19.446Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-factors-you-should-consider-when-you-re-investing-in-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXjQs9E2NgQ What are the factors you should consider when you're investing in a solar power system? I think when choosing a solar power system there's a few factors to consider. One is the quality of the system that you're going to be acquiring. Secondly, is making sure that we've got some great sunlight on your property. If there's heavy amount of shade, then we'd want to come out and do a shade test to check that there's enough sunlight getting through to your rooftop. Thirdly, is that when we're choosing products, is local installation that's going to be able to back up your products and service your products in the future. So we can quickly attend to your property, if there's a problem. Homeowners, thinking about the size of the roof area that you've got available for solar power. For instance, if you haven't got a huge roof area, we're wanting to put higher efficient, higher wattage panels, to be able to bring the footprint down to be able to capture more of the sun in a smaller footprint. The quality of the actual products, there's so many products out there at the moment, they're so hard to navigate and pick from what is the differences out there. Choosing quality, looking for things like brand names. Quality of the actual panels is a huge part, having a product that's going to stand the test of time. So having proven products with a local company to install gives you peace of mind for longevity. Some of the systems that we've seen lately are only three to five years old, and they've had problems which have stopped them from working. Definitely with solar power, you want to do it once, and you want to be able to know that it's done well. Superior workmanship along with quality panels means that we can actually provide a great solution, and know that we're happy that when we walk away, we've done the right job and offered the best products and services to our customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXjQs9E2NgQ 1.42 2023-05-18T19:59:16.362Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-gippsland-residents-choose-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-for-their-home-or-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9p5YBsGOSM Why should Gippsland residents choose a higher quality solar power system for their home or business? Choosing a quality system, especially in the Gippsland region is very important for our customers. .This is an area surrounded by mountains on one side and the beach on the other. So the products we offer have a very high level of quality for all sorts of weather events. In the Gippsland region, we are locals, so we do understand what the local Gippsland people want, a trusted brand, a trusted installer and somebody who's there just to give them assistance when they need it. Our customers are always speaking to us about reliability, at G-Store we do offer a full end service, we offer a premium end of the market products, through LG and Enphase. It is a total service solution that we provide for in store monitoring, fault detection and alerts, and that's something we find our customers really find valuable. So using a high quality product definitely translates into a better performance system, higher efficiency panels and higher efficiency inverters. With the premium product we use at G-Store and LG panel and an Enphase micro inverter, they provide a higher output, better efficiency, they do run longer, which translates into more savings for our customers. At G-Store we're not about using cheap and nasty products, we're not here just to make a quick buck, we like to provide a premium product to our customers that we know will last. The product that we use has a 25 year warranty, that's something that we believe in, what we find is cheap and nasty product mainly last six years. And commonly we are removing those systems for our customers and reinstalling their trust in solar by giving them a premium system. I believe as a customer, if you invest in a high quality product, you will get a better investment in the long run. At G-store, we're able to help out everyday residential, agricultural and commercial customers, save on their energy running costs for a total energy management solution. From power generation, through to heating and cooling and water management. https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9p5YBsGOSM 2.31 2023-05-18T19:59:13.305Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-jaques-coffee-plantation-investing-in-165kw-of-solar-power-for-their-business-operations https://www.youtube.com/embed/YZfyC6uXGP0 Why are Jaques coffee plantation investing in 165kW of solar power for their business operations? Jacques Farm, which is in the Atherton Tablelands of Mareeba, has been there for over 30 years, they grow, and distribute, and roast their own bean. Out here we have 85,000 Arabica coffee trees, producing a really high quality coffee. The whole plantation consists of about 200 acres with two kilometres of creek frontage. We also have a plantation cafe along with obviously, the kitchen and the factories and everything else that goes along with it. We have various pumps around the property that are consuming electricity. We also have four residences here as well. So, along with the residences, the factories, the cafe, the kitchen, the pumps, there's a lot of energy usage to keep a farm going. The biggest energy user on a farm is the pumps. If you can negate the power that you use in your pumps, then you're on a winner. Now that isn't very expensive for the water itself, the main consideration is the power pumping the water out of the creek, over the coffee trees. So the brief was, at stage one, was to do the 85 kilowatts. So, you wanted a panel that could maximize it's return. Being that Mareeba is an hour west of Cairns, it does get quite hot there and we're really worried about the temperature coefficiency. He knew all about that and he wanted the NeON R. So, that was a pretty easy brief for us to fulfill. The NeON R, obviously arguably, the best panel on the planet at the moment. And, I mainly chose it because of the technology behind it, also the temperature coefficient. We're up here in North Queensland and it gets hot. In the hot weather, the panels are going to be performing a hell of a lot better. He did a lot of research before approaching us and hence we quoted with a high end LG NeON R range panel, 85 kilowatts across four electricity counts to supply them with 44 cents. So, they're right in the midst of installing that on existing carport roofs and then we got another 80 kilowatts to cover the cafe and also a pump house. Across the installations, they'll be 165 kilowatts of solar panel and inverters gonna be installed across the four sites and savings stage 1, 85 kilowatts, will have a pay back period of less than 2 years. Even with the high end quality spec'ed. The cafe and the pump house, which will go on the cafe and the workshop, is expected to have a pay back of about only 3 and a half years. So, economically, he said it was a no brainer. It's crazy if you don't. If you're not using solar power, you're A, you're costing a lot of extra carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere. B, your hip pocket. It's the main consideration. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YZfyC6uXGP0 3.12 2023-05-18T19:59:08.667Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-replenishable-energy-helping-the-cairns-region-to-reduce-their-energy-bills-with-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/_6xDbzrH0JQ How is Replenishable Energy helping the Cairns region to reduce their energy bills with solar power? A lot of clients that come to us, part of their brief is they just want low maintenance, and they want to be assured of quality, they don't spending the money. So basically in considering that, they want a mixed package of a good quality inverter system coupled with good quality panels that's gonna give them longer warranties, and make sure that the company that installs it is gonna be around to provide that back end service. We at Replenishable Energy are headed up by my wife and I. I actually have two sons involved in the business installing as well as in house administration. All our teams are CC credited electricians with apprentices and trade assistants. Approximately around 1,350 to 1,400 installations that we've done in the nine odd years. Obviously, our residential customers by far and large is our bread and butter, with that mixed up business owners be it either farmers or industrial, we have come to do a lot diverse types of solar installations. One of our mandates when we started the business nine odd years ago was that we're very conscious due to the young nature of the industry that there's a lot of cheap, inexpensive solar system even getting deployed back then. And we were quite weary. So an ideal system that we consider for a lot of residential customers is stick to high-quality LG the Neon range or the Neon R range if they can afford to spend a little bit more and make sure they get the right size system that's gonna meet their needs not only for today, but for future proofing cause that's very important. A lot of businesses come and look at solar regards to their power generation requirements to supply. And when they realise that solar supply's is behind the meter, and they've got a lot of high consumption, especially during the day, we try and maximise that benefit for them. And when they look at their energy generation could be sometimes in the thousands or tens of thousands dollars a month, and they think initially there's no way that they can mitigate or reduce that cost. So with regards to that cost when we show them they can finance this over five, seven, or ten years, and then they work out what they're currently paying, a lot of times, it's actually cheaper to finance or debt finance it and they save on the annual lives cost of energy. Payback periods for a lot of these people can be as low as we've seen two, typically three to five years again because we'd rather get them to invest in the higher quality installation. That's gonna give them more longevity and near the payback might increase by fifteen added months the most. In regards to the LG partnership, we are the third largest retailer in the solar LG panels in Queensland. A lot of that sales is, obviously, a mixture of residential, rural, and commercial installations. A lot of people seek us knowing we are LG distributors, going through the LG website and finding us that we are the LG retailers for this area. The experts in the Cairns region is Replenishable Energy. We've been working with them for over five years. They are our key partner in that particular region. They can give you advice on solar, on batteries, on off-grid. We get a lot of positive customer reviews about them. And that's why they are allowed to carry the LG branding. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_6xDbzrH0JQ 4.12 2023-05-18T19:59:04.302Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-true-north-solar-help-townsville-homeowners-optimise-the-solar-power-from-their-roof https://www.youtube.com/embed/0aRFbhMg5Wc How does True North Solar help Townsville homeowners optimise the solar power from their roof? - The Townsville location's probably one of the best locations in Australia to produce solar power. So we've got everything going for us here. So 300 odd sunny days a year. So yeah, it's definitely in our favour, it's definitely in the customer's favour, in Townsville to have solar. So they'll produce more kilowatt hours per kilowatt installed, than any location, any large residential location in Australia. So I guess the biggest energy users in the home from a customer's point of view, they're always concerned about their hot water system, how much power that uses. But the great thing about electric hot water systems, they can be set up to run during the day, so it's absolutely perfect for solar. The other thing is air conditioning. Air conditioning on the weekends, you have people sitting around, watching TV, they'll want to be able to put the air con on. A lot of people don't purely because of the power bill. So having solar allows them to put the air cons on, sit back, relax and not have to worry about bill shock at the end of the quarter. And just general appliances around the home. Some of the biggest concerns the customers have, if you know they see all the horror stories on TV with panels on fire, or warranty issues, or people not... The system's just underperforming. So that's where we form the partnership with LG. We wanted to get the solar out of the gutter. Get some premium systems out there. Sure, they cost a few dollars more, but our vision is to have long-term security for our customers. It locks in those savings over a long term. They're not having to replace systems, they're not having to have systems down for extended periods. So it's just that peace of mind with LG, good solid brand name, solid warranties, and if something does happen, it gets sorted. Although every solar manufacturer has long-term warranties, LG's probably the only manufacturer that people have heard of. I mean, they've been around for 60 years. Most manufacturers have only been around for five, maybe 10 years max. I guess the other key thing with the LG being the highest quality panel on the market, is the performance and the efficiency of the panel, so you can fit more power into a smaller area. So with people's power bills getting larger and larger, you want to make sure you use the most efficient panel on the market, to produce the most power on any given roof. So a lot of the houses are smaller now as well. So you need to make sure you fit as much power as possible on there, so they can achieve the savings that they want. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0aRFbhMg5Wc 2.58 2023-05-18T19:58:59.381Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-important-quality-factors-you-should-consider-when-buying-a-solar-system-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/Psx5MDyvP2Y What are the important quality factors you should consider when buying a solar system in Adelaide? Susan got in touch with us through the LG Dealer Network. Susan was very cautious about who she was using to do the installation beccause she didn't want anything to be seen from the road or from around the property. So we went for the LG NeON 2 panel. Because of the extra wattage, we're able to put less panels on her roof and able to achieve a maximum capacity there to do with her high usage. It didn't take me very long to work out that LG are a market leader. Also LG have a 25 year product warranty which was reassuring. And the company that I went with are the suppliers of LG panels, so I really felt very confident about getting those. They also have the highest rating for salt areas and the highest longterm rating for their solar panel to work, so I really felt very comfortable about using LG. So with our experience, we put together a package that put all the panels neatly on her roof. Nicely set out and nothing could be seen from the road, nothing could be see from the backyard, and we're still able to achieve the 13.5 kilowatts there on her property to deal with her power bills. She found that very important, going for a very high-efficient panel. And not just a high-efficient panel, but a panel that had a name in the industry that was backed by a company like LG so she knew that she was in safe hands. There's a thing called having skin in the game. And when I spoke to Don from DQ Electrical, I felt that he had a really good understanding of the business. He has a lot of investment of himself and his family in the company. And he's been doing it for quite a number of years and I felt very confident he would be a good person, he and his team, to have it installed. And as it turned out, they were excellent. I'm an electrician. That's my career, it's my job, that's what I do. I'll always be an electrician, so she knows she's gonna be in good, safe hands. In the current economic climate, getting solar is actually a really good longterm investment. It may even be better than having money in the bank or buying shares because you are getting a return every single day on your investment. I have definitely put my money where my mouth is. And I thought is was actually better to maybe pay a little bit more because in the long run it will give you the return and you won't be sorry that you've done it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Psx5MDyvP2Y 2.48 2023-05-18T19:58:54.687Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-a-solar-skeptic-invest-in-a-premium-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZeGpDdgYG4E Why did a solar skeptic invest in a premium solar power system? Today we're installing the solar system up in Teringie. Rocco come to us a couple a years ago. He gave us a budget to work with. And he was a bit of a solar skeptic. I was a little bit skeptical because I wasn't confident that the information that was being supplied to me really satisfied some real questions that I had. But as time progressed, and the more people I spoke to, I became more confident, and I took the leap and put in the first solar system that I have. Following on from stage one, Rocco wants to maximize the amount that we can get on the property now. Because there are some limits as to how big we can go in terms of sizing. He thought it was very important now to get the most efficient panel he could, 'cause we are maximizing right up there on the 30 kilowatts now, installed on this property. The initial system was a 10 kilowatt system. The one that we're currently installing is an LG solar panel system, and it's a 17.6 kilowatt system. An additional 17.6 kilowatts. I decided on LG because after investigating the panels, and also having a look at the panels that I had, I felt that LG offered a better panel. It produced more wattage per panel. It also offered a much better warranty. And I think it was a more reliable warranty, rather than, you know, there's some question marks on some of the warranties that are out in the marketplace. But at the end of the day, I think you've, what you've got to take into consideration is the product that you end up with. I mean, there's a lot of cheap products out there, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it'll give you the end result that you need. Yeah, he's a very happy customer. I think we really proved to him with stage one how much of an impact solar can make on his energy usage. And he's very much a believer now, these days. [Rocco] I'm happy with what I've put in, and I'm happy with the people that I've chosen because they offer a good service. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZeGpDdgYG4E 2.44 2023-05-18T19:58:50.369Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-homeowners-around-the-albury-wodonga-region-avoid-cheap-solar-systems-and-invest-in-quality-instead https://www.youtube.com/embed/mQD1NFNpsW4 Why should homeowners around the Albury Wodonga region avoid cheap solar systems, and invest in quality instead? Customers that we deal with or homeowners that we deal with in North Eastern Victoria and Southern New South Wales, they're looking for a number of different things. They're looking for longevity out of product. They're looking at reducing their electricity bills. Or trying to nullify it as close as possible to zero. They're also planning for the future. When we're talking to our homeowners, we talk to them as individuals. We do not do one size fits all, because everybody's needs are different. Your needs to your next door neighbor's needs are completely different. Even if you do have four people in the house, you might have completely different things that use power. So everybody's different, and we treat you accordingly. Homeowners in the area are focusing on, still majority of their power bill. They realize their power bills are going up. Homeowners should consider quality, I think, as number one. They're an expensive investment for your house. You don't want to be installing cheaper products on your home that aren't going to last. We have that relationship with the customer that they know that they're getting a quality product. They're getting a quality installation. And we won't have to be going back in 12 to two years to replace any products. You have to be careful when you're looking for solar because unfortunately, there are some great prices, or they look to be great prices advertised, but when you scratch that surface and actually have a look at the technology they're using, for those that are in the know like we are, we can see the issues that people are gonna face if they install those kinds of systems in the future. And that actually scares us. We actually prefer to install systems that are gonna give greater longevity and go well beyond the warranty periods. That's what we're looking for. The homeowners, we certainly advise them in having a obligation free site inspection. It is a really, really valuable conversation to have with the customer. Because then you can talk about their needs, their goals. Where everything's going to be placed so's that it gets the best production for them. And the level of quality that they're looking for. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mQD1NFNpsW4 2.40 2023-05-18T19:58:46.278Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-g-store-s-customers-able-to-get-better-financial-returns-on-their-solar-power-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAFdaizNipk Why are G-Store's customers able to get better financial returns on their solar power investment? - My name is Dion Epstein. I'm the director of G-Store and we focus on reducing energy and water consumption for our customers primarily through the use of solar and other renewable energy sources. We are part of a family business that's been in Melbourne for over 50 years and we also serve as the Gippsland region as well. Our solo clients are comprised of residential, agricultural, and commercial clients. We definitely focus on residential customers putting in either five or six kilowatt systems, looking to reduce their bills, we can look after the agricultural customers who are looking to reduce significant energy costs. They're also looking for energy security. You can't afford to have your electricity go down and equipment not running. It actually reduces the annual yield. Each installation is different. You gotta customize it for the available roof space, you gotta customize it for the client's particular lifestyle, and that's not always their current lifestyle, it could be their growing lifestyle, if you're a family that's growing, and you've gotta choose a product that you feel comfortable with that fits in with your budget but also makes sense as a good investment. I think the important things for homeowners to think about when they're choosing a solar system is what is the payback period? That's always an important consideration, but I think it's not just about getting that payback, it's about the return on the investment over the life of the investment, putting in a quality system that you know that if there's gonna be any problems with it, it's gonna be fully covered by a reputable manufacturer and an installer. - I was looking forward to it all being commissioned and up and running. - What we find with the clients that we're dealing with is that they're often prepared to spend a little bit more up front to put in quality systems rather than putting in what we call crap solar. It's definitely a good investment if you know that the product that you're gonna put in is gonna last 25, 30 years, headache free. Of critical importance is the environmental benefits, and I think this is a massive issue in our community and in our society. This is one of the rare opportunities where you can put an investment in that you get a win financially and a win for the environment. Without a doubt, the importance of choosing quality is being seen by the departure from the industry of players who do big flash marketing exercises, put in cheap product, and then they're no longer there to service their warrantees. That's no good for you. It's no good for having to reinvest the capital, it's no good for the environment for having to throw away and dispose of more product. It kind of defeats the purpose of the whole thing. You pay a bit more, you get the benefits of the better yield, you get the benefits of longevity of the product, reliability, trust in the warrantee, trust in the installers who are putting it in, so G-store, you pay a little more, but as we know, you get what you pay for. We only select high quality products at G-store. We use primarily, for our solar installs, LG and Enphase. They are two fantastic brands. LG is a large diversified company with market-leading warrantees and the most yield of any panel on the market. It is independently known as a superior product. Yes, it comes with the premium price, but it represents value. So if you wanna have a product that you know will be here in the long run, and you wanna have a company that's going to be here in the long run, you wanna deal with companies like LG who have a diversified business, have been in operation for many many years, are not going anywhere. You want to deal with companies like G-store, who've been here for twelve years, not for a couple years, they're part of a family business built on a ethos of relationships with their customers and that's what you have to look for in our opinion. - G-store is one of our partners in the wider Malvern area. They give you excellent advice in regards to solar, batteries, and other energy efficiency products. We get a lot of positive reviews about them, and that's why they're allowed to carry the LG authorized energy partner logo. https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAFdaizNipk 4.50 2023-05-18T19:58:41.871Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-g-store-help-homeowners-overcome-shading-issues-for-their-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLcCd67olbU How does G Store help homeowners overcome shading issues for their solar power system? - Anything other than micro-inverters wouldn't really work on this job. Basically, each panel operates independently so if there is some shading, which there will be it's not going to bring down the performance of the entire system. Micro-inverters, you can put on any roof angle it's not like a string inverter where you can have maximum of two inputs. This really wouldn't work with this roof we've got cathedral ceilings, so many different orientations Micro inverters really are the only solution on this one. - Done quite a lot of research on solar panels prior to making this decision. We are in quite a shaded environment here, which was going to present a challenge to many solar systems Pitfalls that I was worried about was the quality of installation, that was number one. I wanted to somehow get the best chance of getting a really good installer using really good products. - Those black frames are looking really lovely. - Yeah, I was saying to the guys that was an unexpected bonus for me because I really chose the panels based on performance not looks and down the driveway when I first saw the first ones going up I was really, really impressed. What got G-Store over the line from my point of view was the amount of work they were prepared to put in to the quote to satisfy me they knew what they were doing. - We're putting in 49 LG panels, all with Enphase microinverters It's quite a challenging roof it's got quite a number of orientations, a steep pitch. Par for the course for G-Store. The LG panels are going to give you maximum yield per square meter of roof and given that we had limited area to work with and quite a heavy electricity consumption to deal with, we had to maximise the yield out of the existing roof space. That was Doug's objective and that's what G-Store's achieved. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLcCd67olbU 2.27 2023-05-18T19:58:38.039Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-5-key-points-to-know-when-buying-a-solar-storage-battery-for-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/E4c7GCjECME What are the 5 key points to know when buying a solar storage battery for your home? - Hi I'm Jamie Allen from LG Chem. Australia's largest supplier of solar home batteries. We get asked a lot of questions. Today we're going to do existing insulation we're going to try and address these 5 key points. Come with me, and have a look. A typical solar plus storage solution comprises of solar ray, an inverter a battery, and an energy meter. The solar ray produces DC energy, and also the battery charges and discharges in DC energy. So basically, with DC energy, from your solar ray and your battery, needs to be converted to AC energy for your appliances. And that's what the inverter does. Most systems can also provide backup power in the event of a blackout. So please just be aware when your selecting a different inverter or battery system, because some will provide that and others won't. If you have an existing solar system, there is the ability to add a battery to that. But we recommend speaking to a qualified installer. That will give you the best advice as to what size of system will suit you. There's quite a few benefits by adding an energy storage system. Number #1 is energy independence. So protection from rising electricity costs. You get to use your own clean and green energy day and night. You have backup power for some systems so it's very critical for lots of families. It increases your property value and it's a positive good asset. Consumers need to be aware that you get what you pay for. This is a long term investment, so we recommend choosing reprieve and improving manufacturers. They'll support your warranties towards the future. Also choosing reprieve installers which can be found on the LGChem.com.au website. So here we got a few different key components to the system. One is the battery. So this is the LG Chem Resu10h. We also have the inverter, which converts the DC energy from the solar ray up on that roof to AC energy in the home. Additionally, this inverter can charge the battery in DC. So it'll charge and discharge that system. And that's all done by little energy meter which is located in your switch board. And that's running the energy flow. https://www.youtube.com/embed/E4c7GCjECME 2.09 2023-05-18T19:58:35.317Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-better-to-invest-more-in-a-high-quality-solar-panel-if-you-re-claiming-a-solar-rebate https://www.youtube.com/embed/VOS9oamidwE Why is it better to invest more in a high quality solar panel if you're claiming a solar rebate? - [Bobbi] Albury- Wodonga's well placed for solar because we have such beautiful sunny times through our springs right through to our autumns. We can often have beautiful sunny winter days that still allows for great solar production. So we are well placed to really produce good solar here. It's really important to have a quality panel on your roof with a solar installation. They're in the elements 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They don't get to have a break. So they have to be built to be able to sustain our climate in Australia here as well. And here in Albury - Wodonga we do have a bit of a harsh climate because we have some very high summer temperatures. We can also have some very low winter temperatures as well. So you need to make sure that you've got that quality product to be able to sustain those temperatures. - I'm a licensed electrician, CEC accredited in design and install, stand alone and on grid batteries. There is quite a lot of different types of systems for customers to install. Different types of products. So you've gotta have a good knowledge base of the different products as well as the different technologies to be able to install them correctly and safely. - [Brett] When the locals invest a bit more, good quality product, it's a bit out of pocket to start with, but when you get 25 year warranties, long term, the benefits both financially and environmentally just out way everything. Taking advantage of rebates that come along to be able to put a high quality system on, is much better to do. And when you do that, you're going to make a lot more, get a much better investment long term. - [Bobbi] So there's a lot of rebates available in Victoria at the moment. But it's also very confusing for customers as well. So getting really good advice from people that understand and know the detail of the rebates is vital. If you would like to have a conversation about solar and what rebates you may be eligible for, you can contact Solar Integrity and we'll come out and do a site inspection for you and go through what's on offer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VOS9oamidwE 2.45 2023-05-18T19:58:32.131Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-the-calwell-shopping-centre-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-panels-for-their-solar-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/LazeaMyn4Ig Why did the Calwell Shopping Centre invest in higher quality solar panels for their solar system? - We're here today to do our one year maintenance check. We installed this system in June last year so it's time for the one year check just to see how things are going. The system is performing really well and that's what you would expect from a SolarEdge LG system. - The Caldwell shopping center chose to use the LG Neon 395 commercial panels. One of the reasons why they've gone with that panel is that the panel comes with a full 25 year parts and labor warranty. There's many panels out there that have a 25 year, what we call a performance warranty but their parts and labor warranty is really only for 10 years. So it's important for us, for the businesses that we sell systems to, to get the full return on the system and for it to last that time. - We obviously work with top of the range products. We make that decision because we believe they're the best in the range and their warranty is better than anyone else's. If you're going to install something that's going to last 25 years customers like to have a warranty that's going to last the length of their system. - For a residential customer they might only be putting 20 panels on a roof but for a commercial site there could be three to 400 so if you've got a fault or you're choosing a cheap panel the exercise to go and remove all those panels and install new ones is vastly greater than it is at a domestic level so quality is even more important on commercial sites for me than it is on residential sites because it's such a big investment for a business. That said the investment itself is something that's really worthwhile doing. The savings for businesses can typically be much better because most of that power that a solar system generates on a business is being used during the daytime and that's when everyone's at work so the paybacks can be exceptional for businesses and I've seen them even below three years, as low as two and a half years which is great. - Quality's everything. We're installing something for a customer so obviously the customer wants it to work, I want it to work. I want a system that's going to work seamlessly. That's why we go with top of the range products for example the LG and the SolarEdge. I don't believe there's anything better in the market. - In a commercial situation it's obviously more focused on a return on your investment but the business owners should feel really happy and pleased with themselves and not only are they saving themselves some money but they're improving the environment and helping us reduce our carbon footprint. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LazeaMyn4Ig 2.46 2023-05-18T19:58:28.627Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-should-homeowners-around-sydney-s-northern-beaches-look-out-for-when-they-re-buying-solar https://www.youtube.com/embed/n2S9rnQlq8o What should homeowners around Sydney's Northern Beaches look out for when they're buying solar? - My name is David Veal, I run Solarpro. We specialise in solar energy, solar batteries, solar pool heating. We do car charging, we do hot water, so we do a whole range of energy efficiency and whatever we put in is targeted around saving energy. If it runs on the sun, we can install it for you. The right designs are got a lot to do with three things, the right solar system for anyone depends on three things we say, how much roof space you have, how much energy you wanna generate and how much money you wanna spend on it. And well, when we find the right balance in all of those, we've got the right system for you. So, a system design is all based around the roof. We've got tight roofs that we need to get a lot of solar panels on, so we need to make sure that we maximize any aspects and the shade and the constraints within the system that we're designing as well. I would say 30% of our solar systems we install are within 500 meters from the beach, being here on the Northern Beaches. So, it's really, really important that these people buy a solar panel and equipment that is able to be that close to the ocean. There aren't many solar panels around that will actually let you install within 300 meters. We use LG. LG, you can install on a boat, so they're very safe to install around the sea. The wind loading on the LG panel is twice the industry standard. Being here on the Northern Beaches, we get a lot of sea breezes and a lot of ocean winds, so the soil degradation and the wind loadings are the best that they can be. It's really important to get a highly efficient panel on your roof, because roof real estate is more valuable than you probably realize. Why that's important is, we need to generate as much power as we can off the roof because as we're moving forward, we're using a lot more energy. With the sun, that energy is yours, and once you put those solar panels on, it's costing you nothing. we're putting electric appliances in like, electric hot water, we're heating swimming pools with electric heat pumps, we're now driving cars that use electricity, so we need as much roof space as possible. So to use a highly efficient panel means we're using less in footprint. We wanna also ensure that that solar panel has got a long, long life in it as well. We're looking at really getting a 25-30 year life out of a solar panel. There's only a few solar panels around that will do that and that's why we use the LG panel, because they are a highly efficient panel and we can guarantee that they're gonna be around for 25 years. A lot of solar companies are selling what they wanna sell people, in the form of say a, five kilowatts system, a 6.6 or a seven. We sell solar systems by the panel, so we look at exactly what you need and we design it around that, we mold it to suit you, not what suits us and that's why it's really important to have someone sitting down with you at the table, because if you're not being educated, you're being sold what someone else wants to sell you, not what you need. What a home owner should look for, number one, is does the company that you are buying your system from have employed electricians that are working for them or is it a sales company. A lot of people go down the road of being fooled on price and utilizing a company that is a sales company that sub-contract out all of their installations. We don't do that, we have got a team of electricians and a team of roofers that install the systems for us. Solar equipment manufacturers come and go, we've seen plenty of them over the years, there's been over a 100 solar panel manufacturers come and go, and what we're finding is people are being left with products with no warranty, so it's really important that you go with big brands, with big companies that have got a big revenue pace, to look after your warranty. Choosing a quality solar system is all about longevity and about how long that system is gonna last. The systems we use, we've got a 25 year full system warranty we can offer on some of the systems we use. The solar panel we use, the LG, has got a 25 year product warranty and that is a full warranty. A full warranty where they cover the panel as well as the labor. - Solarpro, with David Veal and his crew, look after us in the wider Sydney area. David has been in the business for over 5 years with regards to LG panels. We've seen many systems, he focuses on quality. He will give you a good financial long-term outcome, I can highly recommend him. https://www.youtube.com/embed/n2S9rnQlq8o 5.12 2023-05-18T19:58:23.038Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-solar-hot-water-diverter-help-you-store-your-solar-energy-at-a-lower-cost-than-lithium https://www.youtube.com/embed/-XRq-Gm3Nsw How does a solar hot water diverter help you store your solar energy at a lower cost than Lithium? - We've now got other technologies that we put into the solar system where we can divert that energy straight into something like a hot water tank or a swimming pool heat pump, a pool pump, or an air conditioner even. We've recently installed 10 kilowatts into this house in Wahroonga. We've got two solar inverters. We've got a 9.3 kilowatt hour LG Chem battery. And then we've also got another device up here called an emersion control device and what this does is this collects any of the surplus energy that would normally be sent out onto the grid once the house loads is satisfied. Rather than going on the grid and getting nothing for it, they will actually use that power in their electric hot water tanks in the house. They've got two of them in there. And what that's going to do in effect is turn both of those hot water tanks into batteries. We're installing technology now that's allowing us to capture the energy or the excess energy that would normally be sent out onto the grid that you'd be given virtually nothing for, and we're harnessing that energy and putting it into devices like hot water systems. A hot water system now is really a cheap form of a battery. We can set up the hot water system, purely energised by the sun. Storing energy in a battery is one form of storing energy. Another form of energy is storing it in water. In a hot water tank, there's a whole bunch of energy. So if we can use the solar energy from the roof and direct that into the hot water tanks, we've got in effect, a battery, just that it's stored in water and not in lithium. We've got technology available now that we can harness the sun's energy and put it directly into heating your hot water system electrically, which means you don't have to have solar hot water panels on the roof. We're doing it all from the solar power system. If you're in the neighbourhood on the northern beaches, or in North Shore, it's well worth the drive to come over and look at our extensive showroom. Our showroom's got the largest range of batteries and we can run you through the system. We can design the system for you in-house, so you could bring your house plans in or certainly bring you power bill in and we can design a system around it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-XRq-Gm3Nsw 2.46 2023-05-18T19:58:18.703Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-solar-power-system-challenges-around-leafy-areas-of-the-sunshine-coast https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Zp8JFzRazo What are the solar power system challenges around leafy areas of the Sunshine Coast? - Today we're at Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast. The homeowner here is looking to try and reduce their power bills. There's a few challenges with the roof, with chimneys and a few trees around. So, every panel is being optimised with Tigo DC optimisers just to ensure that every panel will optimise as well as it can do. So, today on this job we've got 6.6 kilowatts of LG NeON 2 330 watt panels, and the homeowner here is looking to try and reduce their power bill as much as possible so that their ongoing costs are lower. Coolum Beach is located right on the coast. High salt environment. You really need to go in for a quality system when you're installing it in these kind of environments. LG's up to the job. Simple as that. Every house is different. You know, life isn't that simple that every roof is the same. So, we come out. We'll have a look at the roof. We'll look at the screw lines. We'll look at the structure of the roof and see what we can actually do with the property. We'll also look at nearby shading from trees, from chimneys, things like that. 'Cause things like that are really, really important. The homeowner here at Coolum has already got a solar hot water system to try and reduce their power bill. Now, adding the solar power is the next step in that process of reducing the power bill and also helping the environment. If you're trying to cut your power bills just give us a call or call into the store. We're here at number 3 Bearing Avenue in Warana. Call in. We've got a display here. You can see exactly what solar is all about. We can run through a few different options here, or we're more than happy to pop out and see you and run through it at your home. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Zp8JFzRazo 2.10 2023-05-18T19:58:15.451Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-high-quality-solar-panels-help-sunshine-coast-homeowners-insure-against-salt-mist-corrosion https://www.youtube.com/embed/7EJpYhr79Rc How do high quality solar panels help Sunshine Coast homeowners insure against salt mist corrosion? - My name's Greg Young, we're located in Minyama which is on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. We're quite close to the coast. We live in a salt water environment and that was an important factor in the decision on our system. It had to work well in this environment and also be able to withstand relatively harsh environmental conditions. The system that we installed has 18kW of capacity. We had to plan the solar system in such a way that it would work well in a marine environment. We're very very close to salt water and we wanted solar panels and a racking system that was going to last. We needed a system that would stand up to the elements. Particularly the harsh elements on the Sunshine Coast very close to a saltwater and a salty environment. - [Dan] You put a cheap system in this area it's simply going to fail after a short period of time. The salt mist is quite severe, with a cheaper solar panel will work its way in, it will find a way into the panel which can degrade the panel, it can corrode elements of it. And often what we find is, the first thing is it allows water and moisture to get into the panel which is a big problem. - As part of the process, I spoke to about six different solar companies around the region and SolarWide I felt comfortable with their understanding of my needs their ability to work with me. Because we wanted to install and engineer a system that was of course functional, met our performance but also minimized the visual impact and the aesthetics on the house. - [Dan] So one of our most popular panels is LG. LG have the highest salt rating available. They've passed all of the extra tests to ensure that they are not going to be affected by salt mist. They will in fact warrant panels right to the ocean in full salt list environments, without a problem. Fully warranted, 25 years for product and 25 years for performance. - [Greg] We're very passionate about the climate we want to ensure that we have a good, healthy country for the future of our children and we believe that everybody should be considering solar and alternate sources of energy. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7EJpYhr79Rc 2.54 2023-05-18T19:58:12.316Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solarwide-helping-sunshine-coast-homeowners-and-businesses-to-cut-down-on-power-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/bmOuJyFpl-g How is SolarWide helping Sunshine Coast homeowners and businesses to cut down on power costs? - I'm Dan from SolarWide. We're based here at Warana on the Sunshine Coast. We focus predominantly on residential, small commercial, and battery storage solar power. The family owned and operated business is myself, my wife, my parents, my brother-in-law. We're all involved in the business. And of course we've got salespeople, all our own installers. Everything is done in-house. At SolarWide we specialise in solar power. Of course, we've got all of our electricians, we are an electrical company but we purely focus on solar power. We find a lot of your general electricians they'll do one or two solar systems every month or every couple of months and you cannot keep up with the quality demands. Our everyday business, day to day, are your moms and dads, looking for solar power, trying to cut their power bills down and make their cost of living a lot easier. That's our day to day, bread and butter is residential solar power. Multiple jobs every day. And then we do commercial solar as well. In our previous property we had solar on the roof there. We didn't get a power bill at all. As soon as we got into the new place, we put another solar power system on the roof. So we've seen it first hand, we know that solar power really can save businesses big dollars every year. It sounds strange but solar panels will actually reduce performance and reduce output with higher temperature. The hotter it gets, the worse the panel can perform, so it's really important to get a good quality solar panel that will handle that heat well. LG solar panels are one of the best in the business to ensure that on those days where it's a hot day, you've got your aircon cranking, the solar is performing at its max, not at its lowest. Homeowners around the area choose SolarWide because we've been around a long time. We've been around since 2010. We've built up a very, very strong reputation over the years for quality. We're using great products like LG, inverters like Fronius, products that have been around a long time and they've got that back up. Everything is all installed by our own staff, nothing is contracted out. If you focus on price, you're generally going to get corners cut, you're going to get lower grade products, you're going to get lower grade installation. It doesn't cost a lot more to get a quality system, and a quality system is going to last you for an awful lot longer and keep performing month after month, year after year for many, many years to come, and you're going to be saving a lot more money with no down time. Really these failing systems are generally because people have bought a cheap system at the start thinking that all solar is the same, and unfortunately all solar is very, very different. There's a big difference from the bottom end of the market to the mid-end of the market and also to the top end. It's really important to do the research, get a quality product, and you really can't go wrong. When choosing solar, it's really important to get quality panels, quality inverters, make sure the installer is using quality isolators, quality cable. It's really important to get something that's designed to last for a long run or you just end up with years and years of a headache. Our most popular systems are LG solar panels and when we're choosing a brand to bring into our range, it's really important to know that the company has been around for a long time and they'll still be around in a long time if there's an issue. - SolarWide looks after us in the wider Sunshine Coast. They're the LG authorized dealer. They're looking after quality, great financial outcomes, good service, good support. I can highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bmOuJyFpl-g 4.23 2023-05-18T19:58:09.002Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-environmental-and-economic-benefits-to-installing-high-quality-solar-at-kedron-wavell https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZwM8nZgYNw What were the environmental and economic benefits to installing high quality solar at Kedron-Wavell? - We're at the Kedron-Wavell Services Club at Chermside, on the north side of Brisbane. A club like this has very high energy bills, very high energy consumption, so what we're trying to achieve here is a maximum reduction in bill. The brief was from the client to maximise their energy reduction, so we tried to fit as much solar as we could on the roof. Four hundred watt, LG panels, solar edge optimisers, 100 kilowatts of solar, 82 kilowatts of inverter capacity. So this is a commercial solar installation utilising LG 400 watt neon two panels. By using a high efficiency module, we're getting more watts per square meter, which equates to less weight, so, it did mean that we were getting more wattage in the limited roof space we had. The curved roof was quite a challenge. We've got flat rigid panels on a curved roof. It's our best structural roof according to our engineer, so we had to maximise the installation up there. The lay out of the ray is purely based on what our engineer would allow us. We had to stay close to this wall of the curved structure, because that's where our main supporting beams are underneath. So, we're just maximising the amount of energy we can get in this area of the roof. Multiple challenges. On a commercial site like this, you need to know that your installer knows what they're doing, that they're using the right product. That's why we chose an LG, premium equipment, premium installers in Springers Solar, and then everything just goes together nicely and works smoothly. Kedron-Wavell Services Club have a real community vibe, and a community feel. As to be part of the community, to reduce their carbon footprint, to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, but it is driven, more so, by economics. Financial Planners make a decision on whether this project can proceed. The carbon saving, that's the bonus, you know, the economics are the driver. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZwM8nZgYNw 2.27 2023-05-18T19:58:05.521Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-choose-a-high-quality-solar-panel-if-want-to-help-the-environment-your-hip-pocket https://www.youtube.com/embed/FWbffcEnCtM Why should you choose a high quality solar panel if want to help the environment & your hip pocket? - Yeah look, I've been looking forward to getting the installation under way for a long, long time. So it's good to have the guys up on the roof now installing that and to know that I'm going to be doing my bit for the environment is going to be great, and to see the bills coming in that are going to be a lot lower in the future's great, too. - As we got talking with Ryan, what we understood was Ryan was looking for not just shaving his power bills, he was looking at doing his bit for the environment as well. I think there were two overriding factors that pushed his decision the LG way. A, it was the value proposition that LG as a complete product offered and B, I think people do recognize when a company actively puts the environment ahead of finances. - Yeah, so the system I've chosen is an LG solar panel and from the recommendations, it seems like it's pretty top end. The fact that LG is a pretty well-known brand with something that may feel pretty secure. I know that a lot of solar panels are starting to come off other roofs after only a couple years of service, but with the quality of the brand and the reliability of it, it made me feel really secure about going with them. - You need certainty, you need to know that what you're putting on the roof will last, will perform, but you won't have the assurance that's it going to be there, it's going to do the job that you need it to do. - I want to future proof my home. I want to make sure that whatever I put on the house is going to last a long, long time. The panels that are going on today have a 25 year warranty and that was something that was pretty appealing for me. - With the weather system set up, he's going to be able to down the track add battery storage to it so he can offset in the evening, do a bit of load-shifting. - I think for anyone in Ballarat, it's a no brainer to install solar panels here. I mean, it's good for the environment, it's good for our wallets. I don't understand why people wouldn't do it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FWbffcEnCtM 2.30 2023-05-18T19:57:59.887Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-type-of-solar-system-should-you-invest-in-if-you-want-to-live-off-the-grid-around-ballarat https://www.youtube.com/embed/8H25BDu42jk What type of solar system should you invest in if you want to live off the grid around Ballarat? - I love being out here because it's the bush, we've got nature, really good to know that you've got no bills, be self-sufficient, you're living off the land. We're remote as you can probably see. Not only that the cost of living with the price of rising electricity bills, and gas, and water, so yeah we chose to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. It's very cost effective. I like the idea of not paying for water, not paying for electricity, being totally self-sufficient, it's absolutely great. - As far as off grid customers go we have two types of customers. The customers that who have traditionally already lived off gird for a really long time and are looking to upgrade, and change, and modernize their system. And then we have people who want to get out of the city, you hear the animals, you hear birds, and that's one of the other reasons that people actually go off grid. - We wanted to live off the gird as quietly as possible. We chose the LG panels, they were suggested by Sanjeev. He explained the greater efficiency and longevity of life so yeah, we decided to go with LG panels. - I would recommend Ballarat Solar & Electrical to anyone that was looking for solar. Sanjeev's really informative, he knows his stuff. - We've always told customers that going with us doesn't mean we are the cheapest solution. We probably cost a little more but we cost a little more for a reason. We take the time to get things right, it is not about getting a job done a day or two jobs done in a day it is about getting the job done right the first time. - It's definitely a win for the environment. It's a win for the hip pocket. Absolutely trust Ballarat Solar and Sanjeev. Work together with the LG panels. Has made a hell of a difference to our lives, it really has. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8H25BDu42jk 2.24 2023-05-18T19:57:55.598Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-shade-salt-and-wind-effect-a-solar-power-system-on-the-central-coast https://www.youtube.com/embed/dyXmnSBM6x0 How does shade, salt, and wind effect a solar power system on the Central Coast? - [Derek] Some of the areas of the Central Coast have quite a beautiful outlook with lots of gum trees. The downside to that is that we do also have shade on the rooftop. - [Derek] Some of the homes that we come to have partial shading and it might just be in the morning. But the middle of the day and the afternoon is optimum for solar. Some of the way we can overcome that shade is using individual panel management. Where every panel works independent from the next. - [Derek] Being so close to the coast line, means that we have got some rugged conditions. We have high wind, we have sea spray and we want to have a panel that's going to be able to keep up with those environments. So having salt mist declaration on our product warranty is a huge win and that's covered for all 25 years. Having quality panels installed means that you're going to get decade of usage out of those panels by selecting the right product from the start. - [Derek] High quality solar panels not only give you better benefits by being resistant for the coast, having better product warranty. The big plus for you is that you get more performance per Watt out of these panels. You're getting high-yielding heat on hot weather. You're getting better low light performance on those overcast and cloudy days. All of the LG panels are always positive tolerance. So even though they're labeled 345 Watt, they're always a little more than 345 Watt. They never drop below what they've been rated for. So you're always getting more than what you paid for. - [Derek] The quality of the actual products, there's so many products out there at the moment. It's so hard to navigate and pick from. What is the differences out there? Choosing quality, looking for things like brand names. We're selling LG panels which are a quality brand, proven performance. - [Derek] The whole system from start to finish, we've gone through and we've hand- selected over time, quality components to be able to offer the best quality equipment to last the test of time on the Central Coast. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dyXmnSBM6x0 2.29 2023-05-18T19:57:52.266Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-choose-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-if-you-re-installing-a-home-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/pgKhDzJVfik Why should you choose a higher quality solar panel if you're installing a home battery? - We're here at Ourimbah, installing a solar power system, and Tesla batteries. We've just installed a 16 kilowatt LG NeON? 2 panels, couple with a three phase Fronius inverter. We've got 46 LG NeON? 2 panels up on the roof, which is generating around 16 kilowatt hours. Putting in the LG NeON?, they wanted long term performance, high output, excellent longevity. The solar system we believe will generate around about 60 kilowatts per day on average. Today, being winter, it's going to be generating around 40 to 50 kilowatts, and about half of that's going to go into the Tesla batteries, ready for usage tonight, and the other half is going to be used by the home during the day. The main thing was to be able to power up the home during the day to be able to offset the pool pumps, to be able to offset air conditioning, offset general home usage during the day, and the leftover that was normally exported to the grid, the owners wanted to capture that energy and store their own solar production, and put it into the batteries for usage in the night time. Having your essential services backed up, in the event of a blackout, was an important deciding factor here. Because this house runs on a water pump, to be able to flush toilets, and to be able to have hot water and clean drinking water, having power available in the event of a blackout, by using that from the stored energy from the Teslas, was a deciding factor. Our team here, Superior Solar, at the moment we've got Aiden and Rowan doing an incredible job, and passionate about doing quality workmanship. That combined with the products that we are offering with the LG panels and the Tesla batteries, means that this installation is going to be powering up for decades to come. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pgKhDzJVfik 2.10 2023-05-18T19:57:47.992Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-is-it-to-choose-a-certified-local-solar-power-installer-on-the-sapphire-coast https://www.youtube.com/embed/XkW79bYlLFg How important is it to choose a certified local solar power installer on the Sapphire Coast? - They call this the Sapphire Coast, in fact, because the sea is so blue. And Merimbula is roughly in the bottom third of the area. It's one of the mildest climates in the world. It's all in the far South Coast, it's just beautiful. Now I first started thinking about solar because of the cost. Power prices were going up, the cost of money was reducing, and I thought this was a good way to invest in my roof. - Mostly our clients around here are residential customers, we do lots of, the 5 kilowatt mark seems to be a pretty standard size for a lot of residential homes, and we also do small commercial jobs, seem to be anywhere between 10 to 30-50 kilowatts of installation. We look at three factors generally, first thing we look at is how big is their power bill, how much is their daily energy use, how big is their roof area, what can we fit on there, and the last things is we have to look at their budget, what they're going to fit into their budget sometimes isn't always the same as what can actually fit on the roof, so you bring those three factors together and we design a system that's specific for each customer. - Well, I did a lot research, Choice put out a wonderful research document which had been done with the CSIRO for 12 months, and they had a numerous amount of panels. The LG panel showed to be the best by far, and that was one of the reasons, that was a major reason we got the LG panel. - So down here on the far South Coast, we have a pretty salty environment which is important to choose the right sort of equipment to go on your roof, 'cause it's going to be exposed to all that sort of weather elements, so based on that, we do choose and present the LG solar panel as the best option. It has extra salt and corrosion testing over and above the international standard which puts them apart from a lot of the other panels on the market. - [Phil] I think getting the best possible panel is what everyone should do, and if LG's at the top, well, you take that. So that's why we did it. No other reason, it was the best, you paid for it, sure, but it works, and it works well. - Lately we've had a lot of customers informing us that they've had people coming around, just knocking on their door, cold-calling. We've had examples of systems being installed that are very poor quality, very high cost. We like to present ourselves as the honest option. We have local installers, we're based out of Kura Beach, and we're here for the long term. - Well, I picked Austin at Pacific Solar because the person who put the solar panels in lived in town here. I had an option of three installers that I was looking at. One was interstate, one was up in Sydney, and if I had a problem, how long was it going to take for me to get it fixed? Here, the installer is available straight away, so it's really important you get an installer who lives near you or around the area. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XkW79bYlLFg 3.10 2023-05-18T19:57:44.303Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-bidfoods-melbourne-overcome-the-commercial-solar-installation-challenges-to-maximise-roi https://www.youtube.com/embed/dzZMXse8i5k How did Bidfoods Melbourne overcome the commercial solar installation challenges to maximise ROI? Today we're at Bidfood in Truganina which is in the western side of Melbourne. They're a cold storage facility they food distribution. They're a national based business that have got facilities like this all over the country. It's 270 kilowatt site, there's 684 LG 400 watt panels and we've paired that with 9 Fronius inverters 3 phase, everything's tied in. It all hooks in for the monitoring portal which is online, which gives us a full suite of what the site consumption is live and also what the site production is with the solar system. So you get a nice energy balance across the year. For BidFoods particularly, with their solar system what we're trying to achieve was they're upgrading a lot of their plants for more energy efficient refrigeration which is obviously the main part of their energy costs. So when they're doing that they're also pairing it in with solar systems. We're doing multiple sites with BidFood at the moment and it really is about bringing their energy cost down which is one of their major costs to their business. Part of the design here at BidFoods in Truganina was that we needed to fit in with what the structural engineer limitations were given to us. We achieved that by using LG solar panels which means we used a lot less of them so you get a lot more wattage per square meter lets say, with less amount of panels therefore there's less weight on the roof. If there's less weight on the roof what we're finding at the moment is when we look at new sites, new warehouses being built they're having to spend an exorbitant amount of money strengthening the steel work in the roof to cater for the weight of the solar panels. So if you factor that into your cost your overall cost of your systems then really you're looking at a far less cost because you got less panels on the roof less weight on the roof, therefore less steel is gonna save you a lot of money on the overall cost of the system. All that comes full circle and comes back around to the return of the investment of the whole project. In the first year we've estimated that the bills are gonna reduce in excess of $100,000 and by the time we get to the 25 year mark with the LG panels with their low degradation we're gonna have about 2.2 million based on a average increase of electricity price of 3% a year. We feel that's a fairly conservative measure 3% when you can see price fluctuations in your energy costs from you know can be up to 20% a year. Most customers are looking for a cost saving on their energy bills. Really cost saving and the stability of that cost as well over the years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dzZMXse8i5k 2.56 2023-05-18T19:57:39.924Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-sem-darwin-helping-the-local-community-transition-to-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/fG2wUNyY8Lc How is SEM Darwin helping the local community transition to solar power? - [Matt Byrd] At SEM here we really believe in renewable energy. We believe in climate change and we believe that solar is the future and everyday we get up out of bed and we make sure we do our part to try and bring renewable energy to Australia and where it should be. - [Matt Byrd] So, the guys here, they kind of get in at around 7:00 am. We're not whip snappers, so they come in they know what they've got to do. They gear up for a big day. Usually we do anywhere from one to three solar installations per day in the residential field as well as a commercial setting in the background. But, we probably send around 14 to 15 solar guys and they do a really good job day in and day out. They basically make SEM what it is today. - [Matt Byrd] In Darwin, and residential customers when they're thinking about purchasing solar, and I think it's becoming more and more apparent, is people are doing their research. They're really looking for quality, they're looking for reliability, sustainability, longevity. They're looking for, you know, those key components that are going to make their system last. I think people are realizing that they're paying for something that's going to be on their roof for 25 plus years. Which is why LG is just a no-brainer when it comes to that with a 25 year product and performance warranty. What better panel to put on a residential roof? - [Doug Lovegrove] Because you got to pay for fuel. This is all free, yeah the way to go. - [Matt Byrd] Agriculture plays a big part in what we do, we really like the opportunity that's coming up in agriculture. Helping the farmers, they're doing it tough at the moment. But if we are able to help buy solar ball pumps, or solar air conditioners, or just solar power, you know, that's what we'd like to do as well. - [Doug Lovegrove] Yeah, I mean you've got a little bit of an initial outlay and then from then on it's maintenance free. - [Matt Byrd] The output exceeds what it does, at the moment, this school generates around 480 kilowatt hours per day offsetting their usage. When it comes to commercial properties, interested in installing solar, they're looking for longevity, they're looking for efficiency, they're looking for the return on their investment. When it came to reading the tender, it was clear and evident that the government really wanted something that had a great warranty, great quality, and was going to be there for the long haul. Obviously, LG fell straight into that. At that stage, there was not another panel in the market that had those kind of figures. I think at the end of the day, if we could eliminate a commercial properties' power bill that gives them the ability to reinvest that money. - [MaryRose Henry] And that money that we are saving I can now put against something else. Whether student related, which Or improvement of the properties, fixing up the gym, installing more computers, there's lots of things that can be done with these savings. - [Matt Byrd] SEM was built on quality and that's where we get our reputation from. We'll stay doing what we do best, which is installing good quality solar systems with quality products, with quality experienced solar installers and electricians. Up here in Darwin, we experience temperatures of 38 degrees, we experience humidity, we experience rain, we experience, you know, cool dry-season mornings. Having installed many many systems over the years, we've come to realize that only quality panels really withstand the temperatures and climate that Darwin throws at it. We've found that obviously, the LG panel has the ability to get through that and they're still operating as they did on day one, which is fantastic for the client. So, I just think LG has done a really great job with the 25 year performance of product warranty, and as they say, they put their money where their mouth is which gives the customer satisfaction and confidence that what they're installing on their roof is backed by a company like LG, a large company. So, no matter what happens in the solar industry, LG is going to be there to warrant that product regardless. - [Markus Lambert] SEM Darwin is our authorized dealer for the wider Darwin area and they do an excellent job in installing high-quality LG panels with solid inverter solutions. We highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fG2wUNyY8Lc 4.34 2023-05-18T19:57:35.278Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-doug-use-solar-power-to-pump-bore-water-for-his-cattle-farm-in-adelaide-river https://www.youtube.com/embed/mHvZV5CCdZY How does Doug use solar power to pump bore water for his cattle farm in Adelaide River? - [Matt Byrd] Being on a farm 600, 1,200, 3,000 acres it's very hard to get electricity and to check on those diesel generators that they want to pump. So, having the ability to utilize solar and utilize the sun, which is a commodity that comes out every morning and lasts all day long. If they can use that without spending too much money, I mean, it's a win for everybody. We were able to offer him a solution where solar could be predominantly the main power to basically pump that water out of that bore. - If you want your solar on all you do is just turn this switch on here and give it a minute and they it'll crank up, and out comes there water. - When we're talking about customers like Doug, Doug lives on 600 acres. It's not easy to get power over to you know, 250 acres away. So, when we talk about the cost of installing cables to try and get to that bore, I mean, the price outweighs the return on investment. I mean, there's no return on investment with something like that. Putting solar there and giving him the availability to pump water whenever he wants through the day, so he can water his cattle without him worrying about you know, the cost of diesel or electricity, I think really helps Doug out. If we have more solar panels, it definitely gives you ability to be able to pump more water per second out of this bore. At the moment, we've got it set to around half a liter to three quarters of a liter per second, which is enough for Doug to be able to irrigate what he needs to irrigate and obviously water the land. - [Doug Lovegrove] We're not paying for electricity to pump water anymore so that's all solar. So that's free. Yeah, people that don't got solar got rocks in their head, I reckon. - Darwin's environment I guess, is quite harsh. It changes from humidity, from the dry season to the wet season. So, basically when we design a system, our number one priority is to design it around quality. Obviously Grundfos and LG came hand in hand and there was no other option. We believe anyway. - You know SEM, they do, do a good job and I'm really happy to be dealing with those guys. So, I'll stay with them. I think if you're getting plenty of sun, you'd be crazy not to use solar and yeah, way to go. Crazy if you don't. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mHvZV5CCdZY 2.48 2023-05-18T19:57:32.492Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-advantages-of-having-three-phase-power-for-homeowners-around-darwin-installing-solar https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrzHo5BfLCU What are the advantages of having three-phase power for homeowners around Darwin installing solar? Today the customer was fortunately enough to have three-phase, which gave the ability to go up a seven kilowatt inverter and allow us to chuck 9.3kW worth of PV on the roof, which is around 27, 345s. The house is basically got a near perfect pitch, facing north, which is really great for installing solar panels obviously. So where we've actually pin pointed to put the solar is basically where there's no shading at all, and the best outcome will happen due to the sun being able to hit those panels all day long without any shading issues. Working with this particular customer, she wanted quality, reliability and efficiency. And the first brand that come to mind obviously was LG. The LG345 NeON? 2, basically ticked all three of those boxes. So she went with that. Customers like this, we really love to work with, because they want quality, and LG gives us the ability to offer quality and give them confidence for the future. The return on investment for a property like this is around three years. In Darwin we're still experiencing a one for one tariff, which basically means you will sell your power back to the grid for the same price that you purchase it for. The residential sector really looks for maximizing their systems straight off the bat. So commonly we'll install five kilowatt inverter on a single-phase, and a seven kilowatt on a three-phase, pump that up to 9.3 or 6.6. Out of that the customer obviously makes around, you know, 30 to 43 kilowatt hours per day and it saves her anywhere from $700 -$900 a quarter. For the home consumer, she has three-phase, which is great, which means we can upgrade the system to a seven kilowatt inverter, and go up to around 9.3 kilowatts worth of PV on the roof. For a single-phase we would usually do a five kilowatt with around 6.6 kilowatts. So the advantage is to grab that extra three kilowatts and really create more power. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrzHo5BfLCU 2.18 2023-05-18T19:57:27.026Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-consider-investing-in-a-high-quality-ground-mounted-solar-power-system-in-darwin https://www.youtube.com/embed/s86Bgz-Qivc Why should you consider investing in a high quality ground mounted solar power system in Darwin? - G'day, Bill. - G'day, Thor. How are you doing? - Good, mate, how's yourself? - All right. So it's a great looking array, isn't it? - Mate, yeah, these LG panels, absolute ripper, mate, yeah. Yeah, we just got the bill back the other day, $314 after a 90-day period, so-- - That's not bad, is it? - Yeah, credit to you. Really stoked, mate, yeah. - The ground mount gives you, I feel, a couple of good advantages. That is, one, that it's off the ground. When we get up into October, November, December, when our ambient temperature gets up to 35 degrees, humidity 98%, it's going to get a nice cool breeze blowing under it. And the cooler you keep the panels, the better they perform. Not too cold, just the right temperature. If you just look at this, this was washed yesterday. You can see how much dust is on it, in one day. That is unbelievable. So that's just the environment that we're in. So it doesn't matter, wash them today, and they're just as dusty tomorrow. If they were up on a roof, and a real steep roof like there is over in our new suburbs, a 25 degree pitch, going to get up there with some water and a broom? I don't think so. You're going to end up on the ground with the water. - It's easy to maintain, there's no risk factor involved in having to climb a ladder. The chances of falling, and the like. Ground mount system's a better opportunity. There is no penetrations through the roof sheets. There's no upkeep of the roof. There's no build-up underneath the solar panels, whereas on a roof mount you will get leaves and debris. - [Bill] What have you been getting, Thor? - [Thor] On average, around about 43 kilowatts a day. - So that's this time of the year? Bearing in mind that this is facing south-east. So in October, November, December, February, the sun'll be over this side of us. So, Christmas period, when all the air-conditioners are running, you're going to be doing probably close on 50 kilowatt-hours a day. - And the best thing, Bill, it'll be a zero dollar bill. - That's the important part, isn't it? - It is mate, yeah. - It's money in the bank. - [Thor] More money to spend on the family. With the quality that LG offers within their panels, it's second to none against any other competitors, and any other products that are available on the market. - The LGs outperforms anything else that's on the market up here in the tropics, where it is extremely hot. The roof in October, November, will get anything up to about 70, 75 degrees in ambient temperatures, so it's damn hot. - [Thor] Once electricity expenses have already been taken into consideration, we've positively made over $300 in return. We are getting paid to generate electricity, and it's brilliant. Thanks to Bill, and especially Quality Solar. Great bunch of blokes, great local company. Get behind 'em. https://www.youtube.com/embed/s86Bgz-Qivc 2.49 2023-05-18T19:57:23.855Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-for-darwin-homeowners-to-pick-a-solar-panel-with-a-high-wind-load-rating https://www.youtube.com/embed/gOsoox0CmNU Is it important for Darwin homeowners to pick a solar panel with a high wind load rating? - So what we've done here in Darwin, in conjunction with my engineer, is that we've done the wind loading tests to verify what LG have on their documentation, because here in Darwin we have the toughest building regulations in the world. - In simulating what's happening to the panel when it's on the roof, what we're going to do is we're going to introduce compressed air. It is pumping air into a bladder under here, pushing the glass up. We will watch as the deflection increases with the pressure increase. - We've had the NeON? 2. We took it up as high as 15,000 kilopascals, so that would be a wind speed of over a thousand kilometers an hour, I believe roughly I think. And if you had a wind speed like that, you'd be in a hole in the ground, because there'd be nothing left up here, be gone. Cyclone Tracy I think from memory was something like 250 kilometers an hour. When we do the test, we'll take it to, the panel to there, to what Tracy was, and then just show you how much flexion there is in the panel. - It's down to six. Do you want to keep on going Nick? - [Nicholas] If you'd like. - [Simon] Yep. - Cyclone Tracy's design wind pressures, based on their recorded wind speeds, came to about five, 5.8 kPa, and this is tested at six. - The pressures that would be involved in Cyclone Tracy, this panel would've withstood those pressures. So we could turn around and safely say that this panel would've probably stayed on the roof, had the roof stayed on the house. - Yeah, we've done a couple of tests on another brand panel, and they had the earth hole right in the center at the top and the bottom. We put it under pressure. It just went bumpo, right where that screw line was, and it failed, failed big time. Didn't even reach anywhere near what they're saying is on their documentation. The LG is right at the top, right at the top of all of 'em. We do a section 40, that's the equipment that goes on the roof. Then there's the building permit. Once it's then installed, it's then an inspection happens, and tick the boxes then their certificate of occupancy is submitted. So they're the processes that happen, and if they're a good quality system, good quality panel, you're not going to have a problem, and LG tick all those boxes, yeah. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gOsoox0CmNU 2.45 2023-05-18T19:56:20.773Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-dowie-doole-in-adelaide-optimising-together-their-solar-power-air-conditioning https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y_saE6b6mls How are Dowie Doole in Adelaide optimising together their solar power & air conditioning? - The design aesthetic here at Dowie Doole is very, very important to us, so choosing products that really were complementary to the building was very important. So things like the air conditioner, that you can't see a lot of, and the beautiful panels that stand out on arrival was key parts of the design element. The panels look absolutely amazing, and part of the design here at the Cellar Door is also, we wanted the journey to start from when you enter the property. So when you come off California Road, one of the first things you see is the top of the Cellar Door as you come over the hill and you see all of the solar panels. And that was important, because we wanted people to get that sustainability feel as they're entering the property. - Dowie Doole are committing to going organic and sustainable, so they're building the Cellar Door with energy efficient solar and air conditioning in mind to try and reduce their energy costs. A new inverter air conditioner will reduce your energy costs about 30% from an existing, non-inverter, 10-year-old air conditioner. So it's about 30% less running costs. - A key part of the Cellar Door design, right from the start, was trying to be energy neutral or even putting back in, fitting back into the grid. So, we're trying to have zero impact in terms of our consumption. So we've designed the building all around the most effective angles for the solar, right from the initial design that the architect did. - They work together. So the better the ER ratio or the star ratings on the units, the less power they're going to use. So using a high quality, high efficiency air conditioner is going to help reduce their energy costs. We've got a 9.5 kW, ducted, mid static LG air conditioner, LG Split System in the back office. The panels on the roof are 39 LG neon tube panels, installed on a custom made roofing to optimize the angle, 30 degrees, north-facing, to give them the most power production possible. - Look, LG, to be honest, it's all throughout my house. I've got an LG fridge. I've got LG TVs, etc. I've actually got LG solar panels on my own home as well. Yeah, I know a lot about the brand. Really good quality. Love the products. So yeah, fantastic. We're actually, at the moment, going through a carbon audit process with a carbon accountant, so we're trying to make sure that Dowie Doole is carbon neutral across the entire business, but we also wanted to make sure that the Cellar Door had zero inputs. So we're trying to use energy efficient products, and high solar output was really important to making sure that the Cellar Door is essentially carbon neutral. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y_saE6b6mls 2.34 2023-05-18T19:56:00.263Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-factors-are-important-to-goodhouse-architects-when-designing-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/HRs09s1kmb4 What factors are important to Goodhouse Architects when designing a solar power system? - Goodhouse really came to exist because of the perceived lack in our market for sustainable architecture that was affordable. - [Mark] Goodhouse13 has got about a 6.6 kilowatt system with a 5 kilowatt inverter and it's got a 10 kilowatt battery. The evidence is showing already that the energy consumption will be well and truly met by the power generated on site. - [Mark] We use Sunny Energy for all of our Goodhouses now. We work directly with Matthew at the design phase. - They work on designing sustainable houses which integrate solar energy-efficient air conditioning, and passive cooling and heating. We've worked in with Mark on these projects to come up with a solution that's going to bring as close to a zero carbon emission house as possible. - [Mark] It's such a changing market. What we've found in this area is that it's really important to have an expert on the team, and so, Matthew is essentially that. It's very clear that Matthew is up with all of the latest technologies and knows his stuff, so he can talk confidently about all the systems that I require. - [Matthew] Goodhouse has been using the LG panels because of the reputation that the LG product has in the market. When we put these LG panels in, they'll be on the roof for 25 years and producing good power for that period. - I always tell our clients that there will be cheaper systems out there. You will open the newspaper and you will see cheaper systems. But we're actually designing and delivering something for the long term, something that will last, and something that will continue to work into the years. - You really need to think about the quality of the panels and the inverter that you're putting in, and the quality of the insulation because as a package, it's a long term investment. - [Mark] I think with anything in the building industry what you want, or the people you want on your team are people who are motivated, that know their stuff, and they're ethical. So, I think Sunny Energy certainly has those three things. I've always found Matthew to be excellent to deal with. He's always the same, he always answers the phone, and they're the things that are really, really important to a company like ours. We want the trade to answer the phone, answer our questions, and get on well with clients and Matthew does all of those things very well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HRs09s1kmb4 2.40 2023-05-18T19:55:57.477Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-help-eliminate-the-power-bills-of-a-165-yr-old-home-in-regional-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/lq1jX_Fi6sE How did solar power help eliminate the power bills of a 165+yr old home in regional Adelaide? - [Brad Mader] This is the old coach house in Daveyston, roughly 1854. To run this house, biggest expense is in winter time. Old stone building, gets very cold here in winter, it's very hard to get warm. So, yeah we use a lot more energy in winter. In summer time it's not quite so bad unless we have a massive heat wave. - [Mick Flak] Those older homes, a lot of them are constructed from stone and take a long time to heat and cool. You get too big a building, periods of the year typically for power consumption you're contributing quite a bit more to either cool or heat those styles of homes. - [Brad Mader] The energy consumption is slowly, prgressively going up every year and you see the costs spiraling, not out of control, but you just kind of realize you got to do something. Hence, we went for some solar. Shopped around a little, but basically I was getting phone calls from telemarketing and then I went Oh, sounds too good to be true, their deals and then I contacted Town & Country Solar and then they actually steered us in the right direction. Very friendly, just professional. But still they're old fashion country sort of just-- We're country people here, and we got a long really well. So, it was just a simple easy procedure to go Yes, we're going to pay you to do this job, instead of someone that we didn't know who was actually obviously going to outsource the work to some other mop that you're never going to meet. So, this guy we could actually probably drop into Gawler and see him. So, yeah he's very approachable. The cheapest systems with their warranties and things like that, definitely not as good. They kind of give you a warranty and then it's you read through the fine print and it's not the same as what you get with an LG panel. - [Mick Flak] They've definitely wanted to go quality over a cheaper alternative, and that really is based on having a maintenance free solar system well into the future and one that's backed and supported well by us and LG. - [Brad Mader] I guess every time you skimp on something, especially when it's something quite substantial, and it comes back and bites you on the bottom and it costs you twice as much. So, if you saved a few dollars you're not going to save in the long run. So, do it right the first time. Yes definitely, I recommend Mick and Town & Country Solar to anyone. Everyone should definitely have a look at their-- Definitely number one on my list. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lq1jX_Fi6sE 2.42 2023-05-18T19:55:54.327Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-it-important-to-invest-in-a-high-quality-solar-system-to-reduce-the-cost-of-living https://www.youtube.com/embed/dO3Rixo4C7k Why was it important to invest in a high quality solar system to reduce the cost of living? - I hate when a brown envelope comes in from the letterbox. We always know it's going to be a large power bill. So yeah, just trying to get all of our power bills down. I'll say it's air-conditioning and heating, the kids always seem to leave lights on in the house. The washing machine and dishwasher always seem to be going. They're always full. - We're looking at about two and a half to three thousand dollars a quarter for our bills. So we really needed to do something with that. - [Chantel] We work hard for our money, so every time a power bill goes you don't see where your money is going. Seems to be here the bill comes in, you pay it and you don't have anything to show for it. It just all adds up, you've got sports fees, you've got school fees, water bill... how much they eat... So, yeah, just everything adds up. - So customers really should think about the differences between cheap solar panels and cheap solar systems and good quality solar systems. The biggest difference is typically the term of which those systems will operate. So the long term reliability of better product is going to offer a far better return investment over time. - [Adam] We've had a cheaper system before and it's done nothing for us. We blew our money on the first system so this one I think we're definitely going to be well and truly in front. - No, we were interested in cheap again. we had to go a decent system. LG has been around for years, it's a trusted name. Everyone knows it. So, as soon as Town & Country Solar told us to go with LG we were set. - [Adam] We're hoping to save the majority of our bill and probably put that straight into our mortgage so that we're saving, you know, a lot of money on that. - The typical payback period for most customers is 3-5 years with good quality equipment. And that 3-5 year payback period is really ensuring the reliability of the long-term investments that those systems can operate for. Typically in another 20 years, with a good quality panel. - [Adam] Definitely support the locals. I think that's a no-brainer. He supports some of the local footy teams. Sponsors those. So, he's putting some of his profits back into the community, so we need to support him. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dO3Rixo4C7k 2.40 2023-05-18T19:55:45.500Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-town-country-solar-helping-regional-adelaide-decrease-their-energy-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/SX8sY1IHeUk How are Town & Country Solar helping regional Adelaide decrease their energy costs? - [Mick] So I'm a qualified electrician. I work very, very hard in my business seven days a week and this is me in my very little spare time. My time goes to our customers. We do everything we can for our customers, and this is me when I've got an hour or two at the end of the day spare. That's the big thing, so we don't want people to think, Hey look, we're made of money. We're not, this is something, we're living our dream as we go. We're trying to have fun with our lives, do the things that we love, but the priority is our work and our solar business. We're installing 6.55 kilowatts, LG solar system, of course. I'll get up at 3:00, 4:00 in the morning and drive to Whyalla to go see a customer to explain the differences about their solar system. And that's things people don't do, you know, we give real, old-fashioned customer service. What are you doing, just making sure she's straight? Where have you measured, off the ridge? - Somebody that you know, that you know has got a good reputation in the area, so yeah, for me, I was always going to go that way even though I got other quotes, I was always going to go with Town & Country. - We've known Mick from Town & Country Solar for a few years now. I trusted him with the majority of the decision making. Mick and Town & Country have got a really good name. A lot of my mates have used them as well. - Yeah, look, I actually don't mention a lot of times that I'm a fully qualified electrician. I've been an electrician for over 20 years. Obviously have all the tickets, design, solar installation, battery installations. We're probably one of the most credible companies in South Australia. We'd have close to 6,000 installations in the state. - Yeah, definitely look after the local people. You go to all the bigger businesses, you're just a number. Going local, they know who you are, or they're happy to come back, or talk you through it. Rather than just ringing and talking to someone overseas. We just ring up Mick, and yeah, he'd help us out with whatever we needed. - Well, actually, as soon as I rung Town & Country Solar, and chatted with someone that actually gave me the correct facts and figures, then it was really quite simple. They were very easy to deal with, and yeah, come around and showed us basically what we'd be getting, and compared to the telemarketing, ah yeah, definitely, he was right on the money with it. - [Mick] For our customers that invest in better quality solar systems, more reliable solar systems, it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. And it's because my job or my role really is to help educate people, and show that the importance of quality over cheaper products is key to having a good reliable investment. There's probably two very key reasons that anyone would or should be looking at a quality solar panel system. Of course, the reliability, both in long-term performance, but also reliability of warranty. So, the scope of the warranty for an LG panel is fantastic compared to other products in the industry. You've got a 25-year product, parts, labor warranty, everything's covered. And again, certainly, you've got a company that everyone knows. So, quite a substantial backing support in Australia. - Well, definitely our power bill is a lot less. We're waiting for this next one, which, actually, we should get it this week, I would think. And definitely we're looking, it should be just about clearing itself, so, a zero payment. - Yeah, so far, so good. Oh no, I've had a good look at the product, and I'm very happy so far, yeah. - You know, that's the big thing. We work really, really hard to keep a good name and reputation. You know, you hear everything, and we're showing you a bit of ourselves, outside of that time. But you know, again, it's, our business, Town & Country Solar is the number one thing in terms of what we can do. Not only in solar and battery, but for our customers, that is the priority. It's not me messing around with my dogs or my sheep. I love doing that, and when I'm old, hopefully I'll have more time doing that. But today, again, the priority is to service our customers. But this is me in my spare time. - Town & Country Solar looks after the outskirts of Adelaide, as well as the wider South Australian areas. They use the LG panel because of the very sharp and harsh climate in the South Australian area. We have very good feedback about this team, and we highly recommend them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SX8sY1IHeUk 5.35 2023-05-18T19:55:10.701Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-a-high-quality-solar-system-helping-to-reduce-operating-costs-of-a-hydroponics-farm-in-sa https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Cg3avEsca8 How is a high quality solar system helping to reduce operating costs of a hydroponics farm in SA? - In 1997 we broke away from a broad acre arrangement that was part of the family business that my father started in 1955. In '97 I wanted to be a little bit more diverse in growing in the field so I looked at getting into hydroponics. We're planting around 25,000 to 30,000 individual seedlings on a weekly basis. The operation has three facets to it, so it has a team that works in the hydroponic arrangement. It also has a team that works out in the broad acre where we're supplying product into our processing. And it has our processing arm as well, and we also have a DC in the Adelaide produce markets. So we have in total around 30 to 35 employees. We have 24 hour continuous pumping for our hydroponic arrangements. We also have cool rooms that are continuously running 24 hours. And we also have the processing operation that consumes a reasonable amount of power during those working hours. - Our commercial clients are looking to insulate themselves from rising energy cost, so putting a quality solar panel system on, that would last a long period of time, is the ideal solution. - [Dino] We're looking at about $4,000 to $5,000 a month in savings, but predominantly, we use a lot more through the summer where we're getting more daylight hours which we're getting a benefit through the solar. We did have a smaller solar system in, and we saw the advantages of going to the bigger system. - The important factors and commercial jobs. The customers want to actually insulate themselves from future energy costs. You know, it's hard in South Australia. To combat the cost of electricity in this state, so by investing in solar, you can have a three to five year return. - And at the end of the day, we decided to go with LG and Generate Energy because LG is a massive company, know we would have backing from LG. And we were very confident that LG was the way to go, and we were very confident that Generate Energy was the local supplier. And LG also backed Generate Energy, which was very important to us. - Return of investment is all about regaining as much money as you can from a system making it last as long as you can. So choosing a better quality product is always going to last longer and be beneficial, particularly ones with high warranty like LG with a 25 year full product warranty, so you can guarantee that that system is going to generate power for 25 years. - [Dino] I'm a very happy customer and I'm now looking at putting in some ground mounts where I can use on my broad acre as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Cg3avEsca8 2.49 2023-05-18T19:55:06.101Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-common-problems-with-cheap-solar-power-systems-and-why-are-they-a-waste-of-money https://www.youtube.com/embed/mRTBbxuauSY What are the common problems with cheap solar power systems, and why are they a waste of money? - The panels that were on the roof were definitely dead. They had multiple issues and the best course of action going forward was to obviously remove those panels. - My initial expectations were that it would last longer than it did. The panels failed. The inverter, the initial inverter also failed. The panels that failed are probably still under warranty by law, unfortunately the company doesn't exist. - The job today is a fairly common occurrence. It's a sad conversation. You do get what you pay for, and it's a fairly universal principle. A cheap system, you've got to expect that it's not going to last long, and you're basically throwing your money away. - We have definitely found that there has been an increase in system replacements. This is mainly due to cheaper systems being installed or less quality workmanship. A typical install in the area if it's going to fail, will be sort of after the three year period. Any system will potentially last three years. After that three years with the Australian conditions you'll find that the systems are going to start to deteriorate fairly quickly after that point. - When Bathurst Electrical told us that there was no sensible option other than to replace the solar panels, I was more than a little disappointed when I went online and couldn't find the relevant company. However, you move on. Then we started investigating what today's options were. And Bathurst Electrical made a recommendation of LG panels. I said, Okay, I'll take that on board. Then hit the computer for a while, and came up with various reviews of those panels that are being installed now, as well as reviews of numerous other panels, numerous other options. And we decided to spend the money to get a LG, which has been around a while, and I expect will be around for a while as will Bathurst Electrical. So, that combination for us at this stage in our life seemed the best. - Yeah, it comes back to the same old thing, you pay for what you get. And if you're going to buy something cheap and nasty, you're going to get a cheap and nasty life out of it. And if you're going to buy a quality product like LG, you're going to get a quality life out of it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mRTBbxuauSY 3.11 2023-05-18T19:55:00.763Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-local-solar-power-specialist-help-you-get-better-power-production-in-the-blue-mountains https://www.youtube.com/embed/TMwy4aKt4UI How does a local solar power specialist help you get better power production in the Blue Mountains? In the Blue Mountains region, probably our biggest issue is the shade, neighboring trees, so each panel connects to an optimizer and that will negate any shading issues that we see on the roof as a whole, where one panel doesn't drag down the others and have a negative effect and then coupled with an LG panel, we're going to see really good efficiencies and outputs from the system. Well, the more research the customer can do, then the better understanding that they have of the products that are out there, the better decision they will make at the end of the day. During a site visit, while sitting down with a homeowner, we'll always ask about, first of all, how much they're using in the home in terms of their power usage, but also when they're using it and how the house runs. That effects how we design the system, where the panels go, how many panels go in a particular direction, so we weigh all that up on a case-by-case assessment, and it's not just an out-of-the-box solution. The investment into high quality solar and the resulting longer warranties is definitely going to mean less of a headache going forward. LG has a 25-year product and output warranty. The warranty is held in Australia with LG. Their offices are in Eastern Creek, which is nice and close to us. Oh, there will definitely be companies out there that have a slap-it-on attitude, sales guys that need to make their commissions, so sign on the dotted line and off you go, and then they pass it on to a subcontractor that, it may be their first day on the job, and you've just signed your money over, and you don't really know what you're going to get. So, that definitely still exists in the industry for sure, so polar opposites to what we're trying to achieve. Our commercial clients, more often than not, the financial benefit will be in the forefront above the environmental benefit, but with a good quality solar system, it's really a no-brainer with any sort of investment. Around 12 months ago, we did a 100 kiloWatt install for J.K. Williams, which is an earth moving civil contractor. We've seen that the expected payback period is well and truly going to be met before the predicted time. Yeah, we're using LG 325 watt panels there. They run offices there during the day, but they also have virtually around the clock maintenance on their machines. In conjunction with the solar saving them a huge amount of energy during the daytime, we're also payable to identify a significant amount of waste that was happening at night time and save energy and save money. So, a recent installation at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains on the East Skyway site for the Skyway cable car. It's off-grid, so they can't get any supply off the grid to that site, so, yeah, in conjunction with LG 330 watt bifacials and a battery, we've created an off-grid system, yeah, and they're running just with no additional roof space, no additional infrastructure. Yeah, they're running all that additional hardware. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TMwy4aKt4UI 4.10 2023-05-18T19:54:57.288Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-help-achieve-better-environmental-outcomes-for-homeowners-and-businesses https://www.youtube.com/embed/9v5olcRjGCY Why does a high quality solar power system help achieve better environmental outcomes for homeowners and businesses? - Clients, particularly in the Blue Mountains, there's the financial question around how much is it going to save you, but I think there's always the underlying environmental benefit of what solar can do. At the forefront of their mind is the climate change issue and, yeah, people just want to do the right thing. - Renewable energy is the way to go. We've got to stop using fossil fuels as much as possible. We've got to look after our environment for ourselves and for the future. - [Dean] Lower quality panels that may not last their warranty period or may not be backed up by a company in 10 or 15 years, the byproduct of that is that that panel could end up worthless and in landfill. Yeah, and you're certainly not going to see that with an LG panel. - We've put on high quality panels with this latest installation. We've got LG panels. I'm very pleased to buy very good quality components because I don't want things to go off to landfill. - The investment into high quality solar and the resulting longer warranties is definitely going to mean less of a headache going forward. They want to make a solid investment that's going to sit up on their roof for 25 years without any stress. - We're now completely self-sufficient with our power. I think we've paid about 18 cents in power since we put these on. - They're probably twice the efficient and we're getting more power out of the sun with the new LG panels, fantastic. - [Dean] In looking at a solar system and looking at what will be high demand appliances in a home storage battery or an electric car, the additional load that the battery or car will bring was when you're going to need to get as much as you can off the roof. So high efficiency panels will mean you're going to get the most out of your roof space. In general, a residential installation payback period will be sort of four to five years for a standard grid connect system. The systems pay for itself in five years time and it's going to sit on the roof without any problems for another 20 years, and, yeah, continue to make money. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9v5olcRjGCY 2.20 2023-05-18T19:54:53.724Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-high-quality-solar-help-berembed-station-reduce-the-costs-of-their-cattle-farming-operations https://www.youtube.com/embed/VWphyqIr0HA How did high quality solar help Berembed Station reduce the costs of their cattle farming operations? - We have approximately 1000 breeding cows that equates to about anything between two and a half and three thousand head of cattle on a property at any one time. Basically our main income in the last couple of years has been livestock. - Berembed Station's one of the oldest stations in the Riverina, they're a big cattle station, so he came to us to look at putting solar on the station, to help offset some of their running costs for pumps and their workshop, so we helped develop a system to save them some money in the farm. - We were noticing the big savings for us is all those summer months when we're using the water. I reckon our power bill is 50% cheaper over summer than what it was before. - [Alex] Berembed Station has quite a large homestead, and they have quite a big irrigation system. They also have a number of cottages for the workers there, and another big bore pump that is used for irrigation and stock water, so they have quite a large power consumption for the property. - The panels he put up I know got better and better over the years, he recommended, I think the LG panels and we haven't had an issue at all with them. I think it comes down to longevity, we're out in the bush here, we don't want to be mucking around with things failing us, so always tend to look for the better quality machinery and suppliers, it was a no brainer for us, we'd rather buy something that we know is going to have a better lifespan. - [Alex] Yeah so we did some maintenance there today at Berembed Station, and we just checked some of the array voltages, checked for the cables, make sure everything, all the frame was secure, we do take care in making sure our systems are performing well and that our customers are getting that maximum result that they paid their money for. - Being a local fella's a huge advantage for us too, there's plenty of solar companies around that can come and go from Sydney, or Melbourne, or Brisbane, or wherever, but being a local supplier, that meant a lot to us with local employees. - This is one of the things, we want to make sure we build that relationship with customers. That's what we enjoy the most about working in the Riverina we have those solid foundation relationships. - A lot of guys I know, are always surprised that more people haven't got solar on. Maybe the initial cost upsets them a little bit, but really the payback period is insignificant, we're talking about three or four years and you're done and dusted, then your power's a hell of a lot cheaper. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VWphyqIr0HA 2.43 2023-05-18T19:54:50.148Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-products-and-expert-installers-if-you-re-in-the-riverina https://www.youtube.com/embed/pUdApFAVDB8 Why should you invest in higher quality solar products and expert installers if you're in the Riverina? - Yeah, born and bred in Wagga. Lived in Wagga all my life. So we've been operating since 2009. We've done thousands of systems from ranging from residential right through to commercial properties. I guess, yeah, we're specialists with a lot of runs on the board in the Riverina region. You don't have to travel out of town. You can stay local and get that experience that's here in our team. The main clients are residential, rural and commercial clients. We do a range of different products. We also travel quite a distance to do some off-grid battery systems where people are in remote areas. - Because I have each a connection to the grid, half a kilometer up the hill or half a kilometer down the hill, and both were going to be quite expensive for me to hook into. And as we're on decomposed granite here, and it's very difficult to dig through inexpensively. So the cost was a factor. - [Alex] So off grid systems we do for a lot of new homes, that are built in remote areas. It's very expensive for these customers to connect to the grid. And I also, I guess once they're connected, they have the peace of mind that they're living off the grid, free of energy bills. - I think that it's worth doing the research and finding out the best system for your area and the best quality. Long term it pays off because it will last longer and you'll get better service. - Exactly. Any electrical industry, I believe you get what you pay for. You want to make sure you invest your money in some good quality components that are going to last a long period of time, give you a high savings, low risk and yeah have that backup as well with a local company like SolarWise Wagga. Yes, it certainly pays to invest a little bit more once it's installed and you've recouped that money, you're miles ahead particularly long term. You know, that's when you start to really make the benefits. - It's been fantastic. It's nice to get a few bills that are credit. Never seen an electricity bill with a credit in my life. I think the first seven bills 'cause we get billed monthly now on a smart meter. They are all credit. Performance has been fantastic. You know, some days I've had the system producing up to 90 kilowatts in a day, which is just phenomenal. - [Alex] That we always couple high performance panels like LG with high performance inverters. I guess the products is only as good as they're installed. We take a lot of care in our installs. So yeah, we don't just have a cookie cutter approach. We want to customise a solid design to help meet the customer's load profile and energy requirements. - Well, I think the LG panels have a reputation for being able to produce at a higher temperature rate. So in hot summers here, the performance of the panel can suffer a bit with the heat. And I think LG is a bit better in that regard. - We get very extreme weather conditions. So we either have very hot temperatures in summer and extremely cooler temperatures in winter. So we like the LG panels because they do perform very well under hot conditions. They have a better temperature power efficiency than a lot of the lesser grade panels. So you'll get more kilowatt hours in summer. And even under the lower light conditions, particularly with overcast days, we find the LG panels perform a lot higher than some of the other panels in marketplace. We have a number of solutions for farms, and they are one of their great customers. - Well it's been fantastic, very professional. They're are pretty easy to deal with and life will go ahead, I like that. I highly recommend it. - So we do take time to sit down with farmers, analysing these, look at their electrical infrastructure and to try and maximize you know whether it's roof space or ground mount. With invest in high quality solar, there is a lower risk. You know generally, if you buy a high quality products, it does cost a little bit more. But you have that peace of mind and you know generally they come with a longer warranty because they're built more robust. The company that sells them like LG will back them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pUdApFAVDB8 4.23 2023-05-18T19:54:47.075Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-the-bakehouse-utilise-the-orientation-of-high-quality-solar-panels-to-offset-it-peak-energy-periods https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvGGc7I76zE How did The Bakehouse utilise the orientation of high quality solar panels to offset it peak energy periods? - [Troy] So, my name is Troy Bryce. And we are part of the Bakehouse Espresso Group. We have bakeries on the south coast of New South Wales, located at Huskisson, Nowra, Sanctuary Point, and we have a retail outlet at Woollamia Industrial Estate. Yeah, we're fairly energy hungry, in the sense that we are on a large power-consumption site, so solar has presented itself as a viable option for us. - Yeah, the commercial side of power, he was using one of the energy providers that uses a sliding scale. And obviously, the more power he uses, the higher the costs. So, while it's generating power, and it's lowering his consumption, it's also lowering his tariffs. So, it's benefiting him from, basically, a two-fold effect. - [Troy] Our predominant energy use would be our oven. We're located in an area that doesn't have natural gas, so bottled gas is always a problem. So, we are running on electric ovens. The cost relating to that is quite significant on mains power. Yeah, so, the costs of refrigeration, they're running 24/7, so freezer workers are constant throughout the day. As the day heats up, there's more traffic movements, more door-openings, and that costs us more for the refrigeration freezers to run. - Because the business basically works, well, it operates 24/7. It was more important for us to get the power operating earlier in the morning, so we put half the system facing east. So, we then opted to put the rest facing north, and that was just going to pull a heap of power during the middle of the day, which was sort of where they were starting to wind up. - The main outcome was to improve our bottom line. Obviously, there's a cost there, that you've got to put that cost out there, and endeavor that it's going to return in four, five, or six years' time. But the purchase of the LG product was derived, basically, due to quality. And we found that the LG one stacked up with its warranty claims, its performance in low light, and also the ability to use optimizers. I think that is some of the key attributes to use of the LG panel. And also, the LG company's been well-known, and you know that they're there for many, many years, to give you that warranty period. - In terms of how that system is performing for the business there now, you know, it's definitely something that he's very happy with it, performance-wise. - [Troy] We're happy with the system and the install, and we know we will have a quality product that'll be for many years to come. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvGGc7I76zE 2.53 2023-05-18T19:54:43.693Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-investing-in-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-if-you-re-on-the-south-coast https://www.youtube.com/embed/ptmPhp57Bk4 What are the benefits of investing in higher quality solar power systems if you're on the South Coast? - The area we're dealing in, we've got the mountain behind us and we've got the sea at the other side of us. We do get a fairly good spread of challenges. The higher quality systems will give you a longer life that will generate more power and they'll generate better power over a longer period of time. Today we're in Shoalhaven Heads, removing some existing panels off a roof and replacing them with a full new system. Quality old panels wasn't great, there was a few issues with the installation as well. The panels had micro-cracks in the cells which come up as snail trails, which is going to affect the efficiency of the panel, performance of the panel, backed up with a cheaper Chinese-brand inverter. They just weren't going to get anything out of the system and hence, wanting to pull that one off and replace it with a bigger system or a full system. We put an LG system model using the NeON2 355 plot panels. Given the layout of the system is going to be generating somewhere between on a good day, 30 to 34 kilowatts a day. The old system was generating, I think about five kilowatts a day. With a better quality product, we get better power production. That power production, it's going to go for a long time. So if we were talking about a 25-year manufacturer's warranty, which is what LG puts out there, then they're not going to put a 25-year warranty on a product that's only going to last for six, seven, eight, 10 years. So again, the value for money is that the product is going to last a long time. You can buy the cheap stuff, you can buy the cheap stuff twice. You can buy the good stuff once, and you're still paying the same amount of money. So yeah, do it once and do it well. Considering most businesses are a nine-to-five-type business, solar is absolutely perfect for 'em, it gets daylight hours. People in business are there for the long haul. If you put good quality product in, then it's going to be there for the long haul as well. People in business understand the quality issues. - There's a plethora of systems out there, and a plethora of panels available, and we found that the LG one stacked up with its warranty claims, its performance in low light, and also the ability to use optimizers. I think that is some of the key attributes to use of the LG panel, and also the LG company has been well-known and you know that they're there for many, many years to give you that warranty period. - [Michael] Commercial customers really need to ensure that the goods, the services that they're getting from me are going to be sustainable, that it's going to work for their business. They understand that having good quality product that's got good support, good service, they're paramount to the investment that they're making. - There's a lot of companies out there that want to provide solar to you and they are not locally-based. We want to support local people, predominantly because it gives us the ability to make that phone call to 'em locally and they'll be here within half an hour. Michael certainly has that degree of comfort when you talk to him, and by doing that he puts you at ease, we work through any issues and silliest questions that you might have are part of the process, he can come through and answer quite simply. You need to embrace solar, you need to do your research, and I think the main thing is find someone that you're comfortable with. - As LG progressively changed panels, brought new panels out, I've put them on the roof so I can monitor the performance of the panels. I've got one lot of LG panels up there that are just on five years old, and they're performing pretty much every bit as good as the day they were installed. The thing that I really, really like with the LG product is that I do have one panel sitting close to a flue up there and you can see the difference in the power generation in the morning, but when you compare that panel to the others in the afternoon, the difference is very, very little. So, it just again, gives me confidence where I know there's a shading issue. I know that when I put the LG panels up there that they're going to take it. There's some other Chinese panels up there which I use to show people basically, yeah, if you want Chinese, this is what you're going to get. When you compare the LG panels to the others, then yeah, we're head and shoulders above. - When you deal with the quality products, and you're dealing with quality companies, it's not hard to get that service. And that's why I deal with the people I deal with, and that's what my customers deal with me. So it's more about quality of product, longevity, and confidence, knowing that the product's going to be there for a long time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ptmPhp57Bk4 5.15 2023-05-18T19:54:40.569Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-homeowners-in-jamberoo-overcome-their-solar-power-shading-issues-to-save-1200-per-quarter https://www.youtube.com/embed/aQWZfiMI3Zo How did homeowners in Jamberoo overcome their solar power shading issues to save $1200 per quarter? Well, it's a fairly big home. It's four bedrooms and then we've got a pool house, which has another room. We also have a swimming pool, of course. It is a house that uses a considerable amount of power, even though there's only two of us. When we first moved here, we in fact inquired about solar, and we did on two separate occasions but this was shortly after we moved, and the people that came out said, I'm sorry, it just wouldn't work because you do go into shadow, in winter especially, fairly early in the afternoon. And they said it just wouldn't pay. - The first two quotes said not possible, and they we went to a talk with Energy Experts, and Caro said she could come out and look at our property, and see if it was possible. - Realistically they don't actually have that much shade but it travels across the roof at different times of the day and different times of the year. And so when they heard about this optimized, inverter technology, they're like, all right, maybe we can install solar. - The use of micro inverters is important. So each panel can operate independently of one another, so if there's any shade on aspects of the ray or the panels, it's not going to impact the rest of them. - Our bills when we first started, I think when they were at their worst, they were somewhere between $1200 & $1500 dollars a quarter. Our last bill, which we got from them, we had a credit of $35 dollars, so it works. It works well. - The client wanted the best that was available, and LG NeON R panels are the best that are available. They also had a big bill and limited roof space. They've actually got lots of roof space, but where they wanted to place the panels meant that they could only have so many panels. So obviously if you want to achieve a given system size, you need more efficient panels, and that's why they went for the best. - Oh, we had lots of smiles lately, because our last bill. We actually are in credit, which is wonderful. And I think the fact that we're harnessing this natural product up there, the sunshine, is very, very important. I think we should be using as many things as we can to help our planet be a greener place and a better place for future generations. - We would be only too happy to recommend the Energy Experts, they've been fabulous to us. - You can get around the shade issue, if you have the right technology. - And you're not horrified when you get your electricity bills. It makes you a much more pleasant person. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aQWZfiMI3Zo 2.49 2023-05-18T19:54:37.400Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-is-it-to-match-high-quality-solar-panels-with-more-expensive-inverters-and-components https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSl1LVL1NA8 How important is it to match high quality solar panels with more expensive inverters and components? A huge emphasis on our meetings that we have with our clients, is the push on quality. The old saying of, you get what you paid for, is no more true in solar, then it is in whole other areas. But people just really need to understand that if you are going to pay a small amount of money you will generally end up with something that is going to last you a very short time. The company that's installed it, will not be around to try to warranty it. The manufacturer that made those panels or the inverters, will not be around to honor their warranty. And ultimately you're left holding the bag. The point of matching great quality panel, like LG, with a really poor quality inverter will get you a poor result. Because you will have a panel that will last the test of time, will last 25 years. You match that up with a poor quality inverter, in two years time you'll have a system just sitting there doing nothing; until you realize it's doing nothing. That's money lost, that's coal power that you've consumed lost. For no reason, other than just choosing a really poor inverter. So match it up with the best panel that you're able to afford, with the best inverter that you're able to afford. That combination of the two will get you the best result and the best outcome for yourself. All of that intertwined with the quality installer making that installation. We always go in explaining these are the values and the qualities that LG's bring to the table. And this is what we chose to match it up with, a compatible inverter that also has that same emphasis on quality and product warranty and end result for the user. That's it. So it's really really important about that. Quality panels, quality inverter, quality installation will get you that quality result. It has to all coexist together. Yes, it pays to have a quality installer to carry out your installation in your home. It's all well and good to use great quality product. But if you have a great quality product installed very poorly, then you'll end up with a poor result. You could have really crappy product installed by a great quality installer you'll have a poor result. So, they come hand in hand. Quality product, quality installation, quality results. Satisfied customer. For us, all of our systems, we also actively monitor all of our installations. So, minimum once a month, we go through all of our installations and all our systems that are online. We insure that they are working the way that they should be working. If they are not, we will proactively contact the owners and advise them, Look this is doing this, we're going to come out and see what's going on with it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSl1LVL1NA8 3.13 2023-05-18T19:54:32.421Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/are-there-any-safety-issues-to-consider-if-you-re-buying-a-solar-storage-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKmQxCCGu3I Are there any safety issues to consider if you're buying a solar storage battery? Generally speaking, any battery that's on the CSE battery assurance list, will be safe. There has been others that have come onto the market and there has been a few cases of fires with batteries. But those are systems that aren't compliant to the new international IEC and UL battery standards. We recommend making sure that the actual batteries are compliant to the UL 1973 battery standard, and if it's an all-in-one system, compliant to the IEC 62619. We have our isolation box. So, within this actual box, we have a range of different protection devices. We've got all our AC breakers which you see here, so this is protection for the actual system to isolate it. We have our temperature control, and also within here, we have a monitoring device for the actual system, and behind here hidden away, we've got our smart VPP functionality as well. So, we find performance and safety really important obviously for our business, but also for our consumers having our battery systems on their property. There's a whole range of different international and local standards that we need to comply to. We see quality as the main thing for success for our customers but also for our business. So, we've entrusted our key technology and components within the systems to be well-established and trusted brands. So we always recommend going with a trusted, reputable installer, who would often be choosing reputable brands. So well-established brands that you would have heard of most likely anyway. Important is the actual brand of battery technology within there. So we definitely recommend speaking to an installer to get feedback on your site. Do a lot of research online to make sure that you're choosing the right products. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKmQxCCGu3I 1.46 2023-05-18T19:54:29.158Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-the-size-of-a-solar-power-system-effect-the-investment-in-a-solar-storage-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/OZwgzmOGCl4 Does the size of a solar power system effect the investment in a solar storage battery? Yeah definitely the size of the solar array up on your roof will affect the amount of battery storage that you'll need in your home. What's important to understand, is what your, how much energy you're actually using in the home, and how much you're exporting back to the grid. Basically what you're exporting back to the grid is the amount of storage you can put into the battery. So you've got to make sure that that ratio is right. Generally at the moment, as a rule of thumb, it does make a lot of sense to oversize your solar system. If you're just doing solar, or solar plus a battery, there's some pretty friendly government incentives and rebates out there which is really offsetting the cost of the solar panels. So if you've got the roof space, we say load up as large as you can typically. And that would give you the best return. There needs to be an assessment by a qualified installer who can look at your bills, find out how much you're exporting and importing, whether the battery is worthwhile for you, or if maybe you need more solar generation. Please make sure you're using the right quality gear within there, so you know the quality of panels and inverters within that system. It's definitely possible to have a AC couple battery system on your home, without having an actual solar array on your roof. You could be potentially purchasing the electricity off peak rates, so maybe from midnight to 4:00 AM, and then discharging during peak times, later in the day, in the afternoon. It's not very common because there's not a great cost benefit from doing that. It's a lot more cost-effective to be charging from your own solar generated energy, that you would have been exporting anyway. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OZwgzmOGCl4 1.36 2023-05-18T19:54:24.589Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-i-need-to-upgrade-my-solar-inverter-if-i-want-to-add-more-panels-or-buy-a-storage-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0v3LSjni7s Do I need to upgrade my solar inverter if I want to add more panels or buy a storage battery? You may need to upgrade your inverter, if you wanted to utilise, or have more solar on your site. So a lot of homes mainly have one and a half or two kilowatts of solar, but they want a battery. So, if you wanted to utilise that battery, you're going to need more solar on your roof, to be able to charge that battery up. So there's a few different options. It may be, your inverter's getting a bit old as well and it may be at the end of it's life, or getting close to it. That's where you may want to upgrade your inverter, and that's where you can connect a battery to it. So I would recommend if you're looking at getting a solar system now, look into getting a battery at the same time. So you may not be doubling up on the amount of inverters that you're investing in, but you can get a hybrid system, that can charge the batteries, but also have the solar panels directly connected to that. If batteries aren't right for you right now, they maybe in the future. So look at just potentially getting a hybrid inverter with your solar array, and then you can add a battery later on. It's generally not plug and play. There needs to be an assessment by, you know, a qualified installer, who can look at your bills, find out how much you're exporting and importing, whether the battery's worthwhile for you, or if maybe you need more solar generation. But in many cases, it does make sense to do it. Then you also have the added benefit of having backup power as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0v3LSjni7s 1.20 2023-05-18T19:54:21.841Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-a-solar-power-and-solar-battery-system-for-a-home-in-australia https://www.youtube.com/embed/V9Ex2jXLGTg How much does it cost to buy a solar power and solar battery system for a home in Australia? The cost for residential battery really varies, there's varying quality of products. So consumers do need to be careful I guess, what they're jumping into. Prices will vary for a standard system around the 10 kilowatt-hour anywhere from $14,000 to $6,000, but that varies in quality. The most common solar system on the market would be a five kilowatt inverter, with 6.5 or 6.6 kilowatts of solar panels connected to it. The most common battery system for a residential home would be around that 10 kilowatt-hour kind of mark, that's the most suitable size for most homes. But like everything, everyone has different conditions and energy use profiles. The complete new system, so that'd be solar and a battery together, so maybe a five kilowatt inverter, a 6.6 kilowatt PV array and around a 10 kilowatt hour battery, you'd be expecting to pay around that $15-16K, $17,000 for a quality system. If you're just looking to retrofit a battery and around a 10 kilowatt-hour system, that's probably more around the $8K to the $12,000 mark, depending on what battery you choose. If you have an existing PV system, yes, there is the option to add an AC version of the battery, so it's an AC coupled. So that will basically hardwire directly into your switchboard, and any excess energy that would be exported from your existing solar system will actually, before going to the grid, it'll be charging into your battery and then you can use that at night-time. For the average family, that's looking to invest in a battery or a solar plus storage system, I would recommend getting as much advice as you can. Speaking to reputable companies that can give you a good energy assessment of your property, and they'll be able to stack up and let you know if it does make sense for you. https://www.youtube.com/embed/V9Ex2jXLGTg 1.48 2023-05-18T19:54:18.789Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-research-did-doug-do-before-purchasing-a-solar-power-system-for-his-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/jXLOKBPMHm0 What research did Doug do before purchasing a solar power system for his home? Done quite a lot of research on solar panels prior to making this decision. We are in a quite a shaded environment here, which was going to present a challenge to many solar systems. My background is an electrical engineer, so therefore I was pretty keen on researching it pretty thoroughly. The web was a major resource to learn more about solar systems and what sort of panels, inverters, et cetera existed, and I got a number of quotes. Not so much interested in the end price, I was more interested in the technology that they were going to use and be satisfied that it was the best way to go. The panels were an important part of the criteria. I wanted to use a panel from a company that was sufficiently large that their warranty was going to still work after many years, i.e. the company wasn't going to go broke. When I compared quotes, I was cognisant of the price difference between various types of panels, and I took that into account. The key factors in choosing the solution really were a recognition that shade was going to be an issue. Shade is particularly challenging to more conventional solar design systems. So we had to choose a system which was going to perform well in shade. We needed a solar panel with a lot of efficiency because we needed the maximum performance, particularly with shade. Our roof space, despite being a large house, is rather limited in terms of what directions we could use, so we needed a really efficient panel. I wanted a panel with a long warranty both against workmanship and also performance. The pitfalls that I was worried about was the quality of installation, that was number one. I wanted to somehow get the best chance of getting a really good installer using really good products. The environmental factor's always an important one, and that's probably equally important as getting a return of investment on your money. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jXLOKBPMHm0 2.03 2023-05-18T19:54:15.317Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-main-reason-why-doug-decided-to-invest-in-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/cMF9dRkiJnE What was the main reason why Doug decided to invest in a solar power system? - My name is Doug Fraser, we are currently at Wonga Park in Victoria, Australia. We built this house 20 years ago, we really enjoy the open spaces and the bush. We've been looking at solar for probably a year now. The thing which got us over the line was the economies of solar now has reached the stage, where it's actually a better place to put your money than in the bank. The financial benefit that I calculate will be a return on investment of about 10%, which compares with interest rates at the bank now of significantly less than that. There's lots of calculators online now where you can calculate for various size systems with your power consumption habits of whether solar is a good prospect, and it is a very good prospect. We've always had rather large electricity bills. We're in a fairly large house, so trying to work out a way to reduce those apart from changing our consumption habits is something we've been looking at, and solar fits the bill. Yes, I'm worried about power prices going up. From when we moved here to now, I think power prices have gone up from four cents a kilowatt hour to about 30 cents a kilowatt hour. - Those black frames are looking really lovely. - And I think the surprise that I've had is how good the panels look. I wasn't that concerned about appearance, but seeing the panels go up now from a distance, I'm very, very happy with the appearance of the panels. - They're a nice looking panel, but yeah, it's ultimately it's the performance of the panels that's the real winner and that's long time and obviously, the quality. - Yes, absolutely. - So they should, you know, they look great on there. - Yeah, I'm very, very pleased. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cMF9dRkiJnE 1.47 2023-05-18T19:54:11.322Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-micro-inverters-help-overcome-the-challenges-with-doug-s-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/KuSJs4H_io0 How did solar power micro-inverters help overcome the challenges with Doug's home? We're in a almost semi-rural area, sort of on the outskirts of Melbourne and there's quite a lot of trees around here. There is shading on some of the roofs different times of the year. It's quite a challenging roof, it's got quite a number of orientations, a steep pitch. We had to get the right balance of performance and balancing it with the shading, so anything other than micro-inverters wouldn't really work on this job. Basically each panel operates independently, so if there's some shading, which there will be, that's not going to bring down the performance of the entire system, so micro-inverters you can put on any roof angle. It's not like string inverter where you can have maximum of two inputs. This really wouldn't work with this roof. We've got cathedral ceilings, so many different orientations. Micro-inverters really is the only solution on this one. This is actually a very complex job, but you've got panels on different orientations, we've got to get the wiring through cathedral roofs, we've got to deal with the steep pitch of course. So yeah, multiple issues on this job. And given that we had limited area to work with and quite a heavy electricity consumption to deal with, we had to maximise the yield out of the existing roof space, but it's going to deal with a large proportion of this customer's bills. https://www.youtube.com/embed/KuSJs4H_io0 1.23 2023-05-18T19:54:08.026Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-micro-inverters-on-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/i462VSOCYxw What are the benefits of using micro-inverters on a solar power system? We primarily use micro-inverters and that allows us to basically orient panels in multiple different directions, each panel operating independently as its own system, enabling you to be able to expand that system without having any limitations on performance of older panels, that may not have the same output as newer panels. Micro-inverter technology, it gets better yield out of the panels, each panel will perform at its maximum. If one panel is shaded in the system, it's not going to bring down the performance of another panel. We use micro-inverters because the system is infinitely expandable, so each panel operates independently with a micro-inverter to itself. Whereas with string inverters, basically you can be limited by the performance of the lowest performing panel. Safety is absolutely a factor, these systems are producing electricity. Part of the reason we use micro-inverters is they are a inherently safer product. In the micro-inverter market, it is excellent software so we can get a really good grasp on what the actual system is producing. Exactly if a panel has a failure, we would know straightaway which panel it is because each panel is independently monitored by the individual micro-inverter and we have a very, very, very low failure rate on these particular products. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i462VSOCYxw 1.43 2023-05-18T19:54:04.769Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-the-size-and-design-of-a-solar-power-system-need-to-be-customised-to-each-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/KEBlfYjdSGE Does the size and design of a solar power system need to be customised to each home? Designing and sizing a system properly is a critical first step, we will look at all aspects of a customer's needs. Each installation is different. You've got to customise it for the available roof space. You've got to customise it for the client's particular lifestyle, and that's not always their current lifestyle, it could be their growing lifestyle. If you're a family that's growing and you've got to choose a product that you feel comfortable with, that fits in with your budget, but also makes sense as a good investment. It's important to size the system correctly and design it correctly. We want to size the system so it's appropriate and it's going to give the correct return on investment. If you undersize a system, the customer's not going to be able to get the return on investment that it needs. Basically, it's going to consume all of that solar power very quickly, and it's then going to have to use power from the grid. That's not going to be a good investment. By the same token, we don't want to oversize systems for customers. We don't want to have them over-invest and never be able to use that power. They're going to be feeding everything into the grid at a lower rate. That is not a good investment. When we see that a customer is going to be using in the future, potentially using in the future, they can elect on our advice to basically put in a larger system. Or alternatively with our systems, they are infinitely expandable, so we can make a much better, more informed decision a year or two down the track after they've got some solar PV performance data coming into the system. We can advise them there. Do they put extra panels on, has battery technology become affordable enough to make it a good investment? We look at things holistically as well. So we might look at things like your hot water consumption. What are you using for your hot water? And we will often recommend things like heat pumps that will operate with very little electricity consumption, but it's using that power during the day, and effectively that's like a big battery because it's storing your hot water, but you're utilising low energy consumption and any of that energy consumption is coming during the day from your solar PV panels. When we get on site as well and you're up on the roof, there are some changes you need to make. You need to possibly reconsider the way things are done. We will pivot, if needed, on a job where necessary. If somebody has a last minute change and they want to add something, or they want to sort of delete something or change something around, we can accommodate those needs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/KEBlfYjdSGE 2.39 2023-05-18T19:54:00.549Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-solar-power-help-decrease-your-energy-costs-and-your-environmental-impact https://www.youtube.com/embed/NuYpTpznpUU How can solar power help decrease your energy costs and your environmental impact? Any decision to invest a fair amount of money into a solar photovoltaic system, obviously, there's a critical financial element in that decision, and that's a really important part of it, and something we always look at, the return on investment and the payback periods. But also of critical importance is the environmental benefits, and I think that is definitely a concern for our customers. An important concern, also along with the financial concerns and being able to get by. But this is one of those rare opportunities where you can put an investment in that you get a win financially and a win for the environment. I'm passionate about environmental issues. It's something that I got interested in way back in university, and I think it really resonates with me also having a bit of an economics background, that it just makes sense financially and also for the environment to be using renewables. It may be sometimes a secondary consideration for the mums and dads out there who are really trying to get by, but it is an important consideration. I know for me, when I put it in, there were two factors. Certainly, it feels good to be able to make a difference and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions going into our environment. To me, it makes absolute sense to look after our resources, to minimise the use of non-renewable energy, and to leave the world just a little bit better than the way you found it. It's just logical. We're doing it every single day. It's not that hard. It's achievable. It's financially the right decision to make. This is really a great feeling for me to come to work every single day and to be able to make an immediate impact on customers and on the environment. It's a good feeling to come home and say, You know what? Win, win. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NuYpTpznpUU 2.08 2023-05-18T19:53:56.166Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-can-go-wrong-if-you-choose-a-poor-quality-solar-power-system-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hfd-lbNi5sc What can go wrong if you choose a poor quality solar power system installer? Well, the installer is critical. I mean, they are the ones who are going to put it in. The quality of the install, you know, you could have leaks through roofs, we try not to penetrate roofs with our installs. How neat they will install it, how aligned everything is, how well the system is performing. If it's the electrical is done incorrectly, it's not going to work. Of course safety is of critical concern. You know, the actual electrical work that is done and the design and the installation, you've got to consider this is live power and you really want to trust the people installing that for you. Some of the issues that might happen if you use a poor installer, you can certainly have ingress into your roof of water, you can have electrical safety issues, you can have just a generally negative experience throughout where should something occur, a poor installer is one who is not going to come back when you need them. It absolutely pays to pick the right installer for the job. A good quality product can be installed poorly, but a great installation will match the product warrantees. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hfd-lbNi5sc 1.18 2023-05-18T19:53:52.687Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-the-energy-production-increase-if-you-buy-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fVpxRkUIWU Does the energy production increase if you buy a higher quality solar power system? Choosing a quality system is very important. You obviously want the panel to last, that's just a fundamental. You want your inverter or your micro-inverter to be reliable, to last its warranty period, but well beyond in fact. But also in terms of the performance and the yield of some of the products that we use, you'll get more yield per square metre on your roof. So when you've got a certain amount of roof space you want to maximise what you're going to get out of there. Firstly just on the performance, the performance drops off significantly with some of the cheaper manufacturers, even Tier 1 panels. Quality is about getting more power for a longer period, a better quality product that will last on your roof, they drop off at a much slower rate. And so you therefore, over the life of the system and the investment, over that 25 year warranty period for example, you're going to get a lot more out of a quality system than you will out of a inferior system. Reliability and performance is definitely a factor. We will advise our customers that you will get probably 10% better yield out of our products and our offering than you will out of a standard offering, not to mention the longevity of the product. Our customers are looking to make a sound investment. Our systems will take a little bit longer, they're a little bit dearer upfront, but you certainly get a better value investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fVpxRkUIWU 1.33 2023-05-18T19:53:48.662Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-problems-you-could-expect-if-you-buy-a-cheap-or-poor-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzImlGwOS-0 What are the problems you could expect if you buy a cheap or poor quality solar power system? To somebody who says that they want to put in something cheap, it's at their own peril, okay? It really bothers me to see people who are supposed to be representing the best industry in terms of making a positive impact on the environment, where you have to deal with people putting in inferior quality product, inferior service, and giving the complete opposite reputation to an industry that is actually, most of the people in it are there to do a good thing, to do honest work, and make it a little bit better financially and environmentally for Australians. Cheap and nasty panels and products in general, you get what you pay for, okay. Those products, they won't necessarily last very long. Generally, the companies that are selling them probably won't last very long. Your backup customer service, if that's not important to you, by all means, feel free to go with that. There's a lot of players in the solar market who are more about marketing than putting in quality product. They're there for a quick sale, but not necessarily there in the long run. All solar is not equal, and we have seen that throughout the market, and we've repaired solar that's not right, and fixed systems that are not right. And often those companies and those manufacturers are no longer here. So if you want to have a product that you know will be here in the long run, and you want to have a company that's going to be here in the long run, Yes, it comes with a premium price, but it represents value. And I think people are looking for quality. It definitely comes through to us that people are after a quality installation. Unfortunately in this industry there are some cowboys out there and some rogue operators, which is not pleasant. We steer away from that market. We prefer that our customer's going to have a good product for a long period of time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzImlGwOS-0 2.09 2023-05-18T19:53:45.416Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-avoid-low-quality-solar-power-systems-with-poor-warranties https://www.youtube.com/embed/F_OM0HnjhOA Why is it important to avoid low quality solar power systems with poor warranties? So homeowners are looking to partner with a reputable company that does an excellent installation, is going to be there in the longterm if ever required, and is going to be putting in good quality products and providing backup customer support. We find with our customers, and that's the customers that we deal with, they are discerning customers. They understand the benefits and the value proposition of good quality systems, as opposed to what we call crap solar. There is unfortunately, a lot of that in the industry. And many cowboys are putting in solar that is not really suitable for the Australian conditions, or they're putting it in and then they're not there to deal with any issues. Our customers are usually customers who are going to be there for the long term. They're prepared to make an investment and they want that investment to be a long-term investment. So they're looking for good warranties. Without a doubt, the importance of choosing quality has been seen by the departure from the industry of players who do big flashy marketing exercises, put in cheap product, and then are no longer there to service their warranties. We have many of those customers coming to us looking to rectify the problems. So I think the consumers are starting to become more and more aware of those particular types of operations out there, and are conscious that they want to choose quality. So they're looking for good warranties. We have a 25 year warranty on our panels, a 10 year warranty on our micro-inverters, and our install is warranted for 10 years as well. Our customers expect a good long-term warranty, but look a warranty is really just a backup. At the end of the day, we speak from experience and the amount of issues that we have with our product, because we use premium quality product, is negligible. https://www.youtube.com/embed/F_OM0HnjhOA 2.15 2023-05-18T19:53:42.139Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-the-time-of-day-that-you-use-electricity-change-the-design-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/HDoJ6a2HBfA Does the time of day that you use electricity change the design of a solar power system? We're definitely not just putting panels on roofs willy-nilly. We are definitely looking at when they're going to be using them, and where they're going to get the maximum benefit. We're trying to match it up with their consumption as best we can, or their future consumption requirements. So potentially we might be looking at a growing family. At what time of day will they be coming home into their house, and who don't necessarily want to put everything on North roofs, we might want to put more on the West roof. There are other factors sometimes not within our control, but for example, if we have a feed-in tariffs that are greater in the afternoons, perhaps having it on the Western roof is a better option. And even East roofs, we might look at East roofs. If they have a family and there's a big usage in the morning in that period before mid day, well, despite it not being the best orientation for maximum yield during the day, it might be the right orientation for this particular family. The time of day is a very important consideration. The traditional solar equation might suggest that that goes on your North roof, get the maximum amount of sunlight hours. That's not always the best situation if you're going off to work and not using electricity during the day. Sometimes it's best to orient those on the West or even the East roof and make use of the sun that's coming in the morning and the afternoon, before you go and when you come back from work. That being said, if you consider ways of being able to put your usage into the daylight hours. So if you can programme your dishwasher or your washing machine to come on during the day, there is definitely a way of making best use of the solar gain, rather than feeding it back into the grid, the feeding tariff being less than the charge. We are certainly not in the business of putting on systems that we don't believe are the right system for the house, whether it be that now for their present needs or for their future needs. We have a great reputation and we do that without trying to flog product onto people that's unnecessary. And that's why we look at the whole picture, rather than just trying to put a system that's too large for a household, or conversely, a system that's too small. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HDoJ6a2HBfA 2.21 2023-05-18T19:53:38.895Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-reputable-installer-optimise-a-solar-power-system-to-your-individual-energy-profile https://www.youtube.com/embed/4sYl99_KFDc How does a reputable installer optimise a solar power system to your individual energy profile? Each customer is different, and we look at each customer independently. When are they using their power? What are the other appliances in their house, such as hot water systems? And is there a way that we can look to optimise the usage and consumption, by using and aligning it with your solar production? It definitely pays to pick the right installer. All our installers of course are clean energy council accredited installers and designers. So we select to use only the best installers. Yeah, so it's important that the designer of the system and the person who's selling that system to you, actually designs it appropriately to match the size of what your electricity consumption is. The installer does make a huge difference to the system, the performance of that system. If they design the system incorrectly, you're not going to be getting a match between what your electricity consumption and the production of your PV system is going to be. If they instal it incorrectly and they use inferior product, and they don't put things in according to the clean energy council guidelines and electrical guidelines, it's not going to work. It's critical that you get the right people, in terms of specifying the right solar system for a customer. We've got to look at the orientation of the roof, the available roof space. We've got to look at the time that they're actually using the power, and ideally, they're going to want to align those with the production and the consumption. We want to optimise the benefit to the customer. We offer fearless advice. We're not afraid to, you know suggest whatever is the right product for a particular application, for a particular customer. And we will say no to a job if we don't believe that you're going to get the benefit out of it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4sYl99_KFDc 1.52 2023-05-18T19:53:35.449Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-homeowners-investing-in-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-with-longer-product-warranties https://www.youtube.com/embed/C76wcd5YgQg Why are homeowners investing in higher quality solar power systems with longer product warranties? What homeowners should be looking at with their solar power systems, is they should be looking at obviously something that's going to give them good yield. But I think importantly, they're going to be looking at quality products and having a good quality product that's going to last. Not just the panel, but the frame and the connections, everything. I think what homeowners are looking to achieve with their solar systems are basically they want relief from electricity bills. There's no real other way of saying it. I think everybody has a feel good factor to the fact that they're doing the right thing, but they want to have relief from their electricity bills. But what we find with the clients that we're dealing with is that they're often prepared to spend a little bit more upfront to put in quality systems, rather than putting in, what we call crap solar. It's definitely a good investment if you know that the product that you're going to put in is going to last 25, 30 years, headache free. Choosing a quality system is very important. You obviously want the panel to last, that's just a fundamental. You want your inverter or your micro-inverter to be reliable to last its warranty period, but well beyond. The 25 year performance warranty is almost industry standard, but if you look a little bit deeper and you get a look at those warranties, you can have the panels performing, but if you have the connections falling apart, or the frame falling apart or the glass going opaque, it's useless that warranty. But more important is the product warranty. With the products we use, that is far superior. The actual performance throughout the whole 25 years of life and beyond, we don't just talk about the warranty period, we talk about a product that can last even beyond there. Therefore over the life of the system and the investment over that 25 year warranty period for example, you're going to get a lot more out of a quality system than you will out of a inferior system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/C76wcd5YgQg 2.11 2023-05-18T19:53:31.748Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-commercial-and-agricultural-businesses-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-power-equipment https://www.youtube.com/embed/jWM2I_BlgMY Why should commercial and agricultural businesses invest in higher quality solar power equipment? In terms of the clients, commercial clients and the agricultural clients, well effectively everybody's looking for the same thing. They're looking to make electricity savings, so our commercial clients will definitely be looking at reducing their consumption during the day, they're in production, they've got lighting going, they've got equipment going, so we are looking at reducing that load during the day primarily. And with regards to commercial and agricultural customers, they're also looking for energy security. So for example, in the agricultural sector in dairy farming, you've got to keep your cows milked. So you can't afford to have your electricity go down and equipment not running, it actually reduces the annual yield if they don't get milked for 24-hours. Another part for the commercial and agricultural clients is energy security. So they will actually want to know that their equipment is running continuously, they're not going to have interruptions. Yeah look, you don't want to put in crap solar because what's going to happen is you're going to have to deal with that in 5 to 10 years. That's not good for you, it's no good for having to reinvest the capital, it's no good for the environment for having to throw away and dispose of more product, it defeats the purpose of the whole thing. Any decision to invest in a photovoltaic system, obviously there's a critical financial element in that decision, and that's a really important part of it, and something we always look at, the return on investment and the payback periods. But also the value over the full life of the system. You pay a bit more you get the benefits of the better yield, you get the benefits of the longevity of the product, reliability, trust in the warranty. You pay a little more but as we know you get what you pay for. So over the life of the product you're going to get a better return on the investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jWM2I_BlgMY 1.53 2023-05-18T19:53:28.502Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-helping-businesses-to-save-more-money-long-term https://www.youtube.com/embed/BNv-WKaIYsw How are higher quality solar power systems helping businesses to save more money long-term? So a lot of businesses are really trying to cut the cost of power. Every year they want to make that profit as high as they can, and if they can cut the cost of the power, then that's another element that's going to feed to that. At SolarWide, We've only recently purchased this property. Already of course, we've already put solar on the roof because we're a big believer in making that solar work. We run the power during the day, the solar produces in the day, we put solar on within the week of being here. So in our previous property, we had solar on the roof there, we didn't get a power bill at all. So we've seen it firsthand, we know that solar power really can save businesses big dollars every year. Solar power, it runs during the day and we find that most commercial clients are running the majority of their power during the daytime, works perfectly in line with solar. Most commercial customers get a payback in generally two to five years. Depends on the business, depends on their tariffs that they're on. Some are on demand tariffs which changes a little bit. One of the things is we come out to the site, look at the bills, look at the tariffs, look at your usage and work from there. Not all solar is built equally, as they say the poor man pays twice and with solar, it's especially true. Unfortunately over the years we've seen and we've replaced thousands and thousands of solar panels that were installed by cheap retailers, or cheap manufacturers that have now disappeared, gone bust and left the faulty system that isn't working. Solar power, it's going to instantly work, it's going to save you an awful lot of money straightaway, and a high quality solar power system is going to work for years and years, and decades and decades to come. It's really worth putting in a decent system at the start rather than going cheap. You know, if you go cheap, it's going to work for a short period, but eventually that system is going to fail. A little bit more spent at the very start can ensure that you've got a really high quality product for a very long time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BNv-WKaIYsw 2.00 2023-05-18T19:53:25.352Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-type-of-payback-period-could-you-typically-expect-from-a-solar-power-system-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/vbNYx67sMqQ What type of payback period could you typically expect from a solar power system investment? So with solar, we find that most people will get a return in of anywhere from sort of two and a half to five years, depending on your usage. Depending on whether it's a residential installation or a commercial installation, depending on time of usage. Payback periods can vary a little bit depending on whether it's a business or if it's a homeowner. Depends on your time of usage, depends on your energy pattern and your retailer. Most people generally cut their power bills and get a return on their investment, in around a sort of three to four year mark, some a little bit quicker, some a little bit longer. So five, six years ago, people just wanted to buy solar and cut their power bills. As the industry's developed we've sort of realised there's more and more of a demand for being able to monitor that solar power. If there's a problem you don't want to have to just wait three months till you get your next power bill. It's important that you're alerted to a problem straight away. Smart Meter enables you to be able to see not only how much power has been produced, but also how much power you're using in the house, how much power you're buying from the grid, or even better how much power you're selling to the grid. It really helps you get a grip of when to run the certain appliances, make sure your pull's not starting too early, make sure that you're timing your air-con usage correctly, and things like that. And all that does is it helps you save more money. We find that a lot of the time when people come to us they essentially have this sort of idea that solar power is going to be about three thousand, three and a half thousand dollars, because essentially that that's all they know. They see the ads on the TV for the budget dealers and that's fine. But when they start to do a bit of research and look at the problems with these systems and the importance with regard to quality, they soon realise it does cost a little bit more, not a massive amount, but you do get a system that will last an awful lot longer installed by a company, that's going to be around to service the issues, if there's anything that pops up. https://www.youtube.com/embed/vbNYx67sMqQ 1.58 2023-05-18T19:53:22.063Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-wattage-solar-panels-better-if-you-re-buying-an-electric-car https://www.youtube.com/embed/wdNvHnFMm3k Why are higher wattage solar panels better if you're buying an electric car? We're getting more and more inquiry now for people that are looking at purchasing electric cars. It's important to have a high quality panel, and a high wattage panel, that's going to minimise the usage of space on your roof. So, if you do decide to increase the size of the system in two, three, four, five years time, or whenever it may be, you've actually still got available space on your roof. So your 330, 340, 360, 365 watt panels, even. It really minimises the space on the roof, to ensure that you're getting the best out of the space that you've got, and hopefully leaving a bit of room for future expansion if you need it. When choosing solar, it's really important to get that sizing correct. Not only for your power usage but also for your roof type and orientation, time of usage, and any peak loads that can effect it. So, one thing we do is pop out your site, have a look at your power bills, discuss your requirements, look at your possible future expansion and what's happening with your power usage. A lot of people, first and foremost, are trying to cut their power bills down. That's the main goal for most people, but the added benefit of course is it's helping with the environment. Climate change is a pretty big issue. The more and more that everybody can do, the better for everyone. Yeah it's a win-win for everybody. You can save money and you can save the environment at the same time, protecting the environment for our kids future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wdNvHnFMm3k 1.27 2023-05-18T19:53:19.304Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-solar-panels-decrease-in-output-performance-as-the-temperature-gets-hotter https://www.youtube.com/embed/sJAEMhlRS-c Do solar panels decrease in output performance as the temperature gets hotter? It sounds strange, but solar panels will actually reduce performance and reduce output with higher temperature. All panels are only tested at 25 degrees and that's because there has to be a bar set for the entire world. And 25 degrees is the cell temperature that solar panels are tested at. Queensland's obviously an awful lot hotter than that. Our cell temperatures can get well into the 50's and 60 degrees. The hotter it gets, the worse that panel can perform. So it's really important to get a good quality solar panel that will handle that heat well. To ensure that, on those days where it's a hot day, you got your air-con cranking, the solar is performing at its max, not at its lowest. So our everyday business, day-to-day, is your mums and dads looking for solar power. Trying to cut their power bills down, make their cost of living a lot easier. You know, you look over the last five years, power bills just do not stop going up. We're here to make that easier. So when you're selecting a solar provider it's really important to get someone that's going to be there for the long term, provide any backup, if it's needed. You want something that's going to last. It's in a very, very harsh environment Up on the roof there, very, very hot. So, high quality solar power is really important. The cheapest systems will work for a short period, but they will degrade a lot quicker than a high quality solar power system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/sJAEMhlRS-c 1.28 2023-05-18T19:53:15.617Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-problems-that-can-occur-when-solar-power-systems-are-poorly-installed https://www.youtube.com/embed/ViPms_kM5go What are the problems that can occur when solar power systems are poorly installed? Installer choice is absolutely crucial to ensure that you've got a system that's installed properly and legally, but also a system that's installed in a way that it's not going to damage the panel, and that warranty will still be maintained if there is an issue. So a lot of cheap installers will contract the work out to whoever's the cheapest that week. That's one way of doing business, but it's never going to work out well in the long run. We've seen a lot of issues over the years. Unfortunately, I've seen fires, I've seen water leaks, I've seen installers that break tiles on roofs and just leave them. They don't tell the homeowner, or they might even just squirt a bit of silicone in there and hope that's going to be okay. And yeah, that'll last a couple of years, but eventually that silicone is going to break down and the roof's going to leak. That's not how we operate, but unfortunately, some companies do. If you focus on price, you're generally going to get corners cut. You're going to get lower grade products. You're going to get lower grade installation. It doesn't cost a lot more to get a quality system. And a quality system is going to last you for an awful lot longer and keep performing month after month, year after year, for many, many years to come. And you're going to be saving a lot more money with no downtime. So installation is one of the most important things. You know, product choice is crucial, but installation is just as important, if even maybe even more so. We'd rather pay a bit more for our installation team. Everything's done in house because it enables us to make sure that the systems are installed to the absolute highest standard. And our guys are trained, they know exactly what we demand and what we require, and the installation levels are exceeding that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ViPms_kM5go 1.52 2023-05-18T19:53:12.345Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-ignore-the-solar-panel-performance-warranty https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vn6weWvDo8s Why should you ignore the solar panel performance warranty? So a lot of solar companies will sell a solar system based on a 25 year warranty. Now, what most are talking about is a 25-year performance warranty and you know, that's really a worthless warranty. There's nobody in Australia that's claimed on a performance warranty that I'm aware of so far. However, the product warranty that is the main warranty. So performance of 25 years yeah, it doesn't really mean a great deal. But a 25 year product warranty, that's really important because you know that if there's an issue with the junction box or the backing sheet or the glass or the frame, it's all covered. And that's really important when you're installing solar because there's so many, so, so many solar orphans out there that have been installed by companies that have gone bust, and manufacturers that have gone bust, and there's no backup there. And when we're choosing a brand to bring into our range, it's really important to know that the company has been around for a long time, and they'll still be around in a long time if there's an issue. When you're buying solar, you really don't want to end up like, you know, I'm sure some of your neighbours have got solar power systems that the installers and the manufacturers have disappeared. We're very careful with our product selection to ensure that that won't happen. Essentially we're riding our whole business on these manufacturers. So it's really crucial that we choose good manufacturers at the start and they'll still be there to honour any problems, if the unfortunate event arose that we needed them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vn6weWvDo8s 1.26 2023-05-18T19:53:08.546Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-happens-to-a-solar-power-system-warranty-if-the-installer-or-manufacturer-has-disappeared https://www.youtube.com/embed/A-FKlq5RbVk What happens to a solar power system warranty if the installer or manufacturer has disappeared? Unfortunately, we do see it time and time again that people come to us with a faulty system, and unfortunately, there's nobody around to honour any warranty on it, and the only way is to rip the whole thing off and start again. Solar is meant to be a clean, green, environmentally friendly product, and unfortunately, some of it goes to scrap. But we get a lot of calls every day from homeowners, and it's the same story. That they bought a solar system five years ago, the installer's gone bust, the manufacturer's gone bust, there's no support for them, they don't know what to do. So they ring us and ask us to try and help them out. Really, these failing systems generally, because people have bought a cheap system at the start thinking that all solar is the same, and unfortunately, all solar is very, very different. There's a big difference from the bottom end of the market to the mid end of the market, and also to the top end. It's really important to do the research. Get a quality product and you really can't go wrong. It's a shame that all these manufacturers and installers have all disappeared. It's really important to choose someone, when you're doing your homework, choosing who to buy a solar system from, look at who they are. Is it all installed in-house? How long have they been around? What's their commitment to on-going business in the area? Because otherwise, you're really just asking for trouble. https://www.youtube.com/embed/A-FKlq5RbVk 1.22 2023-05-18T19:53:05.274Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-problems-with-low-quality-solar-power-systems-in-salt-air-environments https://www.youtube.com/embed/HxUy9i9H85w What are the problems with low quality solar power systems in salt air environments? We're located here on the Sunshine Coast. Our office is 700 meters from the ocean, it's 200 meters from the Saltwater Canal. It's really, really important to buy quality. Of course we do a lot of work around the area, and a lot of those businesses or homes are all in the same area we're in. You put a cheap system in this area, it's simply going to fail after a short period of time. So put on a decent system at the start it'll last forever, no dramas at all. We are based here, only 700 meters from the ocean. The salt mist is quite severe, salt with a cheapest solar panel will work its way in, it will find a way into the panel, which can degrade the panel, it can corrode elements of it. And often what we find is the first thing is, it allows water and moisture to get into the panel. Queensland obviously, the majority of Queensland's built along the coast with that we've got high temperature, high humidity, and high salt levels. It's really important that if you're putting solar on that, you buy something quality that passed all of the extra tests, to ensure that they are not going to be effected by salt mist. They will in fact warrant panels, right to the ocean and full salt mixed environments without a problem. Fully warrantied, 25 years for product, and 25 years for performance. A quality system will last the test of time and a cheap system might last a few years, if you're lucky. When choosing solar, it's really important to get quality panels, quality inverters, make sure the installers using quality isolators, quality cable. It's really important to get something that's designed to last for the long run, or you just end up with years and years of a headache. Pay a little bit more at the start, get a quality system and it'll work for a very long. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HxUy9i9H85w 1.48 2023-05-18T19:53:02.016Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-advantages-of-buying-a-solar-power-system-from-a-reputable-local-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/So--KnRJEQ8 What are the advantages of buying a solar power system from a reputable local installer? There's a lot of companies that are coming into the area from three, four hours away. Some even from interstate. We found that to be a bit of a problem, in that when there's a problem they just leave the homeowners stranded. They can't fix their solar power systems, they're not interested in coming back. We work in a small focused area to make sure that we can do the best for our customers, and action if we can, straight away. You know we can get there quickly, there's no waiting, waiting, and waiting until we come out there. Like unfortunately, some of the out of area companies do. We're locally based in a small area. We can easily get to you if there's a problem. Our bread and butter everyday is residential. A lot of the mums and dads that are looking to cut their power bills down, I guess that's what we predominantly focus on. So we specialise in solar power. Of course, we've got all our electricians. We are an electrical company, but we purely focus on solar power. We found a lot of your general electricians, they'll do one or two solar systems every month or every couple of months, and you cannot keep up with the quality demands. We're here for a long term. And yes, it's not the cheapest system compared to the budget dealers, but it's important to buy a quality system. It's going to last a long time, free from headaches, free from problems and importantly, it's going to save you more and more money every quarter which is the ongoing goal for everybody. It's really important to get something straight out, that works brilliantly, that is also installed brilliantly, and the backup is brilliant as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/So--KnRJEQ8 1.33 2023-05-18T19:52:58.526Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-get-an-onsite-assessment-before-you-purchase-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/7GrlhxtoxGw Why should you get an onsite assessment before you purchase a solar power system? So most of what we do is focusing on residential solar power. Mums and dads looking to cut their power bills down, save a bit of money. Some people looking to cut costs for the future, they're looking at retiring. So get the solar on now whilst they have an income, so that their ongoing costs are lower. We'll come out, we'll look at your current bills. We'll also look at, you know, if you're looking at planning on any future growth for your power bill. A of people are looking at buying an electric car next year or in a few years time. It makes sense to have a solar system that can accommodate that extra load if and when it's going to happen. There are things that we talk about with you when we're on site, run through your usage, and your time of usage is important as well. Because you know solar power only works in the daytime. If all of your usage is at nighttime, then we can discuss the options and the ways around that. Every house is different, you know, life isn't that simple, that every roof is the same. So we come out, we'll have a look at the roof. We'll look at the screw lines, we'll look at the structure of the roof, and see what we can actually do with the property. We'll also look at nearby shading from trees, from chimneys, things like that, because things like that are really really important. You don't want to have a solar system that's been installed in the shade because it's simply not going to work. A lot of homeowners that come to us, they got big bills, you know, some of them are $500, $600, $700, $800. Some of them are, you know a couple of thousand dollars every quarter. And the main goal that we find that most of them want to do, is try and cut that power bill down so it's more manageable. In some cases, we're even able to wipe that power bill out completely, depending on their usage and depending on their tariffs and they're things, you know, we'll come out, we'll do a full analysis and be able to run through the different options with you. If you're looking at buying solar, spend a little bit more at the start, buy it once, buy it right and don't cut costs at the start. Get a local company that to do it for you, and you can ensure that you've got a quality system that's going to last you decades and decades to come, and save you thousands and thousands of dollars over that time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7GrlhxtoxGw 2.03 2023-05-18T19:52:55.041Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-panel-optimisers-help-a-queensland-homeowner-overcome-their-roof-shading-issues https://www.youtube.com/embed/Quda6ZMUMlU How did solar panel optimisers help a Queensland homeowner overcome their roof shading issues? So today we're at Coolum beach on the Sunshine Coast. The homeowner here is looking to try and reduce their power bills. There's a few challenges with the roof, with the chimneys and a few trees around, so every panels been optimised with DC optimizers just to ensure that every panel will optimise as well as it can do. Some of the concerns with solar on this property is obviously the shade, with the chimneys and with a couple of trees around, and that's why we use DC optimizers to try and improve the effects of the shade, so that when one or two panels are shaded it's not effecting the whole system. So Coolum beach is located right on the coast. High salt environment, you really need to go for a quality system when you're installing in these kinds of environments. We've got 6.6 kilowatts of three 30 watt panels. And yeah, the homeowner here is looking to try and reduce the power bill as much as possible, so their ongoing costs are lower. So 6.6 kilowatt system in this location is expected to produce about 21 to 22 kilowatt hours per day. The homeowner here at Coolum's already got a solar hot water system to try and reduce their power bill, now the solar powers' the next step in that process of reducing the power bill and also helping the environment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Quda6ZMUMlU 1.12 2023-05-18T19:52:51.627Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-installed-by-a-local-business-important-to-greg https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgOFTGRuLgo Why was a higher quality solar power system installed by a local business important to Greg? My name's Greg Young, we're located in Minyama which is on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. We're quite close to the coast. We live in a salt water environment, and that was an important factor in the decision on our system. It had to work well in this environment and also be able to withstand relatively harsh environmental conditions. We had to plan the solar system in such a way that it would work well in a Marine environment. We're very, very close to salt water and we wanted solar panels and a racking system that was going to last. We needed a system that would stand up to the elements, particularly the harsh elements on the Sunshine Coast, very close to a salt water and a salt environment. A local installer is important. Not only does it, of course, support the local community, but you want somebody that's able to respond quickly to your needs. Hopefully you don't have any problems after a sales or service that you need but it's good to have somebody that's close by that can respond. Their understanding of my needs, their ability to work with me because we wanted to instal and engineer a system that was of course functional, met our performance, but also minimised the visual impact and the aesthetics on the house. When I installed a battery system, we acquired the battery system and had it installed within a week. And that's part of the benefit of them being a local supplier, and a local service company. The system that we installed has 18 kilowatts of capacity. We've got remote capability to be able to monitor the inverters and the system, including the battery. That's very important to us because we do travel. We do travel away from our house and we want to ensure that we can monitor it once we're away to check that everything's running okay. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgOFTGRuLgo 1.53 2023-05-18T19:52:48.478Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-key-reasons-greg-decided-to-install-solar-power-on-his-new-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/z8DIxtsy2Wc What were the key reasons Greg decided to install solar power on his new home? We've got an 18 kilowatt system. We planned the system not only of course for our own internal usage, but also with an eye to the future. We've recently installed a battery backup system, which is both for use during the evenings but also for emergency purposes. We also planned the system, such that in the future if we get in an electric vehicle, we're able to use it to charge the vehicle. We made the choice pretty much after we purchased the house. So we installed solar within six months of moving into this house. My calculation on the payback is probably around about five to six years, thereabouts. So we're very comfortable that this is a six year investment, we'll have our payback within that period of time. And then, out into the future we'll be able to continue to enjoy the benefits, whilst also helping the environment. I think that solar is an investment. You have to take a five, six, seven year outlook, but for people that are planning to continue to live in their house for the next five to six years, it seems like a great investment to me. Helps the environment, reduces your monthly or your quarterly electricity bills. It gives you the peace of mind that you're helping contribute to the environment, and after your payback period then of course, it's just win-win. We have a house that has a fairly high energy usage swimming pools, and water features. So those run a lot during the day, they consume a lot of power. So we wanted to become more energy efficient to improve our carbon footprint. We're at a point now where we consume quite a lot of our own energy, and we export some back into the grid. So we're helping to reduce carbon emissions. The specification of our system was such that we wanted it to cover all of our needs, provide an additional overhead that we could export some power back and to help improve climate. We're very passionate about the climate. We want to ensure that we have a good healthy country for the future of our children, and we believe that everybody should be considering solar and alternative sources of energy. https://www.youtube.com/embed/z8DIxtsy2Wc 2.13 2023-05-18T19:52:45.411Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-will-solar-power-batteries-help-a-central-coast-homeowner-backup-their-essential-services https://www.youtube.com/embed/YB0cw4-PLMk How will solar power batteries help a Central Coast homeowner backup their essential services? We're here at Ourimbah, installing a solar power system and batteries. The solar system we believe will generate around about 60 kilowatts per day on average. Today being winter it's going to be generating around 40-50 kilowatts, and about half of that's going to go into the batteries ready for usage tonight, and the other half is going to be used by the home during the day. The main thing was to be able to power up the home during the day, to be able to offset the pool pumps, to be able to offset air conditioning, offset general home usage during the day. And the leftover that was normally exported to the grid, the owners wanted to capture that energy and store their own solar production, and put it into the batteries for usage in the nighttime. So pretty much wanting to go 100% self usage, by storing their own power and using it in the evening. Yeah this home's using around about the 60-70 kilowatts per day, so we're trying to see if we can offset the same amount by generating that from the solar power, and storing the excess in the batteries. Having your essential services backed up in the event of a blackout was an important deciding factor here, because this house runs on a water pump to be able to flush toilets, and to be able to have hot water and clean drinking water. Having power available in the event of a blackout by using that from the stored energy from the Teslas', was a deciding factor. They wanted long-term performance, high output, excellent longevity. This installation is going to be generating power for decades to come. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YB0cw4-PLMk 1.39 2023-05-18T19:52:41.912Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-has-the-price-of-solar-power-helped-homeowners-to-save-money-and-help-the-environment https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YLR6TylbJ0 How has the price of solar power helped homeowners to save money and help the environment? We've grown our business by helping our customers. We love seeing our customers putting in solar power systems, being able to offset their energy bills. To be able to offset their CO2, and to be able to see thousands of these systems now operational, monitored, to be able to track the data and see that there's proven test results that this is working. When solar started here as a grid connect, we were selling a four kilowatt system for about $50,000. It's been incredible seeing these systems come down in price. We used to joke around here saying, Do you ever think we'll see solar come down to $4 per watt installed, which is $20,000 for a five kilowatt system. And we were like, no, we'll never see that happen. And now we're saying five kilowatts installed with quality premium systems for roundabout $8,000. It's been an amazing journey being part of the solar industry. We call it the Solar Coaster, because it has had some ups and downs over the years, but we've weathered all these storms and we've been able to provide great quality systems while other companies have gone out of business, by not harnessing quality brands. Yeah after the four to five years has returned your investment, means that as electricity prices are going up, you're free from that. You've already invested in solar, and 50 to 60% of your energy bill is already reduced year on year. And on top of savings, we've also got that we're helping the environment. That we're cleaning the air, that we're less CO2 going in the atmosphere. So we're doing our bit to the environment. We love putting in solar power systems, and love seeing our customers save on their energy bills. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YLR6TylbJ0 1.44 2023-05-18T19:52:38.473Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-high-quality-solar-power-installers-help-you-overcome-roof-shading-problems https://www.youtube.com/embed/P9Q-P3_27FU How do high quality solar power installers help you overcome roof shading problems? I think the most important thing for a solar power system is, number one make sure that your home actually has sunlight that's getting through to the rooftop, so that we've got plenty of sunlight to capture for the solar power panels. That's important part. If we've got too much shade, then the system is not going to work correctly. Some of the ways we can overcome that shade is using individual panel management, where every panel works independent from the next. That's the inverter that we select to be able to cope with some dappled shade. If there's a lot of shade across the roof, we can't do anything about that. We need sunlight for the solar panel to work. Some of the homes that we come to have partial shading. It might just be in the morning, but the middle of the day and the afternoon is optimum for solar. So one of the strategies that we take is to put the panels across the roof in areas that are down to harness both the day and the afternoon. So we might strategically put panels on the east and west say, so we can pick up morning and afternoon, and spread the load right across the day. On one of those roofs we may choose to do individual panel management, so that we can optimise these panels, because only six out of the 20 may have shade, and then during the day the shade is lifted and all the array comes into sunlight. Yeah one of the things that we do is we hop on the roof with a tool called a pathfinder. It's this curve lens. It's very accurate, its got a longitude and latitude map. So we have a look hour by hour, month by month, to be able to see the shading environment for that rooftop, so that we can make the best choice of where to position the panels, and so that we're moving away from as much shade as possible. It's definitely about tailoring the right solution, and it's not just a one size fits all. We're going to make sure that the solar solution that we're providing for your rooftop is going to do its job. https://www.youtube.com/embed/P9Q-P3_27FU 1.59 2023-05-18T19:52:34.869Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-your-existing-energy-bills-help-to-design-and-size-your-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/roBIVmVIDXE How do your existing energy bills help to design and size your solar power system? We service all types of homes, everyone from first home buyers all the way through to retirees. We have a look at their energy bills and see what their requirements are, and then tailor a system to suit. Designing the size of the system is really important. When we take your initial call, we'll ask to look at your energy bill. We're going to look at the profile of your energy, and we're going to design a system that's going to suit your energy bill. There's no use us putting in a system too small if you've got a large bill, or too large if you've got a small bill, you're just going to be wasting your money. So we like to tailor a system to suit your energy profile considering things like extra energy usage in the future. Things like an electric vehicle if you're going to be purchasing one, or if you're about to put a pool in or air conditioning, we want to take all of those things into consideration when sizing a system that's going to suit your energy needs. Yeah definitely it's customised, it's not like TV where they advertise Grab a 6-7 kilowatt and this is the price. Because that's just one size fits all, that's not the way it works. The way it works best is to be able to look at your rooftop, look at your energy bill, see what we can fit, see what's shade-free, work out the best benefit that we can offer, and how much of that energy bill are we going to reduce. https://www.youtube.com/embed/roBIVmVIDXE 1.23 2023-05-18T19:52:30.665Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-research-should-you-do-before-selecting-a-solar-power-system-or-solar-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/2_CNA30T4qI What research should you do before selecting a solar power system or solar installer? Yeah picking the difference between a great installation and a poor installation can be quite difficult. It's not like purchasing a car where you know the brand that you're going to go down and pick. You know a Toyota, you know of a Kia. You know the differences between what you can afford. With the solar industry, even my mates, I say, what's a brand of solar? They've got no idea. Having a company which is a known brand with big warranties, and having a local company, gives you assurance. When it comes to the actual panels, most of the panels that you're going to be looking at you've never heard of before. I think it's because cause solar is still relatively new, so it's quite difficult to know, okay, what's a good panel and what's a bad panel. When you're out there trying to pick between all these companies, I suggest having a look at the company who's going to be putting the products in for you. Do a quick ABN search, see how long the company has actually been in business for. They may have only just started 12 months ago. Have a look into the company that's going to to be putting in your investment. It's an investment that's going to be lasting a long time. So do a little bit of due diligence and research who the company's going to be. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2_CNA30T4qI 1.11 2023-05-18T19:52:27.309Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-avoid-choosing-a-cheap-or-low-quality-solar-power-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/abNC5I_omKQ Why should you avoid choosing a cheap or low-quality solar power installer? The installation part of the job is equally as important as picking the right product. The other day we were all out on a job, and we had a guy rock up three doors down and they did the job in three hours, we were on the job for eight hours. What are the differences? Picking a good installation team is all the difference. We don't want to just get there, throw it in, go home. We want to make sure that everything's perfectly installed. All the brackets that are put in are the correct intervals. We had a quick look at that job afterwards, and realised that the brackets, there was only one in every three that should have been put in. And so having those brackets spread out at such large intervals is susceptible for that job to actually blow off the roof, if they have a high wind load. So doing all those little things that you don't normally see, the unseen, is the really important thing to have trust in the installation team that's going to be putting your job in. Yes, we're seeing the ramifications of picking the wrong installation team for the job. And we've seen lots of water ingress through cracked tiles, through the fixings that get put in and not correctly sealed. We've seen rooftop fires from inadequate DC isolators, water getting into the DC isolators. We've seen panels with undue stress put on them because they followed the taper of the roof, instead of keeping them nice and level. So we see such a range of poor quality installations, that really does sadden me that the average person is paying a lot of money for this investment, and just not getting the quality that they should. The other thing, designing a system is something that's crucial for the system performance. Having an accredited designer to be able to look at the job, and to be able to work out the best layout, to know that the panels are going to be performing well, on the orientations that we've selected. If we're just looking at it from near map and going, Yes, I think that's okay. We'll put all those panels there which I know a lot of our competition doing... There's no real way the customer knows that they're getting the most out of those panels that they selected. We carefully check. We make sure that those panels are going to be all laid out in the most efficient format. And then we'll go to the customer and go, This is what you can expect to achieve. And we provide a performance estimate month on month of what they can expect to get out of their system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/abNC5I_omKQ 2.22 2023-05-18T19:52:23.603Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-worth-investing-extra-in-a-higher-wattage-and-higher-quality-solar-panel https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qwdimm5_Zm4 Is it worth investing extra in a higher wattage and higher quality solar panel? Yeah, we really feel the heat here in summer. We have some great summer days, but they're 35 degrees plus. Having quality panels installed means that you're going to get decades of usage out of those panels, by selecting the right product from the start. High quality solar panels not only give you better benefits by being resistant for the coast, having better product warranty, the big plus for you is that you get more performance per watt out of these panels. You're getting high yield in heat on hot weather, you're getting better low light performance on those overcast and cloudy days. Roof space is really important. Roof space is going to be a premium in the future when things like electric vehicles come out, and you want to be able to charge them off your solar. Where you want to be able to store the energy to make yourself 100% free from energy from the grid, you're going to need as much roof space as you can to fit more and more solar panels. Where we've got 345 Watts in one panel compared to a lot of the panels being solar only 270-300 Watts. So we're fitting a lot more power in a smaller amount of roof space. So looking at higher wattage panels to save on roof space is something that you want to be considering right now. I think our average customer when they come to see us about installing solar power, have a few things on their mind. One is they want to reduce their energy usage, they want to reduce their CO2 footprint. And they want something that's going to keep working long-term, to keep offsetting these rising energy costs that just keep going up every year, year on year. A lot of it is saving energy, saving money, and then secondly is being able to contribute to the environment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qwdimm5_Zm4 1.42 2023-05-18T19:52:20.191Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-risks-you-should-be-aware-of-with-low-price-or-cheap-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/3x24NU1E0HQ What are the risks you should be aware of with low-price or cheap solar power systems? We don't do cheap and nasty, it's just not something that we're prepared to do. We've been asked to do cheap and nasty quite a lot. We've been asked to reduce our price, to compete with other products that are out there that I know are not going to be around in two, three years time. It's just not something that our company want to put our name against. We've built this brand and this referral base of high quality, great installations, and we don't want to tarnish it. Yeah, there's huge differences in these solar systems. You can buy a solar system for $3,000 for a five to six kilowatt on TV, and if that solar system was free of charge I wouldn't purchase it. I wouldn't want to run the risk of having a rooftop fire, or have an isolator burning out, or have the junction box burning out on my roof. Plus once that system is gone, I can't claim a rebate the second time around. So it's going to cost me twice the amount to actually put another solar system in. Warranties is only as good as the brand that supports it. A lot of the solar systems that are out there, you've never heard of the brand. A lot of these cheap brands banter around a 25 year performance warranty, that performance warranty doesn't mean a thing if the product has failed, because there's no warranty to support it. So a 25 year product warranty is what you want to look for, and that's a product warranty not a performance warranty, huge difference. Putting in quality upfront is definitely cheaper long term. The best value is not being able to have to replace products twice. But it's not only just the cost, let's think about what we're trying to achieve. All of us are putting in solar power, yes we're trying to reduce energy, we're also trying to do our bit for the environment. I don't want to be taking out a panel in three years time and putting it in landfill. That's going a totally against what we're trying to achieve. Putting in a system that's got longevity means that we're not putting panels back into landfill. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3x24NU1E0HQ 1.58 2023-05-18T19:52:17.146Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-choose-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-if-you-re-in-a-coastal-environment https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFoVXD7jT8Q Why is it important to choose a higher quality solar panel if you're in a coastal environment? Yeah being so close to the coastline means that we have got some rugged conditions. We have high wind, we have sea spray, and requires a panel that can resist salt. There's only a couple of panels that you can purchase that are salt mist accredited, and that will resist the salt and still be covered for warranty for 25 years. So we've got quality products that are going to be built for the coast. And the other thing that we use is the racking system that we choose is built for the wind load. That's going to be getting the huge winds on the coast, also to be able to cope with the salt air that is there as well. We also choose German made isolators, the whole system from start to finish, we've gone through and we've hand selected over time, quality components to be able to offer the best quality equipment to last the test of time. High quality solar panels not only give you better benefits by being resistant for the coast, having better product warranty, the big plus for you is that you get more performance per watt out of these panels. You're getting high yield in heat on hot weather. You're getting better low light performance on those overcast and cloudy days. We also have hot summers. We have lots of wind come through on the coastline. So we're going to make sure that we're designing systems that can keep up with those extremities. And for the high heat in summer, we have our 40 degree days. We have our regular hot days of 35 plus. Higher efficient, high quality panels have a great heat coefficient yield, which means that they lose less voltage on those hot days, meaning that you get more power output than a standard panel. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFoVXD7jT8Q 1.51 2023-05-18T19:52:13.608Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-advantages-of-choosing-a-reputable-local-solar-power-installation-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/UxpLBnUuI0I What are the advantages of choosing a reputable local solar power installation business? I think the value of being local means that we're only a phone call away, we can respond quickly. It's very difficult when we've got out of town coming in, door knocking, trying to sell cheap solar. It sounds like such a great value, but in the end it costs more when the system's failing and there's no backup. There's thousands of systems out there that have failed, and that have no company to backed them anymore. And we get the phone calls to come and help. We gladly go out and help, but there's not a lot we can do when the system needs replacing. So having local company that's been around to back you up, gives value add for the longterm. So having that relationship that we build with our customers, we see it as a long-term relationship. So that we can keep in contact and help them. They get to have a local team that's coming out, that they know they're going to do a great job, and we're just a phone call away, or they can drop into our shop, ask questions. Often after the installation, there'll also be a question about monitoring. You know, understanding a little bit more about the system. Even though we've explained what we can on the day, there's always going to be one or two more questions that we're happy to field and talk through. Definitely with solar power, you want to do it once and you want to be able to know that it's done well, and you forget about it. It's going to be up there. It's quiet, it's producing power. In fact, it's one of those investments that you can sit back and go, this is the right choice. It's just doing its job day after day, for year after year, and it's producing energy. So reducing those bills down by at least half, it's one of the greatest investments. All the other things that we spend our money on, we're putting money into it and it's depreciating in value. This is one of those areas of life where you can put the money on your rooftop, and know that it's saving you more money every year, year on year. Superior workmanship along with quality panels, means that we can actually provide a great solution. And know that we're happy that when we walk away, we've done the right job and offered the best products and services to our customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UxpLBnUuI0I 2.03 2023-05-18T19:52:10.315Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-you-optimise-your-appliances-to-save-more-money-with-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6iPQQLfte4 How can you optimise your appliances to save more money with a solar power system? Most homeowners when they come and look at investigating solar power, are looking to reduce their energy bill. Energy bills have been going up year on year, and they want to reduce those bills as much as possible. They'd also love to be able to reduce their CO2 emissions and have security for the future. So having long-term products that are going to be lasting into the future, and keep on reducing bill year after year. Definitely reducing energy bills, giving them some freedom from having to have these locked into these large bills, going forward. We're trying to size a system that's going to have the biggest impact, and one of the best ways of doing that is to once we've put the solar in, is to use appliances during the day when the sun is shining. So you're using up all the power you can while you've got the solar power working. Typically when a solar system is tailored correctly and that we've put in the system, you can expect to achieve a reduction in your energy bill by around about 50 to 60%, and this is the dependent on how power is used during the day, and maximising the appliances running when the solar is operational. Yeah most customers want to be able to set and forget, but also know that it's working. So one of the things that we do, is every job we connect to the monitoring so that the solar system's proven that it's working. We have an app on a phone or on a tablet, and you can check that everything's working adequately and see that the solar is producing and that they're making savings. After installing a solar power system, you can expect it to return on its initial investment in a roundabout four to five years. So that means that you're saving straight away from day one on your energy bill, in the vicinity of 50 to 60% reduction in your first power bill. https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6iPQQLfte4 1.52 2023-05-18T19:52:06.749Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-choose-a-reputable-solar-power-installer-for-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3CYcIlzHJE Why is it important to choose a reputable solar power installer for your home? - Choosing the right installer for your solar system, can mean the difference in having somebody to service them and maintain that system in the future. We see so many orphan systems in the marketplace every day. We're getting phone calls from customers with systems on their roof, where the installer or the sales company is no longer around. You really need to choose your installer, choose your sales company, to ensure they're going to be around to honour the warranties. Honour their service and maintenance obligations for that system, to ensure that you have a happy and well performing system for many years to come. - You have smart metre in there? - Yeah, I got a smart metre, connected to the Fronius to single phase. - And this was pre-wired or? - They had some pre-wiring up into the roof for the DC and they also run an AC cable to the switchboard for us. - Ah, perfect. So new build, nice and easy. - Nice and easy, plenty of room. Everything is going, very well. - We don't subcontract our work. We have a team of electricians and apprentices and qualified roofers amongst our staff, to ensure that the system gets installed correctly the first time, every time. Our system's producing 4,482 Watts so, you know, for a northwest split, that's pretty good going on this sort of day. So systems that are installed poorly, for starters can ruin the aesthetics of your house, and your house can be sometimes the largest investment you own. So panels overhanging ridges, panels that aren't maintaining clamp zones, messy conduit switchboards, inverters in the wrong location, all of this can add to a poor experience and a poor quality, or crap solar system on your roof. So at the end of the day, a poor quality system will mean less dollars in your pocket, wasted money on your roof, landfill from panels that need to be removed and replacing in a few years time, and wasted government money in STCs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3CYcIlzHJE 2.13 2023-05-18T19:52:02.845Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-your-warranty-voided-if-your-solar-power-inverter-is-mounted-in-direct-sunlight https://www.youtube.com/embed/3sBK5iSZarg Why is your warranty voided if your solar power inverter is mounted in direct sunlight? By servicing systems, we come across many mistakes. There's some corners that can be cut. We see inverters mounted on a north or a west wall because that's where the switchboard is. It's obviously the shortest cable run, where that's not the ideal place for the inverter. It's an electronic appliance that's going to be running hotter because of the harsh Australian sun. It usually voids the warranty by mounting in direct sunlight like that. Yeah, these are just common things, that we've noticed in the industry in our time, which is why we find I think it's very important to, you know, to pick a good installer. So, you know, it can be anywhere from a three to five-year return on a solar system. We monitor all our systems, all our systems. We have fleet accounts where we monitor all our systems and can remotely diagnose when you call up, and we get a you know, error messages. We try to be proactive to, you know, to notify the customer when there is a problem before they've actually, the customer even knows. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3sBK5iSZarg 1.00 2023-05-18T19:51:58.934Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-the-arc-install-solar-power-when-the-roof-wasn-t-designed-to-support-the-weight-of-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/OEBhM_i-wnU How did The ARC install solar power when the roof wasn't designed to support the weight of solar panels? So The ARC Campbelltown was a project tendered out by the Campbelltown Council. So it was a building that had limitations on loading of the roof. So, it was quite a difficult installation to achieve. So, the challenges of The Arc, was the building couldn't actually hold the load of the solar panels initially, so we had to get creative with engineering, and engineer some risers that actually integrated into the existing structure of the building to hold the solar panels, the weighting of the solar panels. There was limited areas where we could instal the solar panels. The size of the system was 174 kilowatts. It was 432 panels all up, of the 400 watt commercial 72 cell panels. We used less of the panels and therefore overall, the overall load of the array was decreased. So, we could actually achieve the tender requirements with the size of the system by using less panels, and therefore less weight. There was three roof areas that the system was spread across. There was two sections that had tilted panels, and there was also a section where the panels were laid flat on the roof. The difficult area was the area where the tilted array was, where we had like an eight metre span between fixing points where we designed these risers to hold our rails. The rails actually were a special rail that could span eight metres, and actually have the panels attached to it. There was a lot of custom engineering involved, there was quite a tricky installation. The building was not designed to support the weight of solar panels, initially. So yeah, it required a fair bit of engineering to actually overcome the obstacles, that the design of the building imposed on us. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OEBhM_i-wnU 1.58 2023-05-18T19:51:55.746Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-commercial-solar-power-payback-period-for-an-agricultural-business-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/BZaMT8q9UtA What was the commercial solar power payback period for an agricultural business in Adelaide? We were happy with the quality of installation, there was no doubt about that. We monitored that as it was going along, and we compared to what we had previously. We're saving around the $4,000 a month, sometimes a little more on that, so that's pretty rewarding for us. And making sure that we're minimising our environmental footprint as well. Our payback period is going to be around the four years, so after that it's going to be money back into our pocket. I strongly recommend anybody who's paying for power to use solar because at the end of the day. You know, some people see as the upfront cost as being somewhat difficult to manage, but there's many ways that you can look at funding that. At the end of the day it's self funded, and I think that's the main key. And that's the message, that it is self-funded. You're generating, so you're saving. So if you're borrowing the money to actually put the solar up, which most people do, because to drag that sort of money out of your cashflow is not going to be easy, so using the savings to pay for your loan is a no-brainer. And at the end of the day, when you, at the end of three or four years, you have that payment back into your pocket, as well as the savings. I'm a very happy customer and I'm now looking at putting in some ground mounts, where I can use on my broadacre as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BZaMT8q9UtA 1.31 2023-05-18T19:51:51.749Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-buying-decisions-for-dino-s-business-after-his-first-solar-system-caught-fire https://www.youtube.com/embed/mH0MwpzZ8eI What were the buying decisions for Dino's business after his first solar system caught fire? I did have 30 kilowatts of solar up there that was of, in my opinion, of poor quality, and the installation wasn't done correctly, and we actually had two fires as a result of it. We were very lucky that we were on-site when that happened. When we started to look at improving our process in solar, we looked at an opportunity where we could look at bulk buying solar, where we could bring a greater benefit to people within our industry and our neighbors. From there, we started talking about cluster buying solar, and we had a number of companies present to us. And we also had independent advice from somebody totally independent about what was going to be the best solar panels to use and the equipment. And also, installation was really important to us for that ongoing security of warranty, and anything else that would come about if there was, and we felt that dealing with a local company was certainly the way to go. Again, we got independent advice on paneling, and top-tier panels so that ongoing warranty and local was really important to us. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mH0MwpzZ8eI 1.22 2023-05-18T19:51:48.233Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-hi-fresh-hydroponics-in-adelaide-utilise-solar-power-to-save-4000-a-month-in-electricity-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHQaxjo-DjU How did Hi Fresh Hydroponics in Adelaide utilise solar power to save $4000 a month in electricity costs? My name's Dino Musolino, we're in Virginia and we're growing hydroponic lettuce, and value adding our product. The story behind the business is that in 1997 we broke away from a broadacre arrangement that was part of the family business that my father started in 1955. In '97 I wanted to be a little bit more diverse than growing in the field, so I looked at getting into hydroponics. Our products are predominantly sold in South Australia and Victoria into independent grocery supermarkets, Foodlands, IGAs, FoodWorks, and independents. So the scale of the business is where we continuously plant and harvest on a daily basis. So we're planting around 25,0000 to 30,000 individual seedlings on a weekly basis. We have 24-hour continuous pumping for our hydroponic arrangements. We also have cool rooms that are continuously running 24-hours, and we also have the processing operation that consumes a reasonable amount of power during those working hours. The operation has three facets to it. So it has a team that works in the hydroponic arrangement. It also has a team that works out on the broadacre where we're supplying product into our processing, and it has our processing arm as well, and we also have a DC in the Adelaide produce markets. So we have in total around 30 to 35 employees. Oh look, on this single site for one particular metre, we have multiple metres here, but one of the particular metres where we've added additional solar, we were paying somewhere close to $9000 to $10,000 a month. The cost of a business like this for power is significant for the size of the operation that we are. By introducing the solar has certainly done two things. One, it's good for the environment. And two, it's saving us money. Okay now, our saving at the moment, we're looking at about four to $5,000 a month in savings. Predominantly, we use a lot more through the summer where we're getting more daylight hours which we're getting a benefit through the solar. We did have a smaller solar system in and we saw the advantages of going to the bigger system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHQaxjo-DjU 2.17 2023-05-18T19:51:44.587Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-commercial-property-owners-consider-installing-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/qqIIjOiQHBU Why should commercial property owners consider installing solar power? Residential is great. It's fantastic. It's great for the homeowners and so forth, but commercial absolutely makes sense. You've got buildings that majority of the time are in use nine to five. That's when the sun is out. So most homeowners aren't home nine to five. So if it's really an idea and a good system for a homeowner, it absolutely makes sense for businesses. But a lot of them think that it's too expensive or they look at other cost saving exercises where they're just, Oh, well, I've got a power bill. I'll just pay it. They don't understand that there's ways to minimize that cost. And that can be the cost saving exercise instead of reducing staff wages, instead of reducing staff numbers, instead of trying to go smaller rather than bigger, this is a great cost savings exercise. If you're working for a business, tell the business owner, why don't we have solar? Push the environmental aspect of it. Push the money aspect of it. No business owner is going to say, No, I don't want to save money. No, I don't care about the environment. Push those points, get that solar onto your roof. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qqIIjOiQHBU 1.06 2023-05-18T19:51:40.899Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-you-take-advantage-of-your-excess-solar-power-generation https://www.youtube.com/embed/h4XKOAhJ5yM How can you take advantage of your excess solar power generation? So there's a lot of options that are available to you with your excess generation. Your excess generation, most retailers will provide you a feed-in tariff. That feed-in tariff can range between retailer and from one company to the next. So shop around for what best suits you, you can have power diverters. So power diverters have got the ability to reroute that excess generation. Instead of putting into the grid, may go on into what's referred to as a dumb load. So a dumb load is commonly viewed as something like a standard hot water system. So you can start to heat up your hot water system with that excess generation, therefore not needing it to heat it up at night time, from the grid. You might have and start looking at batteries as an option. So having that excess generation stored inside a battery cell and then you consume it from that battery of an evening or in the morning, or to supplement your generation if it's not quite sufficiently high enough from your own consumption you can consume from the battery and have that offset or electric vehicles putting it into your electric vehicles. Be during the daytime, you can do time shifting. There's a lot of different things. And by default, if you're creating your own energy and you consuming your own energy, then the side effect of that will be your decreasing consumption from the grid and in turn, decreasing your bills. So the more you self-consume, understanding how and when you're consuming that power, trying to automate your home as much as possible, put things on timer, reducing your evening consumption putting LED lights instead of normally incandescent globes. All these things are a holistic picture of to trying and decrease your quarterly bill because you're going to supply yourself with your own generation. A quality installer will give you the best recommendation based upon what your profile is, how you're using your power and what you're likely to be doing in the future. Really talk and communicate that with your installer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/h4XKOAhJ5yM 2.00 2023-05-18T19:51:37.539Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-solar-power-stcs-and-how-do-they-work https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pmgpreo1AGA What are solar power STCs and how do they work? So our best way of trying to explain what an STC is, is your solar system is going to create these green points. The polluters are going to create black points and they have to offset their black points by purchasing green points. So these green points are called STCs. So they are put into a pool, into a marketplace, so these polluters have to purchase these green points, these STCs, and there's a market demand. So if there's a large influx of STCs, with not a large demand, price will vary accordingly. If there's not a very large input of STCs, then there's less to be picked from, price goes up. So the price will always fluctuate, in the price range of it. The number of STCs are based upon the size of wattage you get installed onto your roof, and that's predetermined per year, 1st of January, every year, that's a predetermined value for that one year. Then the next year, they will decrease slightly again, and for every year after that. For the moment, you're looking at 11 years worth of STC's value. STCs are not an eternal thing, we suspect that STCs will likely end before the deemed values. They're meant to end in 11 years, but we've got a feeling that it just won't last that long. By the time the STC value decreases to a certain time, to a certain dollar value that just doesn't make financial sense, it will disappear and it wouldn't be a reasoning behind making a certain selection. So going and choosing now the quality product that will last a long time, so you don't have to try to then do it again in two years time, or in three years time, STCs values have gone down. You're going to choose another crappy product, so just get it right the first time round. Because the rebate is associated with the wattage to the system, You might as well put it towards something that's going to last you a long time, rather than putting it onto something that's going to last you a year, two years, three years or four years. So it's the same rebate. It's the same costing. Put it towards something of value. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pmgpreo1AGA 2.11 2023-05-18T19:51:34.319Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-a-local-installer-overcome-the-solar-power-problems-in-harsh-coastal-environments https://www.youtube.com/embed/ayNRlDbZvF0 How does a local installer overcome the solar power problems in harsh coastal environments? Yeah, so our region is predominantly coastal. So there's going to be high winds, there's going to be high salt. A lot of our properties that we've done installations for have been beach fronts. So it's going to have more exposed to the elements than some of the more inland areas. So the ability to withstand and have high salt ratings, have high quality annodisation, just make sense to make sure that the gear is going to last a long time, to last the warranty period, and more. You could be up in the area of Wombarra where there's a high volume of trees, and there's a lot of vegetation around. So understanding the limitations and restrictions that that may imply within your design. Or you may go along the beach down in Kiama, where there's going to be a high wind aspects. So having a product that is able to withstands the large lift and push amount of pressure that the winds cause, in land more, you're going to have dry climate and harsher climate. So, choosing the equipment, that's going to match your area, understanding your region. And again, it comes down to the point that because we're local, we understand the areas that we're installing in. It's not just a spot on Google Maps. This is our area, we understand if you tell me where you're from straightaway I already have an idea of where there might be design complexities or design restrictions. So we'll then work with you to go and as best as we can around those restrictions. Australia in general is quite a harsh environment, so it's not stuffed clouds and rolling hills, it's quite a harsh environment from temperature ranges, from the really highs and the lows, with high humidity areas, with the salt and the wind. So all these factors contribute to a great degradation of materials. It just makes sense to just go straight quality, skip all the multiple steps of going, I'm just going to do a cheap one, I'm going to do a cheap one, I'm going to do a cheap one. Great for quality then that's it. You're Hassle free. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ayNRlDbZvF0 2.08 2023-05-18T19:51:30.768Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-can-go-wrong-if-you-choose-a-bad-installer-for-your-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/fcJS3WL1_TM What can go wrong if you choose a bad installer for your solar power system? Yes it pays to have a quality installer to carry out your installation in your home. It's all well and good to use great quality product. But if you have a great quality product installed very poorly, then you'll end up with a poor result. You could have really crappy product installed by a great quality installer, and you'll have a poor result. So they come hand in hand, quality product, quality installation, quality result, satisfied customer. What could go wrong with choosing the wrong installer? The list is the limitless. Your system could stop working, that's a pretty standard and obvious one. Your system will catch fire. Your system will fail within the warranty period. The installer has gone and taken the money and moved on to the next thing and the manufacturer will be gone, and they've moved on to the next thing. So ultimately you are the one left holding the bag. The biggest problem that we find in the industry, cowboys. So whether it's cowboy salespeople, whether it's cowboy installers, whether it's cowboy manufacturers that are just here one minute gone the next, it's a huge problem. There's a lot of systems that have been installed over the time, over the years that have been left orphaned. And what we mean by orphaned is the manufacturer has gone up and left. They were making poor product that didn't stand behind their product. And it's a lot easier to just walk away than it is to try to warrant any of their problems and actually getting it rectified and deal with it. Same as installers, a lot of poor quality installations were carried out, so they're just moving on, or they'll just reset themselves up as another name and then just started all over again. And then two years later started up as another name, and there's no real consequences of doing that. So dealing with somebody that's been around for a long time, that has got a proven record that has got pride in place with the quality that they do that does work and live locally and deliver their services locally. You've got better chances of having a quality outcome from that than just going for the cheapest, let's just get the nastiest thing going on in there. No one's ever going to win by doing that. No one's ever walked away happy saying, I got the cheapest and it's amazing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fcJS3WL1_TM 2.23 2023-05-18T19:51:27.201Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-difference-between-a-performance-product-warranty-if-you-re-buying-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZlCCUUfsjWw What is the difference between a performance & product warranty if you're buying a solar power system? So there's a big difference that needs to be explained in regards to 25 years performance warranty versus 25 years product warranty. Product warranty, that's it. Any issues that the system is not doing what it should be doing and it's died, or if it's greatly under-performing then you enact the product warranty, and have it sorted. Performance warranty is such a grey area that anybody with half a brain will be able to twist out and say, that's not really a performance issue, that's just because the panel's stopped working, that's outside of the warranted period or the warranted scopes, then there we go, it's all voided or not even eligible. Performance warranty, it's just hot air. It's just fancy words salespeople like to use to try to make something seem and appear to be bigger and better than it actually is. The need for product warranty, clear and defined product warranty. You don't have performance warranties when you go and buy a car, it's a product warranty. It either has a three years or five years or seven years. Those are the warranty periods. So if you ever had any problems, that's the timeframe that you would expect the product to last as a bare minimum. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZlCCUUfsjWw 1.13 2023-05-18T19:51:24.203Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/can-cheaper-solar-power-systems-still-be-good-quality https://www.youtube.com/embed/M2XSO1OZfkU Can cheaper solar power systems still be good quality? The old saying of you get what you paid for is no more true in solar than it is in a whole lot of other areas. But people just really need to understand that if you're going to pay a small amount of money, you will generally end up with something that is going to last you a very short time. The company that's installed it will not be around to try to warranty it. The manufacturer that's made those panels or the inverters will not be around to honour the warranty, and ultimately you're left holding the bag. A huge part of how a customer should make decision isn't solely based on what panels do I go for? What inverter do I go for? What company do I go for? What racking mount, where should I put it? How should I go about it and getting it done? For us it's a holistic view on an approach that people should have. Everything can be looked at as individuals, but if you look at it in the group of, this is what the end result should be, this is what my expectations are, and this is the company that can achieve it, and we try to meet those expectations as best as we can. The point of matching great quality panels with a really poor quality inverter will get you a poor result. Because you will have a panel that will last the test of time, will last 25 years. You match that up with a poor quality inverter. In two years time, you will have a system that just sitting there doing nothing until you realize it's doing nothing. That's money lost, that's reduction of coal powered power that you've consumed lost, for no reason other than just choosing a poor result. That result being the choice of having made a really poor inverter selection. So match it up with the best panel that you're able to afford with the best inverter that you're able to afford. That combination of the two will get you the best result and the best outcome for yourself. All of that intertwined with the quality installer, making that installation. Quality is paramount, quality product, quality installation, quality results. So really understanding what goes into the process of the quality design, the quality selection of product, the quality installation process and you'll end up with a quality result. https://www.youtube.com/embed/M2XSO1OZfkU 2.24 2023-05-18T19:51:20.820Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-worthwhile-paying-a-professional-to-clean-my-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/DbpftYBDjFU Is it worthwhile paying a professional to clean my solar panels? In regards to panel cleaning, it's true you should try to have your panels as clean as you possibly can. But spending too much time and money on ensuring that there is not a speck of dust on there will not really give you a best result. A panel cleaning if it's really dirty, yes warranted. If your panel has got a slight amount of dust on it, the increase in efficiency that you're going to gain is not necessarily as much as you're going to pull out of your pocket to ensure that that's maintained. So be aware of that, make sure that you're making the right decision, not because it's going to give somebody some money in their pocket. It's going to ultimately give you the best result of increase that efficiency if it's warranted, but you can visually see it. If you think it's quite dirty yes clean it, if you think it's a little bit dusty the next rain will generally take care of all that. If your panel has got a small amount of dust and by cleaning it you're likely to improve 5% efficiency, that 5% efficiency in terms of the cost relationship may be lost by the cost of that cleaning process, where that cleaning process will have cost you 25% of that perceived saved energy. So you're still in negative and after a year you're still haven't retrieved your money back from having had it cleaned to really improve it by just that 5%. So judge the warrant in having that done and ensure that it's not just somebody, that's got a hose and a bucket, that's going to put water on it and give it a scrub and all that. Have somebody that's going to come out, not just potentially clean your panels but also give it an electrical look and electrical inspection, ensuring that mechanically it's sound, electrically it's sound. And if it needs a bit of cleaning they'll also advise you and they'll tell you give it a clean it'll improve it. But having that qualified person carry out that inspection makes sense rather than just somebody with a hose and a bucket. https://www.youtube.com/embed/DbpftYBDjFU 2.05 2023-05-18T19:51:16.426Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-environmental-benefits-of-installing-a-solar-power-system-on-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/AcrgM9iVc50 What are the environmental benefits of installing a solar power system on your home? So customer demand has changed a lot over the years. A lot of our older customers back in 2009 to 2010, the idea was put solar on the roof, let's minimise what the bill is going to look like, and let's make some money, and let's have a cost negative bill, and being credit all the time. Now there's a movement that sort of shifted a lot where their savings is an aspect of a decision, but it's not the only aspect of the decision. A lot of it has come from an environmental push, and what is my impact that I'm making currently? What is my impact looking forward? Looking forward 10, 15, 25 years. So the quality needs to match those expectations on environmental view, as well as obviously still meeting those demands with reducing their quarterly bills, having a look at, what their increases in demands are going to be, what their change in demand is going to be, as families grow, as people retire, and things looking more and more into the future, rather than just, this is what I need right now, and that's it. A large emphasis on a personal side of running this business, is I didn't get into solar, just because it's going to save me money, it's going to make me money, it's going to save money for everybody. A large part of why we got into solar and originally from my father, is the environmental aspect of it. I think it's extremely important that if we can do a little bit, and everybody can do a little bit, then overall it's about that bigger picture. It's about the future. It's about the future generation. So, for us there's an obvious win on an environmental case. There's an obvious win on a return on investment case. There's an obvious win on reducing your bills on a quarterly basis. So it's a win-win situation. There is no negative view on why you shouldn't get solar. And why you should get solar for your home or what you should get solar for your business, decreasing your ongoing costs within your business structure. The roof is there. It might as well be repurposed for other than just providing a roof over our head, which has been historically what we've always wanted to have. It can do other things. And that other things right now, is creating free energy for you. So why not use the power of the sun? It's there, use it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AcrgM9iVc50 2.23 2023-05-18T19:51:12.748Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-farmers-get-an-onsite-voltage-drop-calculation-when-they-re-looking-to-buy-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZJMzAh1xzA Why should farmers get an onsite voltage drop calculation when they're looking to buy solar panels? You know a lot of farmers do solar, and there's a lot of farmers that probably need to consider solar. It's having the information and the data to be able to monitor the solar production consumption to get the best results. So we do take time to sit down with farmers, analyse their needs, look at their electrical infrastructure and to try and maximise, you know whether it's roof space or ground mount. We have a number of solutions for farms and they're one of our great customers. With rural customers, you know, we have to be onsite to calculate voltage drop. Some of the mains run for long distances, so we have to be careful. We can't just do a back of the envelope. We have to actually go out on site and work this out with the customer and explain what we can and can't do. So this does take time and some expertise with an electric knowledge. You know that obviously cattle drink a lot of water. We've been able to transfer that water during the day into a header tank. So that's, you know, peak solar time. So then we were able to basically run that bore pump with solar, and directly offset those costs. I guess, financially it's going to help lower your overheads for a farm operation, and a lot of those are fixed overheads like electricity. So you know, whatever you can do to instantly reduce some of those costs, it's going to benefit their bottom line on the farm and you know, be able to make them more profitable. https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZJMzAh1xzA 1.38 2023-05-18T19:51:07.968Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-berembed-cattle-station-in-the-nsw-riverina-save-energy-costs-with-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vo2_ZFdGK2M How did Berembed cattle station in the NSW Riverina save energy costs with solar power? Yeah so Berembed Station has a quite a large homestead, and they have a quite a big irrigation system, and they also have a number of cottages for the for the workers there. And another, a big bore pump that's used for irrigation and stock water. So they have quite a large power consumption for the property. So Berembed Station is one of the oldest stations in the Riverina, they are a big cattle station. So we built a relationship with Andrew, he's the manager of Berembed Station, he's been there for quite some years. He came to us to look at putting solar around the station, to help offset some of their running costs for pumps and their workshop. So we help develop a system to save them some money on the farm. So we installed the 22 kilowatt system on the farm. We also have installed monitoring, we can help monitor their system. Andrew can also monitor. It also calculates savings for them as well, so validates their investment as well. Berembed Station has a fantastic payback period. It's been in for about three years now, and it's it looks like it's going to pay itself off within that three to four year mark the way it's been performing, which is a fantastic result. Yeah solar's helping offset a large majority of their pumping costs, and running costs for the workshop as well. They've saved quite a bit of money. I think it's a like Andrew said, there's around 50% of their savings in summer. Which has been a huge reduction, and it's also helped them monitor their energy consumption and change some of their habits. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vo2_ZFdGK2M 1.49 2023-05-18T19:51:03.761Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-cheap-solar-panel-parts-and-system-components-bad-for-the-environment https://www.youtube.com/embed/ftsiAzjBZhM Why are cheap solar panel parts and system components bad for the environment? There's an environmental benefit upfront because you're producing renewable energy, you're not sourcing that energy from say a coal fired power plant. You haven't got the transmission losses as well, so there's environmental benefit there. Plus there's environmental benefit in buying a high quality product. You know you're not- that product's built to last a long period of time, you're not creating any landfill issues. So you're really investing in a good product that's environmentally responsible. We have seen systems out there fail within three or four years, particularly these cheaper inverters. There has been some solar panels fail in the marketplace, they've ended up in landfill. Some of them can be recycled but a lot of them do end up in landfill. So it's important that we sell quality, built to last, and not going to create an issue down the track. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ftsiAzjBZhM 0.59 2023-05-18T19:51:00.550Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-can-go-wrong-if-you-choose-low-quality-solar-power-products-or-a-poor-quality-solar-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/dZ9mjNtltWk What can go wrong if you choose low quality solar power products, or a poor quality solar installer? I think if you choose the wrong products; One, you get lower performance, so there's less savings. Two, down the track, you're probably more likely to have problems if you do choose cheap products. If you choose a company that traditionally sells a lot of cheap products, there's a potential chance that once their stuff starts failing, they won't be around. And you run the risk of not having that support later on down the track. I think you have to have a high quality installation with high quality components, you can't have one or the other. But you need the good installer because even if you have high quality components, if they're not installed correctly, you can void warranty, the output can be compromised. So you really need to take care and have that experience to do a high quality installation from day one. Any electrical industry, I believe, you get what you pay for. You want to make sure you invest your money in some good quality components, that are going to last a long period of time. Give you high savings, low risk, and yeah, have that backup. Yeah, so very, very strong materials, good performance and warranties and good support as well. So we generally have an office in Australia with backup support. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dZ9mjNtltWk 1.18 2023-05-18T19:50:57.634Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-high-quality-solar-power-products-a-lower-risk-and-better-investment-for-your-home-or-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJ9pWalBv9o Why are high quality solar power products a lower risk and better investment for your home or business? With the invest in high-quality solar, there's a lower risk. So we look at that as a business. Plus we look at that, I guess, for the customer. We don't want them to have any problems or have any regrets in buying a lower grade product. So generally if you buy a high-quality product, it does cost a little bit more, but you have that peace of mind. And generally, they come with a longer warranty because they're built more robust. The company that sells them will back them higher because they believe they're going to last longer. And they've done a lot of testing around that, to substantiate that. I guess the products is only as good as their installed. You want a qualified technician and someone with an experience and takes care. We take a lot of care in our installs. We want to make sure they look nice, they perform well, it's a full end to end process for us. We don't want to just do half the job. So the product warranty is the main warranty we look at. So that covers everything down from the power output to the connectors, to the glass back sheet, everything. So you're getting that peace of mind. So your providing not just the brand, but you're buying kilowatt-hours or something that's going to generate more renewable energy over a longer period of time. So you're getting a greater return on investment. That's the thing you mainly notice after the installation, is how well the panels perform, and then you start to see the savings roll in. So that's something you see after the installation. Yeah, it certainly pays to invest a little bit more. It could take a couple, one or two years to recoup your money, but once it's installed and you've recouped that money you're miles ahead. Particularly long-term, that's when you start to really make the benefits. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJ9pWalBv9o 2.02 2023-05-18T19:50:54.087Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-a-micro-inverter-and-why-should-you-consider-them-if-you-re-buying-high-quality-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/jMLdTaGpvj8 What is a micro inverter and why should you consider them if you're buying high quality solar panels? So a microinverter inverts the DC power of the panel to the AC power inside the house, so it can utilise it in the house. And the microinverter is an inverter at panel level, so it's a more efficient system rather than having one central point inverter. It means that each panel operates individually. So if one is down on performance whether it's through shading or soiling, the others aren't going to be effected. So you're picking the highest point or the maximising the highest potential of each panel. I really like microinverters; One, it gives us flexibility in design, so we can position panels where we can, where they're best suited for the low profile of the customer. Two, they're very safe. So, traditionally they're lower voltage than a DC system. And they're expandable, so if a customer wants to add to them later on, we can easily add to them without too much trouble or cost. So there's a lot of benefits in microinverters which we like. I certainly think if you're going to put a good efficiency, high-performance panel on, you should put microinverters on. I use the analogy about if you buy Ferrari like a micro-inverter, you want to put a V8 engine in it. And so you're going to get the complete system, a really high performance system, a safe system, a system that's going to perform for a long period of time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jMLdTaGpvj8 1.29 2023-05-18T19:50:50.102Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-it-pay-to-monitor-and-analyse-your-feed-in-tariff-to-get-better-solar-power-returns https://www.youtube.com/embed/5QPGxlL1e0A Does it pay to monitor and analyse your feed-in tariff to get better solar power returns? I believe our customers after they've learned the different options of solar products out there, they want to work with a local company first, but they also want to understand the range of quality options and I guess getting the best, the best system their dollar can afford. And to make sure, there's no hassles down the track and they're getting that good long-term return on investment. That's where they can have that peace of mind. Customers want to save money, so we give them the tools to sort of analyse their energy usage, so they can monitor their production and consumption, and we also analyse their tariffs as well. So we want to make sure after say six months they've had this system in, we want to make sure they're getting the best results. So they often come back to us and we'll sit down with them and make sure they're on the best, getting the best result they can. I guess most of their clients average around at least 50% of their energy costs are covered, some people are in credits. So we spoke to a customer today who's been in credit for a number of bills. So but yeah, at least half your energy costs, if you designed the system well, you can save. So payback here will do anywhere between four and six years in most quality systems, and then you've got that system built to last for well past 25 years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5QPGxlL1e0A 1.33 2023-05-18T19:50:47.050Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-and-challenges-of-an-off-grid-solar-power-installation-for-homeowners https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUE7AOYrCo0 What are the benefits and challenges of an off-grid solar power installation for homeowners? Yeah so off-grid systems we do for a lot of new homes that are built in remote areas. It's very expensive for these customers to connect to the grid. And they also, I guess once they're connected, they have the peace of mind that they're living off the grid free of energy bills. They're not subject to any blackouts or grid interruptions. So it's a really good lifestyle for them. And then generally, they can build in a nice location or where they want to build. Yeah, they are more complex. I guess with an off-grid system, you're really developing a strong relationship with your customer. First with the design, you've got to design the system correctly, and then I guess after sales is very important with off grid. You've got to be there for them. You are part of their energy company, if you like, or you're in that relationship. So you do have to be able to provide a good service, and we do that with online monitoring. We're there on 24 hour support if needed. Being in the industry for quite some time, I've seen a big change in the market. And I guess it's inspiring that communities and homeowners can create their own energy at a local level. And I believe that's where the future's heading, to become more sustainable as a community, and taking ownership of our own generation. Developing microgrids and becoming more sustainable, and insulating ourselves from, I guess, the bigger energy companies or the bigger generators in Australia. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUE7AOYrCo0 1.51 2023-05-18T19:50:43.518Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-a-professional-site-assessment-important-if-you-re-installing-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/tA1qlP7PCYY Why is a professional site assessment important if you're installing a solar power system? We take time to study each customer's energy consumption and requirements, and we try and customise a system to meet their needs. And we do educate customers, we believe having informed customers and helping them make the right decision. And it also gives them, I guess, a higher satisfaction when they do realise they've made the best decision for their needs. I think homeowners should have a company come out and meet with them, discuss their energy requirements, look at the property, look at any constraints whether it's shading or look at the electrical infrastructure, calculate what they can put on. So that's very important to get a site assessment done by a professional. So we look at the home, we look at what roof's available, discuss the different options. As far as products goes, we want to try and get the best result for their roof space and their energy profile. So we'll sit down with them and discuss that. We don't just have a cookie-cutter approach, we want to customise a solar design to help meet the customer's load profile and energy requirements. https://www.youtube.com/embed/tA1qlP7PCYY 1.31 2023-05-18T19:50:39.054Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-were-the-design-aesthetics-of-the-solar-panels-for-adam-s-home-in-nsw https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xh0qnDR2US8 How important were the design aesthetics of the solar panels for Adam's home in NSW? So the aesthetics for me probably weren't a primary factor initially. My wife was certainly interested in what it would look like on the house, and she didn't want it to be an eyesore. Some of them are like an all black, so they blend in really well to a dark roof. And others have that traditional white lines that you see on other panels. Look, in the end, we were after something that did look reasonable and of a good quality because it is facing the street. And we liked the way panels looked, and we think they blended in really well with the home. More and more now you drive around, most houses you see, or a lot of houses you see, actually have solar panels. So I think the days of going past and going, oh my god, look at those solar panels on a house, are sort of becoming fewer and far between. It's not so unusual anymore. But I think it's actually complimented our house quite well and to me it's a selling point as well. It's a decent system we've got put on with quite a big capacity. So for anyone if we were looking to sell one day, I think it would be a real selling point for the home. Anything that reduces your need to rely on a grid entirely to me makes a lot of sense. And in a climate like ours, Australia, where we do get such a lot of sunshine, it sort of doesn't make sense not to use one of the greatest assets we've got in the sun. So I think solar will become more and more popular. Yeah, I'm sure as electric vehicles and the technology improves and they roll that out into other devices or appliances, who knows. So I think there's definitely a lot of development to see in the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xh0qnDR2US8 1.41 2023-05-18T19:50:35.872Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-benefits-of-solar-power-microinverters-for-adam-s-home-in-wagga-wagga https://www.youtube.com/embed/dPWlEfMzF-w What were the benefits of solar power microinverters for Adam's home in Wagga Wagga? One of the reasons I went with a microinverter system was so that I could add to the system in the future easily. I don't have to have the same wattage panels, because who knows, your electric cars are becoming more prominent. I actually thought about getting a battery or two at some point. Might not be worthwhile just yet, but certainly during those peak months where I'm producing good power and not using it, it'd be handy to have. And during summer, when you know, you can store some power in batteries and use it during the night, and not have to draw from the grid. So yeah, definitely, I think adding batteries at some point, and may be another row or two of panels if I need it. Monitoring to me is important, and especially since I got the microinverter system, because the beauty of that is that on my app, I can see the production of each panel individually. And with the microinverter system, each panel is on its own inverter, so it's free to produce as much electricity regardless of what other panels are producing at. So sometimes in the morning, some of my panels on the far east side of the house will have a bit of shadowing from trees, but the ones next to them can still produce it at 400% capacity or as high as it can. That was a big factor. I like the fact that I can monitor it, it makes it easy to see if there is a problem. Like if one panel is not producing, it's easy to identify which panel it is. Whereas on a central inverter system, I believe that's not as easy to identify. And I guess the sort of plug and play aspect of the microinverter was really important to me too, because if I do want to add a few panels or a row at some point, I'm not limited by the exact same wattage of the panels that I've currently got each one's on it's own inverter. So you can literally use any panel, so that was another important factor for me. Look, in the end, I think the additional money that it costs for me made sense. It's more future-proof as I said, it's easier to add to, and in terms of identifying if there's a problem with one panel, it's almost foolproof. So I'm glad I made the decision with the microinverters. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dPWlEfMzF-w 2.10 2023-05-18T19:50:32.187Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-adam-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-system-with-a-reputable-local-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNBDKpdMUq4 Why did Adam invest in a higher quality solar system with a reputable local installer? Did a bit of research on the web and saw a few disaster stories here and there, and things catching fire. So when it comes to spending money on things like that I tend to err on the side of caution. I'd rather pay for quality and know what I'm getting, and I guess more reliable that way. I was also looking for local installer. You get lot of deals on the TV, but I've heard from a few people that have gone that way, that yeah getting that service and whatever can be a bit of a problem. So I'd rather support local and know that I've got someone a phone call away if I need a hand. I do a lot of research as I said, it's a bit of a financial outlay to get a system like this installed. So you want to make sure that you're well-informed. I was surprised at how many of my bills came back in a credit, and how much power I was producing. But in terms of the system itself and I've had no issues in terms of function or reliability, so I'd say it's met or even exceeded my expectations. I think, with any purchasing decision like this, I think quality does matter. I think I've learned myself in the past that if you try and save a few dollars, it can come back and bite you down the track. So you get what you pay for. It's like anything, and when you're investing in a significant system like this that you hope to last for 25 years to 30 years, the upfront cost for me, having that peace of mind that the quality is there and the reliability is going to be there, it pays for itself. Knowing that if something does go wrong you've got someone local, you know them and you put a name to the face, who can help you out or get you the assistance you need for me was probably the biggest factor. And also just supporting local business. So I think, living in the area it's important to support our own and help the local community. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNBDKpdMUq4 2.00 2023-05-18T19:50:28.595Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-reduce-the-running-costs-of-a-family-swimming-pool https://www.youtube.com/embed/36bKco109UM How did a high quality solar power system reduce the running costs of a family swimming pool? It's a pretty big house, we use quite a bit of energy. We've got two reverse cycle air conditioning units, and a pool with a self-cleaning system that runs two pumps. So we use a fair bit of power. Typically in peak periods, we were using about $1200 to $1,500 of electricity a quarter, which obviously adds up over the year. So I was looking for a way to reduce that bill. Peak time was summer for us, because that's when obviously the air conditioning is getting used the most, and the pool's running for about eight hours a day on the filter. So that was probably the peak period. We do have gas as well, which we use for some heating. So it was more of the summer period. Probably noticed that when we got the pool put in, that wasn't in when we first moved in. So as I said with the self-cleaning, it does use two pumps. So I noticed a spike after that, which made me start to get interested. Well, the cost savings was probably the first thing. Using that much electricity adds up, so I was looking for a way to reduce the costs and produce my own. It's been fantastic. It's nice to get a few bills that are credit. Never seen an electricity bill with a credit in my life. I think the first seven bills, because we get billed monthly now on a smart metre, they were all credit. I had a couple of bills now where I've had to pay some money, but during summer when you're using so much power, I think that's to be expected. So I've had it in about nine months now. It'll be interesting to see how that balances out over a full 12 month period, but the performance has been fantastic. Some days I've had the system producing up to I think 90 kilowatts in a day, which is just phenomenal. https://www.youtube.com/embed/36bKco109UM 1.47 2023-05-18T19:50:25.533Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-higher-quality-solar-panels-give-you-a-longer-lasting-off-grid-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/f4w9sTPA6KA Do higher quality solar panels give you a longer lasting off-grid solar power system? We've got a six kilowatt system here because we run two houses off the system. We have 20 x 300 watt solar panels on the roof, and we have a 400 watt wind turbine that is hooked into the system to back up the batteries afterwards. We have 24 batteries in total and we have a 9.4 KVA generator to back up the system when we have very cloudy or rainy days. I did a lot of research into the panels and looked at the range of what was available and listened to a lot of the experts in the field. Panels that were recommended for this system were the best that we needed at the time to give us the six kilowatt system that we needed for the two houses. We put the system in five years ago, and it was the top quality that when we put the system in. And I've been very happy with the service that we've had from the system, we haven't had any downtime with it. I think that it's worth doing the research and finding out the best system for your area and the best quality. Long term it pays off, because it will last longer and you get better service. https://www.youtube.com/embed/f4w9sTPA6KA 1.29 2023-05-18T19:50:21.743Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-environmental-and-financial-advantages-of-going-off-grid-in-rural-areas https://www.youtube.com/embed/60mwRTaWMm4 What are the environmental and financial advantages of going off-grid in rural areas? And the other side of it is I was using natural energy sources. I wanted renewable energy sources and I didn't want coal fired. So this was a conscious thought for me with my philosophy of living lightly on the land, to choose solar and to choose wind as a backup. My philosophy is to use the natural energy as much as possible and so solar was my first choice, and then wind as a backup was the second choice. I think that the two power together quite well and I'm not using fossil fuels. The other reason for going off grid though was because I have a connection to the grid half a kilometre up the hill, or half a kilometre down the hill. And both were going to be quite expensive for me to hook into. And as we're on decomposed granite here, and it's very difficult to dig through inexpensively, so the cost was a factor with that. But I also don't have the ongoing costs of being hooked into the grid. And although I can't feed back into the grid, I've felt that the cost of going totally off-grid was balanced by not feeding back into the grid. https://www.youtube.com/embed/60mwRTaWMm4 1.21 2023-05-18T19:50:18.149Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-choose-a-local-solar-installer-if-you-re-wanting-to-go-off-grid https://www.youtube.com/embed/poY7XJK4eBI Why is it important to choose a local solar installer if you're wanting to go off-grid? I believe in supporting local businesses. I think that I get good service from local businesses and by putting my money back into my own community, I'm supporting it the best way that I can. So for me, it was logical to choose somebody local that is available when I need them. They've always provided me with the service when I need it, and have answered my many questions when I needed it. So I thought that was really a positive way. I've had very, very good service from the installers when they came and from the office as well. And we get regular services every year, so I know that it is somebody local that's doing that. It's certainly been stress free. As I said, I get a service once a year that is fantastic. You know, they come in, clean everything, sort it all out, check it all over and it's gone. The fact that I can log in to a system and we can monitor the system. And simply their friendly approachable manner that I've experienced with them, is being able to phone and ask when I wasn't sure about something and getting a really clear answer. I thought was a very positive part of the experience. I think the most important thing when you're looking to go off grid is to do your research, talk to the experts, talk to everybody in town that has a system. Or out of town. Because it's the experience of having a system yourself that can give you the most advice for other people, so gain from their experience. https://www.youtube.com/embed/poY7XJK4eBI 1.46 2023-05-18T19:50:14.681Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-deborah-decided-to-invest-in-off-grid-solar-power-and-solar-storage-batteries https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYX95JUxhj0 Why did Deborah decided to invest in off-grid solar power and solar storage batteries? My name's Deb Murdoch and we're in Maxwell, New South Wales. We're in 100 acres here or 36 hectares. I've actually built two houses here and one is a three-bedroom house. It's a split level home and the other part of the property is a one-bedroom with a central pod. So we actually build in three separate pods. We're totally off grid here, we have no landline for telephone. We collect all our water from the roof of both the shed and the house, and we have three tanks. So in total we have in the vicinity of 250,000 litres of water collected off the roof. And so we have fair amount of roof space to have solar as well. So off-grid was about living totally independent of the infrastructure for me. The other side of it was the cost, and so being off grid meant an investment in the first place, it meant that I didn't get continuing escalating prices for electricity. So with what we've got with the three pods and the shed, we have quite a bit of roof space for solar panels to go on and for water to collect. I looked at the costs of the system based on what I had been paying in electricity five years ago on a house in town that was smaller. And I calculated the cost of the system against what I'd been paying in electricity, and worked out that it would take me 10 years to pay for the system. And given that their system with the batteries is likely to last me up to 19 years, that's going to give me free electricity from year 11 on, for nine years. I thought that was a pretty good deal, it was worth the investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYX95JUxhj0 2.07 2023-05-18T19:50:10.997Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-payback-period-for-the-commercial-solar-power-system-at-berembed-station https://www.youtube.com/embed/ahGV3n_fvbQ What was the payback period for the commercial solar power system at Berembed station? A lot of guys I know, I'm always surprised that more people haven't got solar on. Maybe the initial cost upsets them a little bit, but really, the payback period is insignificant. I mean, we're talking about three or four years and you've got them done and dusted, and then your power's a hell of a lot cheaper. I guess we've gone through a fairly tough time in the bush with the drought in the last few years, and that's probably put a few people off the initial capital cost. But really, long-term, it's certainly the way of the future. From what I can see at the moment anyway. Yeah the financial return, we're talking about, I think, three or four years and we've virtually broken even. So we don't keep a hell of a good track on it. All I know, basically, is over the summer months, the thing that really sticks out for me, our power bill is half what it was prior to installing the solar. We obviously pay the bill quarterly. So each of those summer months, probably those two big power expense periods over summer, it's definitely half. It's saved us a hell of a lot of money. Yeah, yeah, miles and miles ahead. We certainly wouldn't go back. I'm glad we did it, you know. In retrospect our company here had a few reservations for a start, because of the upfront capital cost. But really, the way it turned out in the end, it's just been, as I said, a no-brainer. Now we're starting to kick goals, we're going to be miles ahead. A property like this is nearly 55 and half thousand hectares here. We're on 6,000 acres of a crop, got 3,000 head of cattle here a lot of the time. Our power bill's only about sort of $18,000 to $19,000 all up to run the whole property. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ahGV3n_fvbQ 1.47 2023-05-18T19:50:07.809Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-choose-high-quality-solar-panels-and-a-local-installer-if-you-re-living-in-rural-australia https://www.youtube.com/embed/UVLvycNsWGM Why should you choose high quality solar panels and a local installer if you're living in rural Australia? And then being a local fellow is a huge advantage for us too. There's plenty of solar companies around that can come and go from Sydney or Melbourne or Brisbane or wherever, but being a local supplier has meant a lot to us with local employees. And we knew he wasn't far away if we ever had an issue with a solar system. The panels he put up, I know they've got better and better over the years. We haven't had an issue at all with them, and when they set it up, the workmanship was great. One of the few sparkie's set up I've seen that actually pick up all their mess when they leave. So that was a nice benefit on the side. I think it comes down to longevity, basically. We don't want to be mucking around. We're out in the bush here, we don't want to be mucking around with things failing on us. So always tended to look for better quality of machinery and supplies. It was a no-brainer for us. We'd rather buy something that we know is going to have a better lifespan. So obviously the solar power is free, the sunlight's here most days of the year. And as far as getting transmission of power, electricity out of the grid onto farm there's inherently a few obstacles there. We have troubles of issues with trees going over, wind storms knocking power lines over, one thing or another. We've got the backup with the solar, it's a no-brainer for us really. If you got any queries, more than happy to come out and talk you through things. Keeps an eye on our system from his office there as well, he can keep an eye on how it's performing. I don't always pick local, but in this case, yes, by all means I'd rather have a local do the job. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UVLvycNsWGM 1.36 2023-05-18T19:50:04.234Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-solar-power-systems-for-farmers https://www.youtube.com/embed/pT-8I2jv6gU What are the benefits of solar power systems for farmers? The cost of electricity was starting to get pretty well out of hand. A lot rural properties like ours, we supply all our electricity for all their staff, all their housing is supplied free of cost. And it was becoming quite an issue for us, between that and the workshop which was quite a big user of power as well. And of course, there was a lot of publicity around for the last several years now about solar power. And so it was a natural progression for us to move in to total solar booster system for our electricity as well. In my opinion, everyone should be on solar really. It's such a huge advantage having the sunlight, you've got the sunlight right in front of you every day. Apart from the grid supply, there's always faults with that with tree going over lines or one thing or another. So we got that initial solar setup there, it's a huge advantage. We have another property up in the hills ourselves, which is a standalone solar system up there. It's been absolutely fantastic, it ended up being cheaper to install than putting the grid power across. And plus, we've got no power bills at all. We run a five bedroom house up there and never had an issue at all, that whole time. It's been up there for probably three or four years now as well. As far as putting a solar system in yourself on your own property, it's a no-brainer really. There's just too many advantages to ignore. A lot of guys I know, I'm always surprised that more people haven't gotten solar on. It's I think maybe initial cost upsets them a little bit, but really, the payback period is insignificant really. We're talking about three or four years and you've got it done and dusted you know, and then your power's a hell of a lot cheaper. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pT-8I2jv6gU 1.43 2023-05-18T19:50:00.446Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-help-to-reduce-the-cost-of-water-pumping-at-berembed-cattle-station https://www.youtube.com/embed/v6DUxS2NUqg How did solar power help to reduce the cost of water pumping at Berembed cattle station? We have four staff full-time, one of those is a full-time gardener, he looks after the homestead grounds here. We have approximately a thousand breeding cows. That equates to about anything between 2,500 and 3,000 head of cattle on the property at any one time, and they tend to graze probably half that area. The other half of the area approximately 6,000 acres, we set aside for grain production, which is wheat and barley, canola, fava beans, those sorts of things. But yeah basically our main income in the last couple of years has been livestock. Predominantly I'd say the household use. I think there's five houses on the place that house the staff, et cetera. Probably our biggest energy consumption's our water pump which is out of a borehole. The borehole is approximately 60 metres deep but we pump from about 38 metres. And fortunately that supplies basically all the water around all the homestead all the staff quarters, livestock, yards and this garden around here which is about five acres. So the garden actually consumes a lot of water, so the pump in prior time before we set the solar up, was running pretty well a lot of the nighttime. We used to water overnight so we could maximise our water usage. Since we've got the solar on we've tended to swap around a bit. Now we're watering a lot during the day, take advantage of the energy that's being produced during the day. So our power bills have gone down considerably. I had a bit of a quick look the other day. During the winter months we don't notice a huge, bearing in mind the price of power has got more expensive in the intervening years, it's cheaper, probably 10% cheaper in the winter months. Where we're noticing the big savings for us is all those summer months when we're using the water. I reckon our power bill is 50% cheaper over summer than what it was before. And I had a bit of a quick look the other day, overall the whole year is somewhere between 30% and 40% less than what it was prior, and that's not including any power price increases in the mean time. So it's been, you know, very beneficial. https://www.youtube.com/embed/v6DUxS2NUqg 2.07 2023-05-18T19:49:57.061Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-higher-quality-solar-systems-help-create-better-environmental-and-financial-outcomes https://www.youtube.com/embed/z9px4sL9WQ8 Why do higher quality solar systems help create better environmental and financial outcomes? We do a lot of houses for people that are concerned about environmental factors, and we're seeing more and more people putting in electric vehicles and battery systems to try and reduce their carbon emissions. We all need to do our part to help with climate change, and by installing a system that's going to last the distance, you're helping that, you're not contributing to landfill with panels that have died. So these people are building these houses, they're looking at the environmental factor as one of the main reasons. So we like working with these people because there's nothing better than a customer ringing up and saying, My power bills have reduced... Our carbon emissions have reduced. And people are genuinely happy about doing the right thing, plus they're saving money. So it's good for the environment, it's good for your wallet. It's a win-win situation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/z9px4sL9WQ8 1.12 2023-05-18T19:49:52.885Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-solar-panel-power-optimisers-help-to-overcome-issues-with-roof-shading https://www.youtube.com/embed/lRGwQYabPrE How do solar panel power optimisers help to overcome issues with roof shading? We do quite a bit of work up in the hills, with the hills comes a lot of trees. So we do have a lot of partly shaded sites that we designed, so use of power optimisers with the panels worked very well. So we can have a partially saving site that still produces, where a string inverter wouldn't. Power optimisers is a good solution for these partly shaded sites. With older houses and different roof angles, the power optimisers or the micro inverters really come into effect because they open up the design for the property. We can make it work with the use of the either the power optimisers or micro inverters. The designer at the end of the day will make a decision on what sized system, what inverter, what panels, to suit the customer. So if you get that wrong, you could have a system that is is not right or fit for purpose. With design it really comes down to spending time with the customer and going through all of the time of day which they're using the electricity. Spending that time with the customer, to get the best outcome for them. If you're not spending time with the customer and going through this, it's quite difficult to come up with an outcome that's going to be beneficial. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lRGwQYabPrE 1.35 2023-05-18T19:49:49.180Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-expert-solar-power-installers-with-customised-design-services-get-better-results https://www.youtube.com/embed/qCnADGrdw4Q Why do expert solar power installers with customised design services get better results? When looking at the installation company, also makes a huge difference. You could have high quality products installed by a poor quality installer, and the system won't work properly. So having it installed by a quality installer, its definitely going to help your system. So with the design and instal of a solar system, you need to look at the whole property. The electricity consumption, every site is different, every design is different. So you need to look at that when designing the system. If you're going through a call centre, I highly doubt that they're ever going to, all they're doing is slapping some panels on a roof on Google maps and sending you a quote. They're not taking time to analyse your usage, how many occupants in the house, what loads you've got, to try and assess and make a judgement. Which we spend the time with the customer to go through all of these. Do you have a swimming pool, ducted air conditioning? Do you work during the day? Are you, do you use a lot of power at night? So every person's different, every house is different. One size doesn't fit all, it needs to be specifically designed for that person and that house. If you get it wrong you could have an underperforming system, you could have a system that's not big enough for your needs, you won't get the best outcomes available. So its pays to go with someone who's going to spend time on the design and then a quality install. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qCnADGrdw4Q 1.44 2023-05-18T19:49:45.597Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-ignore-the-performance-warranty-with-cheap-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/tt1PAFGEBpY Why should you ignore the performance warranty with cheap solar panels? If they haven't got an office in Australia, I'd be asking questions. If you're getting a 25 year or a 30 year performance warranty, it's not really worth the paper it's written on. So you would be very hard pressed after that product warranty has run out to claim on the performance warranty. It's a bit of a smoke and mirrors sort of trick with the solar industry, but actually claiming that warranty on a performance basis could be very difficult. Especially if the manufacturer is no longer in Australia, it could be very, very difficult to claim. So it's a long-term investment. You might as well do it once, do it properly. And people are starting to get more switched on about the quality of the system. So if you've got a expensive house with a cheap system on it, it could almost reduce the value of your property. So it make sense for resale value warranty, makes sense to go with the quality. At the moment, I would say in South Australia, with the current rates, you're looking at a return on investment on a quality system of between three and three and a half years, we see quite regularly. So it's not a long return on investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/tt1PAFGEBpY 1.40 2023-05-18T19:49:41.606Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-long-term-benefits-of-investing-in-higher-quality-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/VpGGA1ZJP6M What are the long-term benefits of investing in higher quality solar panels? More and more people are researching the panels, and getting more educated. So people are scared with what they see on the news about poor quality systems. I think more and more homeowners and business owners are getting educated, and starting to seek out the quality product. They know that the crap's out there, and they're actually want to do the right thing, and search out that panel. Higher efficiency panel's going to generate more. The upfront cost may be more, but in the long run it's going to make you more money. Not going to degradate as much, so a 350 watt panel now, in 25 years is still guaranteed to generate over 90% of its capacity. So in 25 years, you're still going to be generating a substantial amount of electricity. Investing in high quality solar definitely gives you more reliability, and you're guaranteeing yourself with a company 25 year product warranty. It's going to give you a long-term investment, which is protected by a large manufacturer. Which in the solar industry who's to say if half the panel manufacturers at the moment will be around in five, 10 years time? https://www.youtube.com/embed/VpGGA1ZJP6M 1.32 2023-05-18T19:49:37.628Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-higher-quality-solar-panels-get-better-financial-returns-for-commercial-properties https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMNDIxw-9gU Do higher quality solar panels get better financial returns for commercial properties? Between a cheap panel and a decent panel on a commercial property, can be a very short payback period, so six months 12 months extra. You've got a panel that's going to last 25 years, compared to a panel that's going to last 10 years. So they get drawn in by the initial price, when should they should really be looking at the overall long-term investment and payback. Commercial clients really need to look at the quality. Adding a higher efficiency panel, where you can fit more panels on your roof. So it's allowing you to squeeze the biggest system possible onto that roof space. So you're reducing your costs and helping the environment at the same time, which is a win-win for everyone. They should be looking at the return on investment of the system over the 25 year period of the warranty. Which if you're changing the panels after 10 years, there goes all your return on investment. So look at the panel you're putting in, make sure it's quality because in the long run you'll be the one that's paying for it. Design and sizing is very important, especially on a commercial job, if we're looking at peak loads and trying to minimise their energy consumption. So we spend a lot of time analysing these bills to get the right outcome. Getting the interval data from the retailer. Looking at the, their loads. Putting data loggers in prior to the installation, to work out the loads that they're using and what times of day. Looking at their operation hours to maximise their system performance, and minimise their electricity bills. With the return on, we've got a return on investment calculations, we add each bill, we'd analyse and put into our system and we calculate their return on investment for each project. The biggest driver for commercial customers is to reduce their operating costs. It's a considerable cost to their business, for their outgoings. We've had customers who've had multiple commercial properties upwards of $50,000 which are now only paying under a $1,000 to $2,000 a year. So their return on investment has been two and a half years. It's not hard to do the numbers, and financially it makes sense for commercial customers to put solar in. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMNDIxw-9gU 2.52 2023-05-18T19:49:33.816Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-should-homeowners-look-for-when-choosing-a-reputable-solar-power-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/gjRRs2SjT6o What should homeowners look for when choosing a reputable solar power installer? Most homeowners are looking to reduce their energy bills. We have a few that are looking for other reasons could be, you know, environmental reasons. So it's probably a mixture. So, they're looking at saving, you know, the energy plus doing the right thing by the environment. And the homeowners want to feel assured that they're doing the right thing. They like to see that we've actually done a design, someone's actually come and had a look at the, what they're going to install on their roof, paid a bit of attention. It's not just some call centre that's slapped a few panels on your roof on Google and maps, and sent you a quote. We're actually spending time and going through and designing and looking at the house as a whole. Are there any other suggestions, helping them look, have a look at their energy bill. See if we can make some recommendations on their tariffs, or see if we can save them some money there. So we try and do the right thing by the customer, and I think it pays off. We spend time with customer, and looking to their system as a whole, look at their individual circumstances, to make recommendations which could help in their energy consumption. So we're trying to achieve an energy-efficient outcome for our customers. We look at the house as a whole and offer our recommendation just to try and minimise the customer's energy usage. We can make suggestions on their usage, and try and help them minimise. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gjRRs2SjT6o 1.49 2023-05-18T19:49:29.926Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/should-you-just-pick-the-cheapest-quote-if-you-re-buying-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4DhxgukXFc Should you just pick the cheapest quote if you're buying a solar power system? They shouldn't always look at the cheapest quote, they should always look at what they're getting for their money, because there's so many cheap systems getting sold now. You can buy a system and you know, if you're getting three to five years out of it and having to pull it off from the roof and start again, the return on investment is very poor. So I personally believe that if you go with a quality system, which is going to be on your roof with long warranties, you've got long warranties on the panels. you got long warranties on the inverter, that you've got guarantees. You're using reputable companies for the installation and for the materials, you are guaranteed that, you know, for the next 10 years, you're not going to have any problems. Homeowners, pays to think about installing quality solar, because the other option is going to cost you in the long run. It's you know, you end up paying twice because the manufacturer probably won't be around. You'll be chasing some office, a virtual office, or someone in China to get a panel that you can't source anymore. And we see it time and time again, these people, systems are five, six, seven years old, and now they're stuck with, you know, a panels died, they can't replace it. So you really need to think about the quality of the panels and the inverter that you're putting in, and the quality of the installation, because as a package it's a long-term investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4DhxgukXFc 1.40 2023-05-18T19:49:26.883Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-solar-panel-installation-challenges-for-craig-s-home-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/J8vR6dUuxT0 What were the solar panel installation challenges for Craig's home in Adelaide? Craig's a scientist, he came to us with a very specific brief on what he wanted. Craig wanted to have the panels in landscape. He wanted them on the north-facing roof to fill the north-facing roof as much as we could. Craig picked the panel because it was the highest-efficiency panel on the market. Being a scientist, he had conducted a lot of research into the product. He has also requested that he wanted the micro-inverters, which paired together, make a very good system. The main challenge was the roof. The purlin spacings weren't correct, so we had to use a special bracket, a W bracket to screw it down to the roof, using EJOT screws and bits and pieces. So it was a bit of a challenge. On a good day it's generating 100 kilowatt hours a day, which is quite considerable amount for residential property. But with his plans to add a substantial battery storage, he felt that he was future-proofing. https://www.youtube.com/embed/J8vR6dUuxT0 1.14 2023-05-18T19:49:21.066Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-an-adelaide-winery-maximise-their-energy-efficiency-and-sustainability-with-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5fp7wqpRRY How did an Adelaide winery maximise their energy efficiency and sustainability with solar power? Dowie Doole are committing to going organic and sustainable. They're building the cellar door with energy efficient solar and air conditioning in mind, to try and reduce their energy costs and do the right thing. But also looking at putting in an electric vehicle charging station out the front area, trying to be as energy efficient and responsible. Yeah, so we were asked to try and accommodate this bit of a unique build being four shipping containers, three of them joined, one for the toilet. So we had a bit of, constraints in regards to space and size. So it was, it was a bit of a difficult to installation. So we've got a 9.5 kilowatt ducted mid static air conditioner, and a split system in the back office. And then we've got a 10 kilowatt three-phase inverter, and the panels on the roof are 39 panels, installed on a custom made roofing to optimise the angle 30 degrees North facing, to give them the most power production possible. So, the solar was always part of the design. The architect had built the roof on top of the container to maximise the solar production. Yeah, the architect was very adamant on what he wanted. It had to be symmetrical, had to be neat because as you drive down the road, you get a good look at the panels on the roof as you come in driving up to the cellar door. Everything had to be hidden, so the inverter we've got mounted it on top of the container. All the pipes are hidden underneath the building, not visible. So yeah, we had to work with him and it managed to come up very good. We've also installed a smart meter, so that they can monitor their energy consumption of the cellar door, which is installed in the main switchboard. Which will give them full data analysis of their energy consumption, self-consumption and export. So that they can keep a track of what energy they're using. They're trying to get the organic certification. So it makes sense, to especially use something that's going to last and guarantee that that's going to be, you know, on the roof for 25 years. So it gives them, gives the customer peace of mind. https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5fp7wqpRRY 2.33 2023-05-18T19:49:16.452Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-mark-from-goodhouse-architects-invest-in-high-quality-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/G1EsQ0MX1fA Why does Mark from Goodhouse Architects invest in high quality solar power systems? It's pretty clear in this market, that there are a lot of suppliers and installers, who are quite often out to make a quick buck. There are a lot of rebates and a lot of systems that can be manipulated, and there's a lot of range in terms of quality of panels, of inverters and of instal. And you only have to drive around the streets to see that there are solar panels sometimes put on south-facing roofs, which is extraordinary that that can actually happen. So it is important that there is a good balance between the quality of the panels, the quality of all of the hardware, of the inverter and of the battery, and that needs to balance with the economics, performance and economics. I always tell our clients that there will be cheaper systems out there. You will open the newspaper and you will see cheaper systems, but we're actually designing and delivering something for the long-term. Something that will last and something that will continue to work into the years. The payback for solar is not a quick thing. So it is a number of years that they have to work and work optimally for the payback to be there. So it is really, really important, that the efficiencies stay at as high a percentage as they possibly can. The reason why good houses exists is because of sustainability. We are getting lots and lots and lots of people finding us, we're not advertising, but people are finding us and searching out for a sustainable solution. I think partly that is an ethical decision. So people are realising that we can't just keep building enormous McMansions that use an enormous amount of electricity, it's not the right thing to do. But I think the other thing that's changed because of the solar technology now, and the battery technology, people are realising that it's possible, that this can effect the economics of the build as well. So we never used to be able to talk about payback time with sustainable architecture, but now we can, and that's creating a much, much bigger market as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/G1EsQ0MX1fA 2.12 2023-05-18T19:49:12.521Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-goodhouse-architects-optimise-the-energy-rating-of-their-homes-before-installing-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/nyGG40rfYVc Why do Goodhouse Architects optimise the energy rating of their homes before installing solar power? Goodhouse works very well in hand-in-hand with a reasonable size solar system, doesn't have to be an enormous solar system. And the reason for that is because Goodhouse focuses on the building envelope of a house. So the walls, ceiling, and floor, are all highly sealed and highly insulated, such that any imported, active, heating and cooling that's required in the house, is really minimal. So in a winter condition when the sun pours into the slab, and we've got underfloor heating on, which is a very efficient way of heating and cooling a house, that heat stays inside. So any active heating is actually minimal. So we've got oversized timber frame walls, with about four inch insulation in there, double-glazed windows. The seal of our building envelopes are extremely tight, so we're sitting under five air changes per hour. And all of those things work together, to mean that we don't require an enormous amounts of heating and cooling, which is the main energy consumer of a domestic house. After we have worked out the brief with our clients, they give us an indication of how reliant they want to be on the grid or not, to work out the best possible solution for each individual size. With anything in the building industry, what you want or the people that you want on your team, are people who are motivated. They know their stuff, and they're ethical. We want the trade to answer the phone, answer our questions and get on well with clients. And using the solar Pathfinder, obviously works out the best spot for the panels, and works directly with the clients, with us in the loop, but works directly with the clients to develop the best solution for their property. We have done a lot of research on different brands et cetera, but it's such a changing market. What we've found in this area, is that it's really important to have an expert on the team. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nyGG40rfYVc 1.58 2023-05-18T19:49:08.912Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-help-the-biodynamic-certification-of-dowie-doole-vineyard-and-winery-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/vlV9MExbuMw How did solar power help the biodynamic certification of Dowie Doole vineyard and winery in Adelaide? With Dowie Doole, we were founded in 1995 by two great gentlemen, Drew Dowie and Norm Doole. And the reason I raise that, is Drew Dowey was one of Australia's most recognised architects. He designed the Wolf Blass Cellar Door, and so, the design aesthetic here at Dowie Doole is very, very important to us. So choosing products that really were complementary to the building was very important. So things like the air conditioning, which you can't see a lot of, and the beautiful panels that stand out on arrival, was key parts of the design element. So yes, while efficiency and performance of the products was very important, it's also the aesthetic. With everything that we do here at Dowie Doole is very important, right from growing grapes, making wine, how we serve people at the Cellar Door, and the environment you sit in, it's all about the feel of the environment. The panels look absolutely amazing, and part of the design I guess here at the Cellar Door, was also, we wanted the journey to start from when you enter the property. So when you come off California Road, there's a 24-meter-long Dowie Doole corten sign, and then you sort of come in through a journey. There's the first block of vines is a Bush Vine Grenache plot, planted in 1965. And we've actually cut those off at ground level, and we're retraining them as bush vines. So it's been a real generation. So there'll be a sign that you'll see, that that's the Bush Vine vineyard. Then you come through a Shiraz Cabernet vineyard, and then, as you're coming down the road, one of the first things you see is the top of the Cellar Door as you come over the hill, and you see all the solar panels. And that was important because we wanted people to get that sustainability feel as they're entering the property. So by the time they walk in, they've got a feeling for what Dowie Doole's about, the vineyard names, the solar on the roof, that real approach has been very important. With Dowie Doole, we're very conscious of our input, I guess, on the environment. We're actually, at the moment, going through a carbon audit process with a carbon accountant. So we're trying to make sure that Dowie Doole is carbon-neutral across the entire business. Which to be fair, we own 69 hectares of our own vineyards, all up, so we get a lot of credits from the vines consuming carbon. But we also wanted to make sure that this Cellar Door had zero input. So trying to use energy-efficient products, and the high solar output was really important in making sure that this Cellar Door is essentially carbon-neutral. So for me, it really started with, a lot of the wines that I'm passionate about happened to come from biodynamic vineyards, and it was just a coincidence that a lot of the wines that I really enjoyed drinking happened to be biodynamic, so I became interested in biodynamics and sustainability. And so, this vineyard is currently in conversion to biodynamic, we're in the final year of the three-stage conversion process. So, within the next 12 months, all wines produced from Dowie Doole will be organic and biodynamically certified. https://www.youtube.com/embed/vlV9MExbuMw 2.23 2023-05-18T19:49:04.428Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-dowie-doole-cellar-door-maximise-the-design-of-their-solar-power-and-air-conditioning-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/sW3uULVtbfI How did Dowie Doole Cellar Door maximise the design of their solar power and air conditioning systems? So my name is Chris Thomas, I am the Winemaker and Managing Director for Dowie Doole Wines. And right now we're sitting in our California vineyard where the brand new Dowie Doole tasting room is being built. Sustainability, generational farming, I guess is very very important to Dowie Doole, we feel like we are custodians of the land here, and it's our responsibility to look after it for not just our generation, but the following generations to come. And that will make, wine making in this region sustainable for the longterm. So sustainability was a key part of the development of the Cellar Door, and choosing the site and everything that's gone into the building. So the key part of the Cellar Door design right from the start was trying to be, I guess energy neutral, or even putting back in, feeding back into the grid. so we're trying to have zero impact in terms of power consumption. So, we've designed the building all around the most effective angles for the solar, right from the initial design that the architect did. Brought in early in the piece to advise us on the most effective panels that we could use, that gave us a high ratios of energy output, and they gave us a more effective output per area. And with the size of the Cellar Door here, isn't huge, so having an effective output per square metre, was very important in the selection of the panels. We liked the design aesthetic and we love that, reliable and of high quality so, and good value for money in that as well. The air conditioning in this building was actually a real challenge to be honest, because we are sitting inside two shipping containers essentially. So we're restricted by the size of the containers obviously, and we didn't want to have a biggger air conditioner sort of that didn't look nice hanging out. So we've gone with a sort of in-built system, I guess, which actually gave us the best output for the size. So, which was really important obviously when you've got the restriction in size with the containers. It was yeah, a good choice I think, it's working beautifully at the moment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/sW3uULVtbfI 1.47 2023-05-18T19:49:00.333Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-choose-an-expert-solar-power-installer-if-your-home-has-a-difficult-roof-design https://www.youtube.com/embed/gpw8igjCpNg Why is it important to choose an expert solar power installer if your home has a difficult roof design? Well it's an old house, it has a large air conditioning requirement in summer. So you know it was financial, but it's also partly environmental as well. So you know, there's no question I was going to go ahead with such a system, it was a question of how big it was, who was going to install it, and who's going to be the manufacturer for the panels and the inverters. Because we've got a large steep roof here, it's like a 35 degree angle, and I particularly wanted landscape orientation rather than portrait, and that makes it difficult with the roof the way that the purlin spacing is. And I'd done some sort of research into other ways of fixing to a metal roof, where it fixes directly to the corrugated sheets, not necessarily to the purlins. They did an excellent job, they were very careful on the roof when they came. What particularly impressed me was when they did the wiring inside the roof cavity, everything was in conduit, there's no loose wires. Everything was really tidy, going right down to the switchboard, and the choice of the panel system. They're excellent because they're running around on your roof, and you want the installation done correctly. Because you know, you get winter storms coming in, you don't want panels lifting off. You want it all done correctly. And so far it's been through quite a few storms, hasn't batted an eyelid at all. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gpw8igjCpNg 1.34 2023-05-18T19:48:56.753Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-solar-panel-purchase-decisions-for-craig-s-home-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/fCjsbYSjeYA What were the solar panel purchase decisions for Craig's home in Adelaide? Well there's a lot of competitors on the market, there's obviously some not such good quality. And the tier one doesn't mean anything, because that's just the finance or security of the company, not the quality of the panel. So I'd rather pay extra to get to get good quality panels, rather than have something less expensive that goes to landfill in five years time. Well, I got a good guarantee. They've got a very small degradation rate year on year. So I'm looking to get 20 years out of the panels, hopefully a little bit more, who knows? It's a question of the the power of the panels obviously, a question of the guarantee, question of the performance with temperature as the temperature goes up, and a question of how much it degrades each year. All those factors went into the selection of the panel. So I really chose the panel and the preference for microinverters first up, before I actually found a supplier. The reliability has been really, really good. The panels are beautiful, not one of them has caused me a problem, and this is almost 10 months later. None of the inverters have caused a problem. The software system is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I can track everything. Optimum days each panel generates just a shade under 300 watts. So, you know, fairly pleased with that. And it all matches up to the electricity provided that I sell the excess solar to, so everything goes up. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fCjsbYSjeYA 1.33 2023-05-18T19:48:52.956Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-higher-efficiency-solar-panels-help-businesses-maximise-their-return-on-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/vMWlUi4Jf-o How do higher efficiency solar panels help businesses maximise their return on investment? So our commercial clients are fairly varied. We've done work for the army, we've got medical centres, dentists, pharmacies. We've got farms, cane farms, powering pumps. So yeah, there's a vast, very varied clientele with the commercial space. And the perfect thing about most businesses is they're operating during the day, so it makes perfect sense. You're producing that power during the day, and you're offsetting those power bills during the day. Some of the important factors for businesses is a lot of them can be energy dense. So meaning that it might be a small building, but they're using a lot of power per square meter. So you need to make sure you fit as much power as possible on there, so they can achieve the savings that they want. So make sure you use the most efficient panel on the market, to produce the most power on any given roof. We can fit a lot of power into a small area and offset as much from that power bill as possible. Operating a business from these premises, they can't afford any downtime. They don't want anyone coming back and interrupting their operations. They just want a hassle-free, risk-free install. Yeah so generally your return on investment on solar with the business, the average business out there is paying anywhere from say 28 cents a kilowatt hour to 45 cents a kilowatt hour. So we've had systems as low as a two-year, 18 month payback on installation. So it's quite phenomenal, there isn't another investment in the world that you can get that sort of return, so it's quite remarkable. https://www.youtube.com/embed/vMWlUi4Jf-o 1.29 2023-05-18T19:48:48.963Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-some-of-the-issues-that-can-go-wrong-with-solar-power-systems-advertised-as-cheap https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZHAiO9HGFQ What are some of the issues that can go wrong with solar power systems advertised as cheap? Okay so I guess it can be quite alluring to go for a system of say, $3000 or $4,000 that you might see on TV. Typically, there's a lot of strings attached to that installation. It's from a sales company, you don't know who the installers are. You'll never see that company again. So some of the biggest concerns that customers have, they see all the horror stories on TV with panels on fire or warranty issues. You know they're just not lasting the distance, you know they're in a different price bracket. That's the one thing that we tell customers about straight up, is the long-term warranty. So although every solar manufacturer has long-term warranties, most panels out there on the market have a 25-year performance warranty, and then a 10-year product warranty. There's a bit of indecision in the market about what is an actual performance warranty and whether it is claimable at all. But under Australian Consumer Law, everything reverts back to the product warranty. So having that long-term security with a product warranty, it just reduce the risk for me and reduce the risk for the customer. It's making sure you do pick the right installer. You want someone that cares that installation, that way it's installed properly, it's to the CEC requirements, and you don't have any issues. We take every installation personally. Sure, you might get charged that few dollars more, but you know it's going to last longer. If you do have any issues, you've got somewhere to come to and get everything resolved. And I guess when people are getting more savvy also about the quality of solar panels and that out there, it's only a matter of time before people actually investigate more. So, it's making sure you do pick the right installer, that way it's installed properly, it's to the CEC requirements and you don't have any issues. Sure, they cost a few dollars more, but our vision is to have long-term security for our customers. They're not having to replace systems, they're not having to have systems down for extended periods. It all comes back to the quality, quality of manufacturing and also the quality of the installation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZHAiO9HGFQ 1.55 2023-05-18T19:48:45.577Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-design-and-sizing-considerations-for-homeowners-looking-to-install-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/muEGdnJqFhA What are the design and sizing considerations for homeowners looking to install solar power? As far as sizing a system correctly for any installation, there's a lot of considerations. The system might be split into two different sides, some might be facing east, some might be facing west. So a good starting point is looking at someone's power bill, that way we can gauge when they use power and how much they use power. So there's a lot of times we can offset or do some power shifting, especially the hot water system for instance. So we might install a timer and make sure that it comes on during the day, so you get more opportunities to use that power and save more money. Yeah so, there's a number of considerations when you're installing solar. So there could be shade issues, not just now, but also in the future. So you've got to consider that. So the direction of the roof, the type of roof, so they can be Colorbond roofing, they can be tile roofs. So yeah, there's a number of different things that we go over with the customer. And also even aesthetics are a consideration to some people, they might want the solar panels on the front of the roof. As far as sizing a system correctly, for any installation, there's a lot of considerations that the system might be split into two different sides, some might be facing east, some might be facing west. So a good starting point, is looking at someone's power bill. That way we can gauge when they use power and how much they use power. So there's a lot of times we can offset or do some power shifting. Especially the a hot water system for instance. We might install a timer and make sure that it comes on during the day. So you get more opportunities to use that power and save more money. So as far as getting an entire system quality up to spec, so it's not just about just the panel or even just the inverter. So a lot of consideration goes into the type of cable we use the conduit we use, the isolators we use. There's a lot of different other components that we don't skip on either, because we know that all those different parts can be a provider of a fail. So we make sure that every single component in our system is of the highest standard, so you have less issues. All these components are out in the weather. So it can be 78 degrees, once you consider these products are in the direct sun. So every single component is exposed. So you need to make sure that you're choosing the highest quality gear over a long period. https://www.youtube.com/embed/muEGdnJqFhA 2.04 2023-05-18T19:48:42.079Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-potential-risks-with-solar-sales-companies-who-outsource-the-installation https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSOT-MnvOdo What are the potential risks with solar sales companies who outsource the installation? To go so far as the installing of the solar is concerned, there's a lot of companies out there that don't install solar, so they just sell the solar. So you don't know who the installer is, maybe they just go to the cheapest installer. So once again, you're getting an inferior installation. There's a lot of cyclone fixings that you might have to make sure is done. You have to make sure there's a lot of waterproofing that it gets done, you don't want water getting to isolators and causing fires. So there's a lot of little steps that we have to cover to ensure that you're going to get a long life for your system and you're going to have no issues, no downtime, produce more power, and get a better return on investment over a long period. It's not about getting in and installing it as quickly as possible. So we don't care where the system gets installed, we just want to make sure it's in the right spot that's going to produce the most power over a long period. So we're not from out of town, we're not going to come in slap it up right next to the switchboard just because we know we can save an hour or two. We take a lot of pride in how much power our system produced, and we want our systems producing more than anyone else. We've just implemented ISO accreditation just this year, and that comes back to safety as well. We just need to make sure we eliminate all risk out there. And I guess people know that we are electricians, we're licensed electricians, we're licensed installers, we're not just a sales company. So we do all our own installs, we don't contract anything else. So if there's an issue you come to us we solve everything. It's making sure you do pick the right installer. You want someone that cares about that installation, that way it's installed properly, it's to the CEC requirements and you don't have any issues. https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSOT-MnvOdo 1.35 2023-05-18T19:48:38.932Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-higher-quality-solar-panels-get-better-performance-in-hotter-climates https://www.youtube.com/embed/dZrm-C-EoFA Do higher quality solar panels get better performance in hotter climates? So Townsville as a location is probably one of the best locations in Australia to produce solar power. So we've got everything going for us here, so 300 of sunny days a year. So yeah, it's definitely in our favour, is definitely the customer's favour to have solar. So they'll produce more kilowatt hours per kilowatt installed, than any large residential location in Australia. With the hot weather in Townsville, panels can be operating at 70 to 80 degrees in temperature. So that's hot, you can just about fry an egg on that. So knowing that these panels have been tested to a higher temperature up to 90 degrees, you know that these panels will last the distance. Being a really hot climate here in Townsville you don't want anyone sitting in their lounge room sweating. You want to be able to turn that air con on, without the fear of that power bill going through the roof. So I guess the biggest energy users in the home from a customer's point of view, they're always concerned about their hot water system how much power that uses, their air conditioning, and just general appliances around the home. I guess that the other key thing with being the highest quality panel on the market, is the performance and the efficiency of the panels. So you can fit more power into a small area. So with people's power bills getting larger and larger, you want to make sure you use the most efficient panel on the market to produce the most power on any given roof. So a lot of the houses are smaller now as well, so you need to make sure you fit as much power as possible on there, so they can achieve the savings that they want. So as far as an expectation of what effect you can have on a power bill, typically a 50% savings on any power bill is possible for residential. So standard power bill of say $800 to $1000 a quarter here in Townsville, that can come down to anywhere between $300 and $500.Quality https://www.youtube.com/embed/dZrm-C-EoFA 1.46 2023-05-18T19:48:34.526Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-for-homeowners-to-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-panel https://www.youtube.com/embed/YoPywgx2IGs Why is it important for homeowners to invest in a higher quality solar panel? Yeah so quality is everything, because quality leads straight to safety. So a lot of the instances out there with water in isolators, and faulty panels, and things like that, it all comes back to the quality. Quality of manufacturing, and also the quality of the installation. Quality is paramount. Solar's such a longterm play, people expect these to last 25 years. The higher quality panel you get, there's an expectation that the panel will last longer. And it's does. No different to a car. So you can buy a $20,000 vehicle, or you can go to a higher end $40,000 to $50,000 car. You can't expect those two vehicles to last the same distance. The same with panels, so spending that bit more, you can see the difference straightaway in the manufacturing process. So better quality, longer lasting, better return on investment, less hassles. We wanted to get the solar out of the gutter, get some premium systems out there. Sure they cost a few dollars more, but our vision is to have long-term security for our customers. It locks in those savings over a longterm, they're not having to replace systems. They're not having to have systems down for extended periods. So it's just that peace of mind with a good solid brand name, solid warranties, and if something does happen, it gets sorted. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YoPywgx2IGs 1.16 2023-05-18T19:48:30.942Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-higher-quality-solar-panels-with-longer-product-warranties-get-you-better-financial-payback https://www.youtube.com/embed/HW4rGxFp93E Why do higher quality solar panels with longer product warranties get you better financial payback? I think climate change has definitely shifted people's thinking, as have the bush fires of late. People are thinking right, our government isn't doing all that much, so maybe it's my time or my turn to step up. And solar is a great way to do that because you are turning your roof into a mini generation plant. So if you can produce and consume your own renewable energy, then why would you not do that? And that's a great way to make a really positive environmental contribution. I think people who are worried about their hip pocket, are probably the ones who are going to benefit the most from installing solar. It's funny when I first got into the industry, I was very idealistic and I thought, surely everyone's going to want to get solar for the same reasons as me. Which is to help the planet which clearly does need quite a lot of help, but it wasn't the case. I was quite shocked actually. And I realised that most people were all about the hip pocket. Which is fine because you install solar, you get the financial benefit but the environmental benefit is there anyway A lot of people are focused on payback and that's reasonable. You want to make sure that you're getting a good return on your investment. I usually say to people and we actually show people how it's achievable, that you'll probably get around about a three-year payback, over two and a half to three payback with a good quality mid range system. So for the difference of 12 months, if you're going to be in your home even for six or seven years, you'd be mad not to install the good stuff. The performance warranty is a bit of a fluffy warranty, it's quite hard to claim. All panels that pass Australian standards have to offer a 25 year performance warranty. The construction warranty is much more important. Called the Product Warranty, that guarantees that the panel won't crack or warp or corrode, and that's much more likely to happen. So the warranty is generally in line with the longevity of the panel. So if you get a panel or a manufacturer that's prepared to offer 25 year warranty on its panel, you can expect it's going to last at least 25 years. Whereas if you go with a panel that only offers a 10 year warranty, that's probably about as long as you can expect to get full productivity out of it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HW4rGxFp93E 2.12 2023-05-18T19:48:27.049Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-an-expert-solar-installer-help-to-get-you-better-savings-from-your-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/K9UG9hyTAuM How does an expert solar installer help to get you better savings from your solar power system? - Yeah, design and sizing is very important when you're trying to choose a solar system. So we would first off look at the premise or the property. We'd look at their energy usage and how much power they consume. We'd ask them a series of questions looking at their future consumption, and then we look at their budget, and then we can start to determine what solar system would best suit their needs. So, yeah, we would also look at things like the shading, the type of roof, what brands they're interested in, or if they're after a battery or just straight solar. It certainly does pay to pick the right expert to do your solar install. So again, you're paying for quality, you're paying for someone with a strong and solid reputation. - And we ask people, send us your bill pre and post solar. Let us have a look at it for you. Let's see if we can identify more ways that you can save back through a better or a higher feed-in tariff, higher self consumption of solar in your property. It might be a couple of little tweaks, that's all it takes and all of a sudden they're saving even more money. So as well as designing your system for you and installing it, we'll apply on your behalf to have your system connected to the grid, we'll take care of the rebate paperwork for you, we'll arrange for your net metering or your solar meter to be installed for you. I think a lot of people are time poor these days, and they just appreciate someone doing the hard work for them, and that's what we really pride ourselves on doing. I just love quality, I hate chucking stuff out. Now both of our bug bear actually is waste, we hate waste. I hate seeing useful stuff being turfed out after five years, when it could last for 25 years. We just prefer to install good quality stuff once, and then it's done and you don't have to think about it for the next 25 years. - I think another important factor is customer satisfaction. When you're putting in the good quality stuff, customers just generally feel more satisfied. - The STCs or the federal government rebate is available on any solar power system, and I always say to people choose wisely because you only want to put it up once. You don't want to have to pull it down after 10 years. And the rebate shrinks every year until in 2030, there's nothing left. So the sooner you get it, the sooner you start saving, but also the bigger the rebate you get. - Definitely. Yeah, with the government rebate there, it's only going to decrease over time. So the best time to go solar is right now. https://www.youtube.com/embed/K9UG9hyTAuM 2.32 2023-05-18T19:48:23.260Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-help-decrease-the-operating-costs-of-planet-childcare https://www.youtube.com/embed/ldOyhyz6dTU How did solar power help decrease the operating costs of Planet Childcare? - Susie's drivers are primarily environmental. She's involved in a lot of ocean care projects, she's very passionate about those. So the economic argument was important, but much more important was the environmental. So I think she just wants to leave a really positive legacy and to make her footprint as small as possible. So it was just a good fit for her. Yes, she was buying green power before but now she's creating her own green power and contributing that to the to the main grid. Susie's bills were about $400 per quarter so not massive, but she was looking and is looking at expanding her operation, so it was likely that her usage was going to go up. So we oversized a system for her in line with that, and so she's getting a credit on her bill now. Obviously with a 16 kilowatt system she's getting quite a sizable credit, which is great because she's ticking both boxes. She's able to do her thing environmentally and protect our planet, which is critical for her and really important for us as well, and she's able to get her operating costs way down. Probably The biggest challenge with that site was the steepness of the roof. There are only so many installers that are prepared to work on that sort of pitch roof. That was really the main thing. And just getting the cabling down to where the meter box was, was a bit of a challenge. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ldOyhyz6dTU 1.17 2023-05-18T19:48:19.679Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-high-quality-solar-panels-with-microinverter-technology-overcome-shading-issues https://www.youtube.com/embed/t1DGpy17-YY How do high quality solar panels with microinverter technology overcome shading issues? - Brendan and Alice came to one of our presentations, and obviously learned a lot. They learned about DC optimizer inverter technology. And before they thought, well, they wouldn't have the option of putting solar on their house because they'd been given advice that it wasn't viable for them because of shade. Realistically, they don't actually have that much shade, but it travels across the roof at different times of the day in different times of the year. And so when they heard about this optimised inverter technology, they're like, Right, Maybe we can install solar. And in fact they can. They've managed to get their bill down from about $1,200 per quarter, down to a credit each quarter, and they've done that by installing really high performance panels and inverter technology, and that's doable. Like, you can get around the shade issue if you have the right technology. - Use of micro inverters is important so each panel can operate independently of one another. So, if there's any shade on aspects of the array or the panels, it's not going to impact the rest of them. - The client wanted the best that was available, and they also had a big bill and limited roof space. Like they've actually got lots of roof space, but where they wanted to place the panels meant that they could only have so many panels. So, obviously if you want to achieve a given system size, you need more efficient panels. And that's why they went for the best. https://www.youtube.com/embed/t1DGpy17-YY 1.20 2023-05-18T19:48:15.974Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-salt-mist-corrosion-wind-and-shade-effect-the-type-of-solar-panels-you-should-buy https://www.youtube.com/embed/__ptMIa_OoI How does salt mist corrosion, wind and shade effect the type of solar panels you should buy? - We have a lot of clients who live on the coast, and corrosion is obviously a big issue for anyone who lives within cooee of the water. And so we do tend to preference higher quality components because they come with a 25-year performance and construction warranty. And so of course, if you're going to be right by the coast, you're going to be in your home or in your business longer term, then obviously it makes sense to go with a product that has a 25-year warranty against corrosion. But there's also wind, I mean, in Kiama Heights where I used to live, my god, did we get wind from every different direction. And, you need to have a panel that's not going to crack under those conditions. The other thing is shade. I mean, you can get shade anywhere. Shade is a killer for solar. So you want to have both panels that have multiple busbars, but also inverter technology that gets around that issue. - Definitely right. So, not all solar is the same. One big factor also is the aesthetics or the visual look on panels. Customers are very worried about the visual appeal. So that's why we choose the panels that we choose, because of that. One of the major factors in this area is the salt mist corrosion being so close to the coastline. So you really need a panel that's certified, and protected against that. A lot of the cheaper ones are not. So you could run into some problems with warranty claims and some faults in the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/__ptMIa_OoI 1.26 2023-05-18T19:48:12.518Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-commercial-businesses-optimise-the-longer-term-financial-returns-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/P06XvXH55hQ How do commercial businesses optimise the longer term financial returns of a solar power system? - Commercial clients, they tend to focus more on the numbers. So once we show them the full calculation on the potential of generation from the system and how much savings they can make, it really is a no brainer. For most businesses the payback is, you know, it can be as low as three years payback. You know, on average maybe four or five years, that's a very, very strong return. So they do focus on that a lot. The high-quality components definitely produce more power per square meter. So you get more bang for your buck, so to speak. Yeah, with longer term timeframes, you just get more power, which equals more savings and more money. - It's an interesting one because businesses are so driven by the numbers that sometimes they just want that payback to be under two years, and that is achievable if you buy cheaper components. But it's all about the longevity of the equipment and how much power the system is going to produce. So the way that we talk to businesses is to talk about how much power is actually going to be produced by their system, and the more power produced, the more money saved. And so that argument does stack up. And we've installed quite a few systems on commercial premises, and it's because they understand, right, we're going to be here for the longer term And so therefore let's buy the good stuff, do it once and do it properly. - High quality solar is actually better value for your dollar in the long run. So the cheaper systems, yes, you may get your payback sooner, but the quality of them is poor and they fail. So you do have higher maintenance costs and you end up replacing your system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/P06XvXH55hQ 1.40 2023-05-18T19:48:09.136Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-common-concerns-people-have-when-looking-to-purchase-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/t2PlXSsXDU0 What are the common concerns people have when looking to purchase a solar power system? - I think some people are concerned that it's not going to work for them. Some people might have, for example, have friends or family who've had a system installed and it hasn't really worked all that well. And the usual response that I have for that is that you do get what you pay for, and I would suspect that their friend or family hasn't bought particularly well. So, some people are concerned they're not going to get great value for money, some people are concerned about shade, for example, but we can generally get around that with the right inverter technology that allows for individual panel performance. I think some people are also worried about either not getting their money back or perhaps choosing the wrong company. - We do take a very serious consultative approach. So it's not just a cookie cutter attempt, it's not a one size fits all. So, we really customise each system. In certain jobs, obviously there'll be simple ones and more difficult ones, but we customise it in every case. So that's one aspect, good consultation and quality of the systems. We do recommend the highest quality products. We can offer the more mid to high range products as well, but we do find that return on investment on a longer term timeframe with more quality of components, that ends up better. - We're really passionate about renewables, and we also educate people, so by the time people come to a purchasing decision they feel informed and they feel comfortable. And so they're ready to take that next step. If they've been thinking about it for a long time and then they're umming and arrhing, and do we and don't we, I think by the time we explain to them how to get that return and how to get the best benefit out of their system, they're comfortable and they're happy to make that purchase. https://www.youtube.com/embed/t2PlXSsXDU0 1.49 2023-05-18T19:48:05.854Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-4-key-decisions-with-solar-power-that-get-you-a-zero-dollar-electricity-bill https://www.youtube.com/embed/LExMks4d6HU What are the 4 key decisions with solar power that get you a zero dollar electricity bill? - I just think we've got this bountiful resource shining down on us every day and why aren't we using it? And so that's my driver. I just want to get as much rooftop solar on people's roofs, on businesses across Australia as we possibly can, and really be part of that clean energy revolution. I think really the most important thing is quality. A lot of people buy purely on price and they come away quite disappointed with the results that they get. So if you buy quality gear, both panels and inverters, you can't go wrong. - Quality is definitely a very important factor when you're considering solar, coupled with a value for your money as well. So it's not just quality, you have to make sure it's competitive and it pays for itself as an investment. So solar in general stands on its own two feet. As a solar investment, make sure you maximise that value with good quality components for a competitive price. - I think most people, when they're looking to buy solar they're wanting value for money for sure, but people want something that's going to last. So if you want something that's going to last, you need to pay that little bit more for it. I'd love to say that most people buy solar purely for environmental reasons because that was my whole rationale for getting into solar. But most people are doing it to save money and that is certainly achievable. We have clients who have $0 bills, we have clients who get a credit from their energy company each quarter. And there's four things you need to do for that. You need to buy good quality gear. You need to oversize your system a little bit. You need to negotiate a good feed in tariff for the surplus solar of that you don't use. And where possible you really need to use your power as much as you can during the day. - So when you look at a purchase, you're buying an energy generating system for decades to come, hopefully, and by buying the quality components, you can certainly do that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LExMks4d6HU 1.50 2023-05-18T19:48:02.268Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-are-the-environmental-benefits-of-solar-power-and-renewable-energy https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqM6AJoBIDw How important are the environmental benefits of solar power and renewable energy? My name is Alice Bovill and we live just outside Jamberoo, just under the escarpment. It's a single story home, it's sort of a U shape, and it takes advantage of the view and it's a lovely backdrop with the rainforest. I think it's wonderful, and I think the fact that we're harnessing this natural product up here, the sunshine is very important. And it's... I think it's just wonderful that we can do something to help our planet as well. Of course it makes financial sense, it certainly does, yes. So the bills are proving it, and the fact that we can use the swimming pool for a lot longer than we have been able to. I think an electric car is something when we replace our cars, would be something to consider. We do harvest our own water, we do have a little bit of gas, but now we've got our own water, we've got our own power. I think we're doing quite well, we do grow some vegetables as well. I think it is important to have solar, I think it is, because it makes a difference to the power bills. And as I said, it's harvesting our sunshine. We have lots of sunshine and I think we should be using as many things as we can to help our planet be a greener place, and a better place for future generations, because I think it's up to every individual. If we can all contribute in our way, it's important and we will help the universe and make this a greener planet and leave it in a better position, and conditioned for our children. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqM6AJoBIDw 1.40 2023-05-18T19:47:58.387Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-the-design-of-alice-s-home-effect-the-installation-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvEcuYQh_Nk How did the design of Alice's home effect the installation of a solar power system? My husband would always get such a shock that we could have such a huge power bill, with just the two of us living here. So I think that spurred us on to try and think how we could help make our contribution to saving the planet a little, in our own way, by also having solar panels. And to me, it was very important, and to my husband, that they weren't very viewable once you drove up to the house. We didn't want to be confronted by lots of panels all over our roof because we do love our house, and I particularly am very keen about the garden. We've seen some of the products around and they don't look very attractive. And as I said, I wanted it to fit into our house and our surroundings. They certainly do the job, and we just think if you're going to do something, just do it once and do it properly. And also, the results that we wanted have shown that we've chosen a good product, that's really outperformed itself. They're not on a string, so each panel works individually, which is very important because we've got panels on three sections of the roof. And at some stage, the east or the west, whatever, is not getting as much sun as the other. And it's important that each panel works independently and efficiently, and that's what's happening. So devised a way for us to have enough panels to power the house, also to heat the swimming pool if we wanted to, and that was a very important thing to us. Also, we love the product, very good quality product, and they sit very nicely on the roof, and they're doing a great job. Oh, we've had lots of smiles lately because our last bill, we actually are in credit, which is wonderful. And we're enjoying using the swimming pool for longer than normal. So I love to swim and so we're able to swim in the beginning of summer, and then way into winter if we want to. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvEcuYQh_Nk 2.00 2023-05-18T19:47:54.797Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-the-expense-of-installing-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-actually-worth-it https://www.youtube.com/embed/ea_WTWWm1k4 Is the expense of installing a high quality solar power system actually worth it? I think you should definitely do it, because look it works, it pays. And if it's as neat as ours is, it certainly isn't obtrusive or offensive, and so don't be worried about that. Look it really does pay but it pays to go for the top quality, something that you know is going to give you the best, and will last, it will go the distance. Absolutely first class, they were incredibly efficient. They arrived one day, installed it, virtually gone the next, everything done, very neat, and it was up and running. It was just outstanding. I can't speak more highly of them, just so very efficient. Everything they said it would do it has done, and we're eternally grateful for that. And the thing that really impressed us was that because we do get a bit of shade here, if one panel goes out with the other ones, it all goes out. But with this, if you lose a panel because it's in the shade, everything else is still working. And that I think was the main thing that had sold it to me, but because we know we get shade, but we still get the benefit of it. Stop being hesitant just go ahead and do it, it pays, and you're not horrified when you get your electricity bills. It makes you a much more pleasant person. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ea_WTWWm1k4 1.36 2023-05-18T19:47:51.008Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-a-higher-efficiency-solar-power-system-help-brendan-save-1500-per-quarter https://www.youtube.com/embed/LIx5VNxp5_A How did a higher efficiency solar power system help Brendan save $1500 per quarter? Well I'm Brendan Bovill, and we are in Jamberoo. I think the fact that it is just so beautiful and it looks so peaceful, it's remote without being sort of hugely remote. It is close to the city, we decided when we came here that we needed something that'd be under two hours from Sydney, and this just ticked all the boxes for us. Well it's a fairly a big home, it's four bedrooms and then we've got a pool house, which has another room. We also have a swimming pool, of course, which has some filters, which do use a lot of energy, and in winter, it's got a reverse cycle, so of course, we do have a heater on. We don't use the air conditioning so much in summer, but it is a house that uses a considerable amount of power, even though there's only two of us. When we first moved here, we in fact, inquired about solar, and we did on two separate occasions. But this was shortly after we moved, and the people that came out said, I'm sorry, it just wouldn't work because you do go into shadow, in winter especially, fairly early in the afternoon. And they said it just wouldn't pay, and we got that answer, about twice. We found out that with the new system, and the incredible efficiency of it, that it was going to pay, and indeed it does. We wanted the best. I think to save money if we could, our bills when we first, I think that's when they were at their worst, they were somewhere between, $1200 and $1500 a quarter. We then spoke to our supplier, and this was after we got an email from other suppliers saying, shop around, shop around. But they then sort of met the price. the bill then came down to about $1000, $900 or $1000. Our last bill, which we got from from them, we had a credit of $35. So, it works. It works well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LIx5VNxp5_A 1.58 2023-05-18T19:47:47.729Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-choose-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-if-you-re-looking-to-take-advantage-of-your-feed-in-tariff https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9TWLkKf8XM Why should you choose a higher quality solar panel if you're looking to take advantage of your feed-in tariff? We believe in total, that we will most probably pay it off in about four years, which is really surprising to me. I thought it would be longer. And it was actually, it's working out a shorter period of time than what we estimated at the beginning of our conversations. I didn't choose crap. So we just decided, you know, we'd go for the best that we could afford. And we got 18 panels, which is, you know, a little bit over the 5 kilowatt system, but it's paying off and it's working well for us. And we've got a manual hot water switch, that when the sun's beaming and the system's cranking, we just turn the switch on and the sun pays for our hot water. Well, again, just understanding the terminologies for a start, and that quickly I picked up on. But it was more so the quality of the products, you know. You can get a lot cheaper products and you see it time and time again on TV. You know, you'd be at 5 kilowatt systems for four grand. Well, my attitude is you get what you pay for. And we paid a premium price for a premium product, and we've got a premium product. We love it. One of the things that we've been really pleased to see is our quarterly bills that come through. The one I have in front of me at the moment is showing a $300 credit for 90 days. You know, it wasn't summer. It was from October through to January. So part summer. It's been a real godsend in the sense of seeing that money come back to us, and helps us pay off the system. We've always had credit. Ever since we've had the system, we've never paid Origin for anything. They paid us for our credits. We are on a relatively good feed in tariff, of 22 cents at the moment. That may change in due course, but at this point in time, that's the rate we're at. We can negotiate, we're free to negotiate with anybody we like, but yeah, we're getting the sun paying for our electricity and it's also putting money in our bank. It's totally exceeding our expectations. https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9TWLkKf8XM 2.22 2023-05-18T19:47:44.065Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-much-money-is-peter-in-jamberoo-valley-making-from-his-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/nW_-67yFLL8 How much money is Peter in Jamberoo Valley making from his high quality solar power system? My name is Peter Kennedy, and my wife Rita, and we live in the beautiful Jamberoo Valley, just south of Wollongong. Beautiful, it's beautiful, natural environment. Wanting to do my bit as a conservation manager of past. I wanted to do our bit, and to make sure we contributed to cutting down our electricity costs, and producing excess electricity and on selling it to the grid. It was a minefield, I founded just a minefield when I started, and that's when I came across some research about panels. Just took a lot of the fuss out of going through this minefield. Some of the thing that I was concerned about was the companies. Whether the company was going to be around to honour the 25 year, you know, panel warranties, and the research that I came across was the CSIRO and CHOICE. And we stuck 18 330-watt panels on the roof, gobsmacked with the success ever since. Well, I wasn't really sure of what to expect. All I knew was that we were low-energy users. We were, you know, pretty frugal with regards to leaving lights on and energy in general. One of the things we were looking at doing was putting on a solar hot water service. But because we'd already had one previously, we weren't able to get a rebate. So that money went towards a solar system, which I think was a better investment in the long run. The expectations that were presented to us was that we averaged around 25 kilowatts per day production. And we, I think, was the period from January this year, the 1st of January to the 15th, we actually sold in energy to the grid of about $551. All up since we've been monitoring the system with a monitoring company, we've saved about $4,000 in total. So it's well and truly going towards, you know, the payment of the system and thereafter it's, you know, energy for free. It's great. We love it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nW_-67yFLL8 2.09 2023-05-18T19:47:40.549Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-recommendations-does-craig-from-kda-group-accountants-have-for-any-business-investing-in-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PSyAnug4ys What recommendations does Craig from KDA Group Accountants have for any business investing in solar power? Our expectations on the system, it'll be due to our high energy use Monday to Friday eight to five, that would be hopefully close to zero during the work hours. And then on the non-work hours, we should be able to put something back in and gain then. If there's any other business that would like to invest in solar power, I recommend going that if you're a Monday to Friday, eight to five type business, they're the peak hours, the most expensive times. Solar can offset that. We looked at several systems along the way. So the higher cost systems we felt were much better and we're going to be less intrusive in our time, and we would recommend them to anybody. It's just one of those things you pay for what you get I think, and solar power and solar panels are definitely in that category. As accountants, we do numbers all the time and often we will see that yes, trying to explain to somebody that it is worthwhile upfront paying a bit more upfront, and then getting it back over a longer period of time. Rather than saving a few dollars now and getting it, something short, but you'll have to replace it again in a much shorter timeframe. And we believe that type of system will work out to be a lot more expensive in the long run. So if you do it once, do it properly and that's what we thought. That's what we like to think we've done. The installations went very smoothly, they kept us informed all the way along of how it was progressing and what we needed to do. The assistance and help in designing our system on what our actual requirements would be, what would be too little, what would be too much. And the service went through very efficiently, and as they said it would. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PSyAnug4ys 1.48 2023-05-18T19:47:37.498Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-kda-group-accountants-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/DVOiFyCbDKQ Why did KDA Group Accountants invest in a higher quality solar power system? I'm Craig Patterson, the Operations Manager at KDA Group an accounting and taxation firm, supplying accounting taxation services to a variety of clients. Mainly Monday to Fridays, as most office blocks we do, eight to five, 20 staff using computers and technology all day long. Our motivation for going solar was partly energy saving and going green as a whole, and also the cost benefits that we would get from that. Partly to go green and do the right thing in that way, and partly to save money. We've installed a 29-kilowatt system. For high quality, we'd like to maybe have a short-term pain for a long-term gain. You know, some of the cheapest systems available may not last long. We felt this was good and it's a tried and tested technology that we have used before. Our payback on this high-quality investment, we estimate to be at somewhere between four and five years. It was important for us to go high quality because of the location of the solar panels on the roof, it's quite a pain to get up and down. We need repairs, which we think the cheaper systems would entail that over a shorter period of time. Where this system we've got, we've gone high quality, cost a little bit more upfront, but longer-term it's a better deal. We like to invest in systems that we know we're not going to spend a lot of downtime, not going to spend our staff time repairing or chasing suppliers and service technicians and that sort of thing. So we believe it's much better, longer-term to pay upfront and have something that's quality and going to last a lot longer. And as an accounting firm, we know the numbers, we've looked at it and said, the longer term is much more beneficial for us and we just see it's a win-win all round. https://www.youtube.com/embed/DVOiFyCbDKQ 2.01 2023-05-18T19:47:34.234Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-choose-high-quality-solar-panels-if-you-re-near-the-ocean https://www.youtube.com/embed/x8FYt-vHieQ Why is it important to choose high quality solar panels if you're near the ocean? So the solution, which is a premium solution, is a solution that I see will work in this particular environment. It's quite a hostile environment next to the coast, and also high wind loading environment as well. And I'm of an age where I want this to actually last some time, I don't want to keep reinstalling on a roof. I saw this is something that would provide a long-term answer. So, there is high salt, but it's the wind and also the driving rain that drives that salt solution. The corrosion gets into every nook and cranny here. And it's something that, consequently with the renovation of this house, I've gotten premium around the renovation. I've thought the same thing around the solar panels. It's absolutely critical in this environment to actually have the best quality components, because otherwise you just pay a lot extra redoing the work quite quickly down the track. I anticipate that I'm going to have most of my power requirements actually provided for. So a cheaper panel would produce the same power in the short term, it's just the assurance of having it there in the longer term. So reliability is critical. https://www.youtube.com/embed/x8FYt-vHieQ 1.34 2023-05-18T19:47:31.142Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-win-win-that-made-murray-install-solar-panels-on-his-home-in-kiama https://www.youtube.com/embed/5yBzL6Org5Y What was the win-win that made Murray install solar panels on his home in Kiama? Hello, my name is Murray and I'm in Kiama. So this is a house on the south side of Kendalls Beach, looking across to the Kiama lighthouse and the the main beach. It's a fantastic place where I happened to grow up a long time ago. So the house is a five bedroom house with study, and the energy is used by three generation of occupants in it at the moment throughout the day. Predominantly it's lighting, I work from home during the day. It's supporting very active and inventive cooking in the kitchen. It's general use. I've been thinking about solar for a number of years, it has been challenging for me because I've had to move around with my work. And in the last 12 months, we came to actually settle back in this house after a number of years and I thought now it's time to do it. The motivation around buying solar was mostly around the environment, our ability to actually be more self-sustaining in this house, but also obviously the fiscal side of things kick in too. Price of power is enormous, this was an opportunity to mitigate that and also to actually do our bit around the environment. And I think that makes it win-win. At the moment my prices seem to be going up every year, and that's predominantly probably because of the the mix in the use of power on this property. But to me, it makes sense in the longer term to actually go solar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5yBzL6Org5Y 1.54 2023-05-18T19:47:28.029Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-spending-extra-on-a-higher-quality-solar-system-and-local-installer-important-for-susie-s-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/hEXjMPVV5u8 Why was spending extra on a higher quality solar system and local installer important for Susie's business? I want something that's going to last, I don't just want junk that is cheap that we can replace in a few years. We are near the ocean, so I wanted something that won't rust, something that's non-corrosive, something that's durable. Pay peanuts and you get monkeys. You really have to spend a little bit more to get a good quality product that will see you through. I wanted to go local. Why? Because if you have a problem or if you have a question, they get back to you immediately. And also it's good to go local, it's good to know the people that you going to be doing the business with. I just wanted to do business with someone who was on the same page as myself. It was great, it was seamless from the first phone call through to actually having the panels put up on the roof, it all flowed really well. We finally don't have an electricity bill so that's really good, we're saving lots of money. For me it's mainly about the environmental impact that we're going to have. I'd say do it sooner rather than later. Just get it happening because we're talking about the future of the planet, and I think if we can switch to renewables and solar, let's use that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hEXjMPVV5u8 1.22 2023-05-18T19:47:25.006Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-main-reason-planet-childcare-decided-to-install-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/xVRRdqtRBLI What was the main reason Planet Childcare decided to install a high quality solar power system? I'm Susie Crick, and I'm the Director of Planet Childcare Service in Coledale. We educate and care for children between the ages of two and six years. Originally, the building was a cinema, and then it was a leagues club, and now it's a preschool. So the energy output is massive as you can imagine, mainly in the electricity, in the cooling, in the heating. Although the building itself is pretty thick, the walls are really thick, so we don't use air conditioners as such, but in the summer we definitely use fans. I'm all about the environment, and I just wanted to make a positive impact on our planet. So, going solar was such a natural choice for me. To me, the greatest advantage is that we've got a positive impact on the planet, but of course the next thing I suppose, would be the economic factor. But to be honest, the main reason behind this was the environmental footprint. We really want to make a positive contribution to the environment. We want to be less reliant on the grid, and we just want to do the right thing for the next generation, and we're saving the planet. It absolutely does make sense to invest in solar, that's a no brainer. You won't have a power bill, and you're getting money back. So why not do it? You can't lose on it because you're saving dollars, you're saving the planet. It's a win-win, it's just good for future generations. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xVRRdqtRBLI 1.32 2023-05-18T19:47:21.442Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-the-size-of-your-solar-system-help-to-future-proof-your-energy-needs https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Hjsub15gPM How does the size of your solar system help to future proof your energy needs? So locally in our area, there's some limitations on how much solar can go onto a single phase. So, we'd normally talk about five kilowatts of inverter on a single phase site, and residentially as much as 30 kilowatts of solar on a three-phase site. So, if you do have a single phase, there may be a limit to how much power you can sell back to the grid. So if you did have a three-phase site, you could be selling, you could put on a larger system and sell more back to the grid and the credit will be applied to your bill. At the end of the day, the difference between single phase and three phase is that you can put a bigger system on. In looking at a solar system and looking at these, what will be high demand appliances in a home storage battery or an electric car, getting the most out of the roof space you've got is always a good thing to think about. The additional load that the battery or car will bring was when you're going to need to get as much as you can off the roof. A more efficient solution is going to help you meet those new demands. So high efficiency panels will mean you're going to get the most out of your roof space. Moving forward, electric cars are almost certainly going to be part of everyone's lives, and that's always in conjunction with home energy storage. So that's always a conversation we have with our homeowners and we do our best to size the system in anticipation for those things being part of the home. Again, that side of things is really a site-specific solution. It all just ties into the type of conversations we have with the homeowners. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Hjsub15gPM 1.47 2023-05-18T19:47:17.755Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-optimisers-help-overcome-the-shading-issues-for-a-solar-power-system-in-the-blue-mountains https://www.youtube.com/embed/aI6UHs3sgVQ How did optimisers help overcome the shading issues for a solar power system in the Blue Mountains? At John's place up in Katoomba, at the forefront of their mind is the climate change issue. We've added a significant upgrade to their solar system, as well as batteries. So yeah, he is absolutely in the positive in terms of his carbon footprint. He's only using a handful of kilowatt hours a day, so yeah, he's absolutely doing his bit from an environmental point of view. In the Blue Mountains region, probably our biggest issue is shade from neighbouring trees. So another reason why we always want to go on site, have a close assessment of the customer's site and aspect, and we'll say, Well, this is the best solution for you. At John's place in Katoomba, there are some trees around, it's quite a bushy block. To get the best out of the system, we installed some optimisers as well. So yeah, we're getting panel level performance and better outputs overall. Each panel connects to an optimiser, and that will negate any shading issues that we see on the roof as a whole. Where one panel doesn't drag down the others and have a negative effect on a panel that would normally be in the sun. So the battery is charged by excess solar power that's being produced during the daytime, so that they comfortably get through the night without having to buy any power off-the-grid at all. There's always the underlying environmental benefit of what solar can do. A residential installation payback period will be sort of four to five years for a standard grid connect system. So there's obviously a design aspect to a solar system, and it's important to know the pros and cons of a particular design, How much is it going to save, etcetera. I find they want to make a solid investment that's going to sit up on their roof for 25 years, without any stress. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aI6UHs3sgVQ 1.56 2023-05-18T19:47:13.628Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-scenic-world-in-the-blue-mountains-use-off-grid-solar-to-power-their-skyway-terminal https://www.youtube.com/embed/AMbxeUj-z0Q Why did Scenic World in the Blue Mountains use off-grid solar to power their Skyway terminal? So a recent installation at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains, they have on the East Skyway site for the Skyway cable car, it's off grid. So they can't get any supply off the grid to that site. So they had a very, very small system, only a handful of panels, running little communications device, and they wanted something beefier so they could sell ice creams and actually sell tickets at that end of the Skyway. We created a off-grid system, and they're running just with no additional workspace, no additional infrastructure. They're running all that additional hardware at the East Skyway end of Scenic World. The energy is running a till so they can sell tickets from there, as well as you know a drinks stall, ice cream stand, that sort of thing, which the existing system it was just way beyond the realms of. In regards to our commercial clients, the financial benefit is always in the forefront of people's minds, but more and more, we're seeing the environmental benefits of interest as well, particularly with Scenic World. That was one of the core reasons. They could have just stuck a generator on that site and just burnt fuel to do the job. But yeah, that's not in line with what they're trying to achieve either. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AMbxeUj-z0Q 1.18 2023-05-18T19:47:09.636Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-monitoring-help-to-find-baseload-power-waste-at-a-commercial-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/pAEJcSY1WnE How did solar power monitoring help to find baseload power waste at a commercial business? In regards to our commercial clients, the financial benefit is always in the forefront of people's minds. So J.K. Williams, they run offices there during the day, but they also have virtually around the clock maintenance on their machines. Yeah, there's always something happening in the workshop day and night, and obviously as a result, quite heavy energy consumption. Yeah we put on some monitoring equipment, we're actually able to identify quite a significant waste of base load, which they didn't even know was happening, and that was occurring at nighttime. So with the monitoring, we were able to, in conjunction with the solar, saving them huge amount of energy during the daytime, we were also able to identify a significant amount of waste that was happening at nighttime, and save energy and save money. More and more we're seeing the environmental benefits of interest as well. Our commercial clients, more often than not, the financial benefit will be in forefront above the environmental benefit, but with a good quality solar system, it's really a no-brainer. They wanted to say, Well, let's just touch it once, we'll put it on the roof, we know it's going to do its job. Put for the lifespan of the equipment, and we don't need to worry about it again. The system's paid for itself in five years' time, and it's going to sit on the roof without any problems for another 20 years, and yeah, continue to make money. And the warranty will extend for that whole 25 year period. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pAEJcSY1WnE 1.29 2023-05-18T19:47:05.746Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-solar-power-cowboys-and-why-are-their-solar-power-systems-a-waste-of-money https://www.youtube.com/embed/YGUgU6nh2uw What are solar power cowboys and why are their solar power systems a waste of money? I guess the solar industry is renowned for cowboys in the industry. That's a word that gets thrown around quite often. I think anything that has a government rebate attached to it may lend itself to that sort of thing. Yeah, so during the site visit we will always ask about, first of all, how much they're using in the home, in terms of their power usage. But also when they're using it and how the house runs, that affects how we design the system, where the panels go, how many panels go in a particular direction. So we weigh all that up on a case by case assessment, and it's not just an out of the box solution. There would definitely be companies out there that have a slap it on attitude. The sales guys that need to make their commission, so sign on the dotted line and off you go. And then they pass it on to a subcontractor that it might be their first day on the job, and you've just signed your money over and you don't really know what you're going to get. So that definitely still exists in the industry for sure. If the installer is not as experienced and the decision gets made on the day of installation that this bit would go in a different location, it could dramatically affect how the system performs. Lower quality panels that may not last the warranty period or may not be backed up by a company in 10 or 15 years, then the by-product of that is that, that panel could end up worthless and in landfill. The investment into high quality solar and the resulting longer warranties is definitely going to mean less of a headache going forward. Some homeowners that we go and see, they've previously installed a system that certainly not of the best quality and a few years down the track it's not performing as we would hope it would. So yeah, we've revisited the site assessed what they're dealing with and put in a far superior system, a more efficient system. If they'd done a quality system in the first place, they would have saved the investment on that initial system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YGUgU6nh2uw 2.11 2023-05-18T19:47:02.502Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-solar-power-help-you-reduce-the-carbon-pollution-generated-by-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqqrH_cgwwg How can solar power help you reduce the carbon pollution generated by your home? We first started thinking about solar to be more environmental, and we're quite environmentally aware here at home and we thought it'd be great benefit better for us. We decided that it's the right thing to do. I think it's very important to try and be as environmental as possible, renewable energy is the way to go. Fossil fuels obviously are causing damage to the to the environment, so we've got to think about our future energy usage. It's our environment, it's the future. We've got to think about what's going to happen, it's just so important. We've got to think about climate change, biodiversity, the environment, we've just got to look after the world. We've got to start somewhere, renewable energies are growing and growing and we've got to use it. Every little step that people can do is fantastic. So solar, solar panels, solar energy, is a small thing we can do, it's getting less expensive all the time. So we should try and give it a go if we can. We're actually exporting power to the grid at the moment, we're getting 21 cents a kilowatt which is making it a little bit more financially rewarding as well too, for us it's a win-win situation. So we're using the energy from the sun to power our house and and we're also exporting power to the grid. So it's a win-win situation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqqrH_cgwwg 1.31 2023-05-18T19:46:58.156Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-performance-benefits-of-upgrading-an-existing-solar-system-with-high-efficiency-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/gHFaVMpYIkM What are the performance benefits of upgrading an existing solar system with high efficiency solar panels? Yes we initially did have a system put in about several years ago. Just a small system it was 1.5 kilowatts, but it was a start for us. So, yes. Yeah, it was about $3,000 for the system at that time. The new panels are probably twice the power of the old panels, and only maybe marginally 50% bigger. So we'd get a greater output from the same size space we've got on the house. They're probably twice the efficient and we're getting more power out of the sun. So we had the old panels sided to a less efficient part of the house, the roof. And then, so we've got the new panels on the more efficient part of the roof, and fantastic. So we've got combination of the old and the new and it's working tremendously. We decided to spend more on our panels this time because we wanted something that we could trust. We wanted something that was reliable, and yes, we decided that we just wanted quality panels. That's as well as the brand name it's also the performance as well. So we just wanted to have quality product. Since we've had new panels installed and the power wall, we've been 100% self-sufficient energy-wise. That's all worked tremendously, it's been seamless. You know, if the power goes out in the street, we can see the powers go out in the street. We don't even notice it at home. It just completely kicks in. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gHFaVMpYIkM 1.32 2023-05-18T19:46:54.803Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-performance-results-of-fiona-s-new-higher-br-efficiency-solar-panels-in-the-blue-mountains https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QzjDcrcHtQ What were the performance results of Fiona's new higher efficiency solar panels in the Blue Mountains? We were very keen to put on a solar battery to backup our solar panels. And it was a way of obviously using solar electricity into the night time to contribute to the greater picture, to even out the peaks and troughs because there's a lot of people taking on solar panels. But I do like the idea of generating power close to the source and using it where we are, and using the battery to sustain things through the evening for our local use and for moving to the whole grid. We've put on high quality panels with this latest installation, and they've been very good. Our first lot of panels we did in about 2008, and they weren't nearly as efficient as the newer ones. So we've moved those to a less good part of the roof, we've put our best panels in the best sun spot. And yeah, it's been really, really impressive, how much we make even on a grey day. As so many people say that panels don't work when the sun's not up, we can see that actually on a grey day, even on a wet day, we are actually producing quite a lot of power. And it's really, really impressive. Really thrilled. I do like the way we can now also check the output of our panels through the apps, which we weren't able to do with the beginning panels. So we can see they actually perform very well. We particularly wanted to get a local company that we knew would have to have a good reputation locally. So, it was good to have somebody come to your house and do a quotation, look at your situation. They're very consultative. They asked what we wanted every step of the way. They did very neat and worked extremely hard, and it looks very good on our little cottage as well. And I liked the fact that actually the battery and solar installation is quite visible, so I can share it with friends and visitors and say, look, this actually works. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QzjDcrcHtQ 2.21 2023-05-18T19:46:50.385Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-customise-the-charging-profile-of-your-solar-storage-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/gqVB4oh8d3s Why should you customise the charging profile of your solar storage battery? Batteries are great where feed-in tariffs are generally being eroded over time. So it now can make economic sense to actually charge up your battery with that excess power, and then discharge it at night time when generally you're actually buying power from the grid. We always recommend maximising your solar asset first, and then once you've actually maximised what you can do with solar, the next step is a battery storage system. It's also great that you can be using your own clean green energy that you've actually generated during the day, at night time by your battery discharging. With some of our battery systems, they have special charging profiles that can be implemented by the contractor. We take the next step, we try to implement a profile that's going to suit your load profile of the customer. We can show you how to maximise the yield, maximise the benefits of your solar system, maximise the benefits of your solar system and battery system, and that's customised to your home and your family particularly. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gqVB4oh8d3s 1.04 2023-05-18T19:46:46.185Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-the-solar-panel-performance-warranty-often-not-worth-the-paper-it-s-written-on https://www.youtube.com/embed/gj8G29iVC6c Why is the solar panel performance warranty often not worth the paper it's written on? All panels have a 25-year performance warranty, it's more of a performance guarantee. Someone years ago got smart with marketing but at the end of the day, it's impossible to actually prove a 25-year performance warranty. You have to pay someone to take the panel off your roof, send it to Sydney. And then, if they do find there's a problem with it, in 10 years time, they might say, oh well, here's $25 back. It's the cost of that panel. So it's cost you $400 to actually get it sent there. So at the end of the day, the 25 year performance warranty is not worth the paper it's written on. Most products have a 12, or 10 to 12 year product warranty. There's a lot of companies that have gone the next step and extended theirs from 15 years to now 25 years. So it's a 25-year product warranty, that includes labor. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gj8G29iVC6c 0.51 2023-05-18T19:46:43.126Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-important-factors-to-consider-when-investing-in-a-commercial-solar-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_SRvQK16i4 What are the important factors to consider when investing in a commercial solar system? The important factors in commercial jobs, the customers want to actually insulate themselves from future energy costs. So by investing in solar you can have a three to five-year return. If you invest a little bit more, you can have a system that's actually going to last 25 years and insulate yourself from future energy costs. The levelised cost of electricity in a solar system is one of the best in the market. So you can actually invest in a solar system, and actually guarantee future energy savings. In a lot of tenders, they do specify a higher quality equipment with a high efficiency, with longer warranties. They also can specify a Clean Energy Council retailers. In the commercial sector for up to a hundred kilowatts, you can easily get anywhere from a two to five-year return, which the bean counters always love. https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_SRvQK16i4 0.58 2023-05-18T19:46:39.340Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-high-efficiency-solar-panels-and-custom-engineering-overcome-roof-limitations-at-the-arc https://www.youtube.com/embed/jLbxqp4R3uQ How did high efficiency solar panels and custom engineering overcome roof limitations at The ARC? Yeah companies are specifying high-quality products, like The ARC Campbelltown specified a high-efficiency panel. Because they had limitations of the roof loading on the actual building. It's a Campbelltown council building, so it's a building that's going to be with them for many years to come. So they want a product that's going to provide a long-term return with minimal fuss, over the test of time. It's a low-risk option, which is why they have specified and chosen that option. So yeah so at The ARC Campbelltown, we actually had to have risers engineered that actually integrated into the existing structure of the building. We had Gant Engineering weld them into place for us. It was, that what's our Schletter rails was actually attached to on top of those, and then the panels on top of that. So the engineering had quite tight tolerances to the weight loading of the building, and these rises were engineered specially to integrate into the building. At The ARC Campbelltown there was 6 months worth of engineering that went into it behind the scenes, before we could actually instal these rises and racking system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jLbxqp4R3uQ 1.15 2023-05-18T19:46:36.267Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-cheaper-in-the-long-term-to-pay-more-for-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLVC7L8vXBI Is it cheaper in the long-term to pay more for a higher quality solar power system? Our philosophy is buy once, buy right. So that's why we prefer using high-quality products. We believe that home owners should choose a high-quality product. There's many products in the solar industry, some of whom are good, some of whom are bad. It's hard for the average punter to know what is good in the industry, so using well-known brands is always a safe bet. Homeowners are looking to offset their electricity costs, so a solar system is one of the best investments to insulate yourself from these ever increasing electricity costs. At the end of the day, the customers do want a high-quality product that's going to yield them the most amount of kilowatt hours long-term. So you don't want to be replacing a system in three to five years. You want to spend your money right and actually have a product that can actually last the test of time, and last the full 25 years of the product warranty. Yes, it's definitely cheaper to pay a little bit more up front. Solar is a marathon, it's not a sprint. So at the end of the day, the system that lasts the longest will win the marathon and earn you more money in the long run. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLVC7L8vXBI 1.16 2023-05-18T19:46:32.974Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-better-to-use-your-stc-rebate-on-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/P26NOqJ6fP0 Why is it better to use your STC rebate on a higher quality solar power system? STCs are designed to discount the system, they're not going to be around forever. so making the crucial decision now of buying a quality solar panel system is doubled over, because in the future if you don't have the STC discount and you've had to replace that system, you now are out for a lot more money than just the $3,500 to $5,000 that you're going to spend now on your solar panel systems. So we highly suggest using your high-quality systems, because you consider yourself getting a rebate or STC discount probably once, because they're probably going to be phased out. We suggest to our customers whilst you've got the STC rebate, use it wisely and make your panel selection or your system selection based on that. We believe you need to be picking the highest quality solar panel systems. We do have a higher-than-average ambient temperature and a lot of sunlight, so they can destroy cheaper modules at a faster rate than the better quality panels. And you like to maximise the yield of our solar panels by putting a better quality system on. It always pays off better to spend a little bit more on a better quality system, therefore enduring a longer performance of the system and giving you a greater return on investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/P26NOqJ6fP0 1.17 2023-05-18T19:46:29.671Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-a-poor-quality-solar-power-installation-void-your-product-warranty https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2SCWcD74xs Why does a poor quality solar power installation void your product warranty? Picking a good installer is crucial, you've got to pick the right installer for the system. You can have the best panels and the best inverter, but if it's not installed properly and it's not installed as per manufacturer specifications, your warranties are void and the system will not work as your expected generation. Yeah, if you get the wrong installers for your products, so you pick a company that comes in on price, with a good quality product, but they use a contractor who's paid a minimal right to come and install your system for you, issues can arise when they're don't install the product properly. And then three or four, five years down the track, you have a problem with the system, they're no longer around, they're not answering the phone. If that is a case, if the system hasn't been installed properly, you can you can't expect an a manufacturer to honour a product warranty if it hasn't been installed properly. https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2SCWcD74xs 0.47 2023-05-18T19:46:26.532Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-your-energy-bills-help-to-customise-the-size-and-design-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/zKoo4jyug18 How do your energy bills help to customise the size and design of a solar power system? Designing and sizing of a solar panel system, I believe is crucial. You don't want to go too small of a system, because then you've really wasted your money. But you don't want to go too large of a system, because then you've invested excess capital into a system that is not gaining you much benefit. Every customer runs through the same process, we get their energy bills and design a system to meet their needs. We sit down with the customers and explain the various products on the market, and what you can expect to achieve out of those products. And we then give you a few designs and quotations based on what we think would be the best tailored solution for yourself. So the first thing to look at is obviously, how much energy the property is using. So we sort of try and get some history from our electricity bills, to see how many kilowatts on average per day that the customer is using. And then from there we start designing a system. We sort of speak to them and say, Is it more of a morning or afternoon or during the middle of the day, there's a majority of consumption?. And try and match the solar panels in the facing of the maximum consumption, most people do a north and a western orientation. So that means during the middle of the day, right to the late afternoon we're generating good amounts of energy to supply to the household. And obviously if you've got a battery there, the battery would be topped up with the additional energy that's not being used from the property. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zKoo4jyug18 1.24 2023-05-18T19:46:22.328Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-tactics-some-manufactures-use-to-make-solar-panel-warranties-difficult-to-claim https://www.youtube.com/embed/twBOtEyGtrM What are tactics some manufactures use to make solar panel warranties difficult to claim? Yes, picking your quality products does give you a much greater warranted product. We know firsthand, we've had to deal with several Chinese-based warranty claims in the past. To claim your warranties the process is very extended, the muck you around with a lot of emails, a lot of photographs, a lot of running around on your behalf to ensure that the product is under warranty. And in the end, you get very little to nothing, and you've wasted a lot of time and effort in trying to reclaim these warranties. And these manufacturers know that, and they know it's cheaper for you almost to replace the panels, than to go get a lawyer to pursue them and make them pay against the Australian Consumer Law. We'd always suggest to our customers to get a good quality product, with a well warranted panel and inverter. Performance warranty and manufacturer's warranty are two completely different things. A performance warranty is guaranteeing you that the panel will produce x amount of percentage of power in 20 to 25 years, is a performance warranty. The manufacturer's warranty on those panels generally 10 maybe 12 years. So if the panel fails at year 15, it won't conform with the performance warranty. It's a it's a panel warranty that's exceeded its warranty limit, so there's nothing left to claim on for that panel. So yeah performance warranty, is what you what you shouldn't be looking for, it's a manufacturer's warranty that you want to last. Basically means everything on the rooftop that's exposed to the elements, has the full manufacturer's warranty which is parts, labour, freight. https://www.youtube.com/embed/twBOtEyGtrM 1.34 2023-05-18T19:46:18.946Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-cheap-solar-panels-and-cowboy-installers-costing-homeowners-money https://www.youtube.com/embed/h-hbCuAiQMw Why are cheap solar panels and cowboy installers costing homeowners money? Well it's been proven that you spend a bit extra, you get better generation, better warranted products and panels that will last longer and do the 25 year full product warranty. So for 25 years they're guaranteeing that product is going to operate and perform at the task. We see time and time again systems that are lasting three to five years, that we're having to go out and remove for customers. And yes, they've saved a little bit of money from the start by going a little bit cheaper, but in the long run, it's going to cost them more because they're having to spend thousands of dollars to repair or replace that system. We highly suggest do your homework. Pick a good quality product, panels and inverter, and also the installers of the product. Make sure they're not some cowboys that have just picked it up six months ago. Quality is better than cheap and nasty. You spend a little bit more, you get a lot better return and a system that lasts a lot longer and requires minimal expenditure and maintenance in the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/h-hbCuAiQMw 0.59 2023-05-18T19:46:15.781Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-businesses-optimise-the-long-term-financial-returns-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/yIsPZItZe4c How do businesses optimise the long-term financial returns of a solar power system? Commercial buildings are a different kettle of fish altogether. You've got engineering of roofs and shading objects from air conditioning ducts, and vents, and flues coming out. So we really need to hone in and specialise, and again see what the demand of energy for the commercial businesses are, and get their interval data from the electricity metre, so we can paint a picture of their consumption profile, and then we try and match our solar panel system based on that consumption profile, and the available roof space that we have for the client. Commercial buyers obviously want to reduce their energy bills and footprint, so they're looking to get into the market to offset that. Our commercial clients are looking to insulate themselves from rising energy costs. So putting a quality solar panel system on that will last a long period of time is the ideal solution. Return on investment is all about regaining as much money as you can from the system, making it last as long as you can. So choosing a better quality product is always going to last longer and be beneficial, particularly ones with a 25-year full product warranty. So you can guarantee that that system is going to generate power for 25 years. For commercial operations, return of investment is even more important because in the long haul, they're not in and out of the business within a short period of time. So having a product that's going to be warranted for output and generation for 25 years is ideal. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yIsPZItZe4c 1.28 2023-05-18T19:46:12.491Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-spend-extra-on-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-with-an-expert-solar-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/XHDTdET_Ljg Why should you spend extra on a higher quality solar panel with an expert solar installer? Well customers obviously looking to reduce or eliminate their power bills, and obviously trying to get into it as the cheapest possible way they can do it like anybody would. We highly suggest looking at all the variable products in the market, and picking one of highest quality. That will ensure that you're going to get a long-term generation out of the system, so that you don't fall short in three to five years and have issues. And all your return on investment calculations are basically blown out the water, because it doesn't work anymore. You know, we've seen a lot of cheap and nasty panels come into the market, and everybody's got a friend who's got that story of, Oh, my solars don't work anymore. My panels don't operate. My inverters had to be replaced. It should be just done from the start. You spend a bit of extra money and get it done properly. And you'll be good for a number of years. You know being electrician for 20 years and doing a PV installations for 10 years now, we have a vast array of knowledge of how they should be set up, and the components to utilise in their systems. So we give you advice and we've designed systems to last the longterm. Yeah you just want to get it done properly, done once. So we've gone through and selected and vetted all the companies of panel manufacturers, and inverter manufacturers, and picked the best ones that we could find in the market that we can build relationships with and develop partnerships, so that we can offer our customers the high end solutions that are known to generate good amounts of energy and last for a long time. Typically installing a solar panel system, we would expect a 50% to 70% reduction in your energy bills. You're not really going to achieve a zero energy bill out of just installing the solar, you'd need to install the battery because you're going to use energy in the evening. So you need to recoup that energy during the daytime, store it in the battery, and then use that energy of the battery in the evening for your property. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XHDTdET_Ljg 1.56 2023-05-18T19:46:09.448Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-for-farmers-in-northern-australia-to-choose-higher-quality-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcjAoTFGXe0 Is it important for farmers in Northern Australia to choose higher quality solar power systems? We've been getting very, very strong enquiries, and hence installation of lot of these businesses for their energy use and needs. Again a lot of it up here is refrigeration, lighting, and certain production requirements that they do. It could be anything from water pumps and cold rooms, air conditioning, refrigeration. Lot of them are in their own forums and committees that they talk to in regards to either be sugarcane, bananas, or avocados. And they all talk amongst themselves and they're trying to get to the crux of is it worth it? Is it viable? Is going to last? Either we help them obtain their financing through specific groups that do green lending and commercial financing. We can help them attain the higher end quality products, and they find that they get a better return on investment over time. And after giving feedback with a lot of these customers, to help them to be able to install quite sophisticated jobs with regards to irrigation, pumping supply and support battery installations. Be it either farmers or industrial. The other thing too, because these guys have been here for a while with their trucks and tractors, they we know, well, that's great we buy it but what about our service? Who's going to maintain it? It's very important that they feel confident and comfortable in the decision they make. Quality is very important for a company like ours, because if we don't get the ongoing support in regards to the products that's supplied to us, the different aspects of quality in the solar, and the installations that can be provided. If we don't get that support and the quality with that, we can't provide that with our customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcjAoTFGXe0 1.48 2023-05-18T19:46:05.381Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-homeowners-in-northern-australia-choose-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_iZrCJuzZc Why should homeowners in Northern Australia choose a higher quality solar power system? A lot of clients that come to us require part of their brief is, they just want low maintenance and they want to be assured of quality. They don't mind spending the money. So basically in considering that, they want a mixed package of a good quality inverter system, coupled with good quality panels. That's going to give them longer warranties and make sure that the company that instals it, is going to be around to provide that back-end service. A lot of people have suffered bill shock and to reduce that, we considered that solar is a very good hedge for their requirements, which can be anywhere from 50%, right up to 80, 100%, if you've taken consideration their feed in tariff. So a lot of our customers are now getting ready for battery ready systems, which we've been quite busy providing. And some have gone to the extent of actually wanting a battery now, and we call those type of people an early adopter. Where it's not so much the money, but they just want it for their own energy security. Yes, some of the design challenges that we face because we're in a green leafy environment with a lot of rainfall, some customers especially in the residential area do get potential shading, or over time shading issues. So we got to address those with certain type of products to optimise those systems. Final part with regards to our spec is the heat. So, temperature coefficiency for the panel is crucial. So an ideal system that we consider for a lot of residential customers is stick to a high quality, 25-year product warranty. You can't stress enough in regards to the quality that needs to be deployed, and we look at the monetary costs more of a secondary. https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_iZrCJuzZc 1.47 2023-05-18T19:46:01.950Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-financial-return-for-the-300kw-solar-power-system-at-serra-farming https://www.youtube.com/embed/NcrIKp5bTAI What was the financial return for the 300kW solar power system at Serra Farming? One of the main reasons is financial benefit. When they did their cost analysis and a case study, and had reviewed some of the case studies, that we've already done with other customers, they could see that if they invest X amount, they'd have it paid back typically within about four to five years. And that's the system that they've chosen is off high calibre. They're confident that they're going to get 20 plus years service life out of it. So this site can take on average, about 600 kilowatts a day of power. So we put a system in that we think is going to at least take away two thirds, to up to 75%, depending on the time of year and the weather, of their energy bills. Here is bananas, but we also have gotten quite a number of acres under management in regards to avocados. The potential energy saving between their three sites that we're looking at is between $90,000 to $115,000 a year. And that depends on the current tariffs and the weather, and how much they utilise their self consumption. But they were very happy with that, and when they run their figures on it, they went for it. I think because of the higher cost of the embedded ground mount system, I think the average, including the rooftop solar which has a payback of a roundabout 4.4 years, and the ground mounts have an average of about six and a half years. I would say there'd be a mean average of about 5.2, five years across the three sites with 300 kilowatts. But they have a couple of smaller embedded pumps, and of those for irrigating, one is a 37 kilowatt pump, the other one's say 45 kilowatt pump, and a 55 kilowatt pump. But because they're also VSD variable speed drive the actual drawing would be only about 30 to 35 kilowatts, but it's not every day they need to irrigate. So they wanted to feed-in as well, so that site has got feed-in. So we put 30 kilowatts of inverter with 40 kilowatt of panels on ground mounts for those two sites. Just talking about feed-in, we managed to create or redistribute another electricity account on the main packing shed. And we redistributed the power across the packing shed there. And so they're getting a feed in tariff of two 30 kilowatt inverters and 40 kilowatt of panels, and an extra 80 kilowatts. So even when they're not in production they're getting a feed-in as we speak up in the main farm. And that was something that they were very keen for. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NcrIKp5bTAI 2.34 2023-05-18T19:45:58.365Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-challenges-of-installing-solar-power-on-a-north-queensland-farm https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukDzoPOXzU4 What were the challenges of installing solar power on a North Queensland farm? Some of the challenges on this site is one, main packing area, getting access up into the roof area, how much kilowatts of panels and how much power is going to be required for the longer term. So future proofing, and also, the pumps is distributed quite widely throughout the different farms. So hence here is probably a good kilometre 1.2 kilometres from the main packing shed. So we had to locate, identify and prepare a site that's specific for their power requirements here. They have a 90 kilowatt pump here. Thankfully, it's a VSD variable speed drive, which requires a lot of power, potentially up to 90 average 70, 80, which is perfect for 100 kilowatt solar system. Though this time of year, it does get quite hot, regularly temperatures can be anywhere between 32 up to 40 degrees, winter is quite good to just get nice and cool up here as well. Other challenges is again, just so far from all their supply, where they're going to get their cartons, their fertiliser, where the water comes from the channels and the cost of energy to distribute that. On this particular farm, I think it's around about 400 plus acres of land here. This is all volcanic with basalt underground. So it was a bit of a challenge to get soil test to make sure that we could ground mount. They wanted a noninvasive ground mount system with it. So that requires a sure foot design from Victoria. It was an Australia invention, where there's no concrete required, and we had to make sure that we didn't hit any big boulders because the Atherton Tablelands is actually littered with a lot of round large basalt boulders. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukDzoPOXzU4 1.55 2023-05-18T19:45:54.881Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-will-solar-power-help-serra-farming-to-reduce-the-costs-of-irrigation https://www.youtube.com/embed/WigtZfD7XiQ How will solar power help Serra Farming to reduce the costs of irrigation? The lay of the land around this Atherton Tablelands, which is average about five 550 to 600 meters above sea level. The water is fed by a nearby dam called Tinaroo Dam, and it has channels feeding off that to distribute water through the Atherton Tablelands, from around this area, all the way up to Dimbulah. Because the water is the source of life for growing, and they need a lot of water and a lot of power to distribute that water. Predominantly, they're VSD drive pump with a big motor, the motor is a 90 kilowatt motor. They've just upgraded their piping network from a 6 inch to eight inch, less drag by 25%, so less power by 25%. That coupled with a solar system, they think that they're going to reduce or negate potentially up to 80% of their bill, because they're going to be able to irrigate in shorter bursts during the peak periods of nine till three during the day. One of the main reasons for solar on this site was to cover, this is one of the biggest energy consumption. Is just this site here, but their main pump drawing from the Tinaroo channel here. So they need to make sure they cover it because sometimes they can run for 10 to 12 hours every day, especially in the dry season. As we're nearing the end of the wet now, being mid-March, and in about six weeks, they'll be constantly irrigating at least 10 to 14 hours every day. They have other farms very close by within five, 10 minutes drive, which has got many thousands of avocado trees at different maturity. And as the trees mature require vast amount of water and also a lot of storage and packing as well. Solar is definitely the solution for that. Some people in certain areas have looked at other like wind. And you might have noticed from Atherton Tableland that there's wind power, which is also quite a stable supply. But people want to control their own benefit, and wind is too expensive for most people, and solar is a absolute no-brainer for them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/WigtZfD7XiQ 2.14 2023-05-18T19:45:51.606Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-type-of-solar-power-system-did-serra-farming-install-to-offset-their-production-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/cVnz2mpBWFk What type of solar power system did Serra Farming install to offset their production costs? Today, we're at Serra Farms and drilling. This is owned by Joe Serra, and his five sons. They have quite a diverse, predominant bananas and avocados, on this particular farm. They have three other farms which are predominantly avocado, with regards to this operation here, with the bananas predominantly. Because it's seasonal, they pick and pack the bananas, they wash them and they distributed to a large wholesalers, typically Woolworths and Coles in the southern states, especially Victoria. And that's got to be housed in cold rooms, which require a lot of energy, there wash bays and drying and then packing. So the system designed here was a 100 kilowatt solar system, made up of 335 watt panels, fully optimised. And it was so many that we designed and chose, for the customer, which they obviously since gone with. And we've utilised that with the packing shed as well, and the other ground mounts, which has 40 kilowatts on each other sites that they've got. All up on the Serra Farm here, there's 300 kilowatts getting installed. We're right in the midst of it now. We've done 80 kilowatts in the main packing shed, which covers the cold rooms, all their pumps, everything from lighting and cold rooms, and then also down here, the irrigation pumps. There's a 100 kilowatts here as we speak, and they got two other sites, and two other farms for avocados, which are 40 kilowatts each, so all up 300 kilowatts. But I think all up between them, they're looking at potentially saving around about 90, to $105,000 in electricity, amongst the three sites. On this particular farm, I think it's around about 400 plus acres of land here, this is all volcanic with basalt underground. So it was a bit of a challenge to get soil test, to make sure that we could ground mount. That one of the non-invasive ground mount system with it. So that requires short foot design from Victoria, it's an Australian invention with no concrete required. And we had to make sure that we didn't hit any big boulders, because the Atherton Tablelands, is actually littered with a lot of, round, large basalt boulders. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cVnz2mpBWFk 2.27 2023-05-18T19:45:48.333Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-roi-for-a-165kw-solar-power-system-at-jaques-coffee-plantation https://www.youtube.com/embed/24GugEHhqLc What is the ROI for a 165kW solar power system at Jaques coffee Plantation? So the brief was stage one was to do the 85kW replacing 44kW. So you wanted a panel that can maximise this return. Being that Mareeba is an hour west of Cairns, it does get quite hot there. And they're really worried about the temperature co-efficiency. He knew all about that. So that was a pretty easy brief for us to fulfil. We just went one step further with us to DC optimise, which he hadn't had much experience. But we showed him some existing customer sites and he read a fair bit about it, and was more than pleased to move forward with that. Even though, it was more than his initial budget. That and we applied for his other sites, that he knew that he needed benefits because he hadn't had solar, being the cafe, which consumes around 220 kilowatt hours a day. And we provide a 40 kilowatt solution for that to absorb at least anywhere between 75, up to 90% of his loads. Yeah, so across the installations, there'll be 165 kilowatts of solar panels and inverters. It's going to be installed across the four sites, he's envisioning between the 44 cent benefit. And savings, that the stage one 85 kilowatts will have a payback period of less than two years, even with the high-end quality spec. The cafe and the pump house, which all go on the cafe and the workshop is expect to have a payback of about only three and a half years. So he's economically, he said it was a no brainer and Mareeba where the location is known that it's got signs everywhere. That is three hundred and sixty plus sunny days a year. Oh yeah, It's a definite winner he's very, very happy yet, and that all the systems haven't been fully installed throughout the sites yet. https://www.youtube.com/embed/24GugEHhqLc 1.56 2023-05-18T19:45:44.973Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-was-a-replacement-solar-power-system-optimised-for-jaques-coffee-plantation https://www.youtube.com/embed/9U0cJZEHFyU How was a replacement solar power system optimised for Jaques Coffee Plantation? Jaques farm, which is in Atherton Tablelands in Mareeba, its been there for over 30 years. They grow in excess, of I think they got about 200 acres of land there of which they grow about at this stage about 160 tonnes. Where they grow and distribute and roast their own beans in-house and distribute Australia wide, and they even export. Australia, unfortunately imports around 8 to 9,000 tonnes of coffee bean, but they're trying to supply their own unique bean for Australia. And it's so far been doing very well. They're very successful in what they do. The existing system they had in there was... Yes, poor quality due to time, more than anything, it was about six, six and a half years old. Those panels were unfortunately quite inferior compared to what's in the marketplace today. The panels did let it down though, surfing watering ingress on top of all that creating dead shorts. Fortunately the customer was on the old feed-in tariff for 44 cents and he wanted to keep that. And he's still got another 10 years to run, which finishes in 2028. So he wanted to maximise that, and he did a lot of research before approaching us. And hence we quoted with a high end panel, 85kW across four electricity accounts, to supply them with 44 cents. So we're right in the midst of installing that on existing carport roofs, and then we've got another 80kW to cover their cafe and also a pump house. So early indications of the performance is substantially more than the previous system in order of about 25 to 28% already. All of them are encompassed with DC optimisation technology, and you've got panel level monitoring. And with the cafe, specially there is some stacks with roasting and so forth, that could cause a bit of shading issues. So the DC optimisation is the best option for them. The irrigation is a big part, So what they've done is they split irrigation timing. The arrays with the 44 cents is irrigating at night. It doesn't cost them 44 cents, cost significant less because they're on the mixed tariff, which only about 12, 14 cents. So that's working really, really well. The other part with regards to the cafe and the pump house that's going to irrigate during the day, during the solar times, and obviously with the cafe it's opening hours are 10am to 4pm, which is close to perfection, for the solar to backend it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9U0cJZEHFyU 2.47 2023-05-18T19:45:41.164Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-brief-for-the-solar-power-installation-at-kur-cow-farm-in-queensland https://www.youtube.com/embed/3hvbj7HQ0GE What was the brief for the solar power installation at KUR-Cow Farm in Queensland? KUR-Cow being very conscious of the ecotourism-based industry, part of the brief was regards to a tourism-based theme park, where they're bringing in Outback Australia, but with a mix of rainforest. They do displays and shows as well as birds, animals and everything else. Their energy requirements for that's quite substantial, and we're trying to provide as much as we can to offset their load and provide them a more cleaner, stable supply. Where the panel installation are installed on top of the ATV shed. Part of their tourism, they do trail rides with ATVs throughout the property. It's 697 hectares all up, so it's quite a substantial property. And the batteries and inverters are mounted with some air conditioning in the tack room. So it's dual benefits, they wanted all their leather and so forth, kept in a cool, dry, non-humid space otherwise it would go all mouldy. And that's where they keep their batteries inverter. So the total output, 50 kilowatts of panels, or just under 48 kilowatts, with 20 kilowatts of inverter generation, with 80 kilowatt hours battery storage. They wanted high quality panels and installation, as well as being that we're locally based and they'd heard through other developers of some of the work that we'd done. Yeah, they are very happy with the result. It was quite involved with the process, with other engineers that was involved in the development to help with the brief. And they were happy with what our solution came up with. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3hvbj7HQ0GE 1.47 2023-05-18T19:45:37.727Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-type-of-solar-power-system-design-was-required-to-supply-peak-loads-at-kur-cow-farm https://www.youtube.com/embed/5kp63NBvbGc What type of solar power system design was required to supply peak loads at KUR-Cow farm? KUR-Cow project or better known locally as KUR-World is basically an ecotourism development. It's only very new and it's going to be in different levels of stages. KUR-Cow being very conscious of an ecotourism based industry, they had a quality of supply power problem. They only had one weak two-phase supply coming in, and we had to literally double the amount of amps coming in. So we did that with the combination of panels and hybrid inverters, and a series of batteries just to cover their immediate load until another supply of megawatt size came through from another end of the development. The total output, 50 kilowatts of panels or just under, 48 kilowatts with 20 kilowatts of inverted generation, with a 80 kilowatt hours battery storage. That system helps supply peak loads. Their brief was between the hours of 9 o'clock until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, because the opening hours is actually from 10 until 3. There's going to be multiple stages to that development, they're looking at building a ecolodge, ecohotel, and they want to be self-sufficient as much as they possibly can. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5kp63NBvbGc 1.22 2023-05-18T19:45:34.068Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-solar-power-monitoring-help-homeowners-to-maximise-their-electricity-savings https://www.youtube.com/embed/K7DxqbkaGig How does solar power monitoring help homeowners to maximise their electricity savings? We put a big emphasis early on in regards to monitoring. Not just monitoring what the solar produces, well, that's great, you can see that on the screen and you can Bluetooth that. But more importantly you need a little smart metre that you can see the loads in real time. It helps customers manage their affairs either be residential, commercial, or just on farms. So a lot of them use that as a strong guide and they actually change their habits accordingly. Lot of customers liked the idea of the monitoring and be able to see, and it stores all that black data for future reference. Top expected savings with the residential market typically, we find a lot of payback is around the three and a half to four and a half years. So a lot of people say, Oh I didn't realise it was that good with the aspect of monitoring, you can actually tailor your situation and put on certain appliances during the day. Normally a lot of people up here have swimming pools so they might put the pool on from 8:00 to 11:00, the electric hot water from 11:00 to 1:00, and then the pool back from say 1:00 to 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon. That alone is typically 60 to 65% of their energy bills. That if they've got a family or some members staying at home during the day, they can run some air conditioning or run their washing and so forth during the day. Some because the cost of power even if they don't use the power three kilowatts exported offsets one kilowatt of consumption at night. So when they consider the solar options we explain and show some of the existing monitoring of what some sites look like, they get very excited by it and they're very keen for the installation to take place. https://www.youtube.com/embed/K7DxqbkaGig 1.52 2023-05-18T19:45:31.022Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-to-choose-a-solar-power-installer-with-clean-energy-council-accreditation https://www.youtube.com/embed/9C60SI0uovY Is it important to choose a solar power installer with Clean Energy Council accreditation? CEC accreditation is very important for the factor of providing the level of service and compliance for the industry, and for hence, our clients. Anyone that considers going to someone that's not CEC accredited or a accredited solar installer really need to rethink. We found that was very important that we became part of that whole network, to give assurances for our customers that are dealing with us. As well as a lot of government agencies, require that we become the CEC approved and accredited retailer. So, by sticking to a company that can provide the whole solution, employee or their own service technician, we are under the clean energy council retailers code. So we must provide straightaway five-year, product and service warranty. All our teams are CEC credited electricians with apprentices and trade assistance. We do a lot of in-house training, as well as we attend all workshop training by our solar panel manufacturers and inverter companies. So, customers should definitely consider that. A few customers come to us now, ask us that question. A lot of them say that we're on their website and pick us up. Some of them have already done their homework and due diligence, that becoming part of that code and being accepting of that code gives people the comfort and reinsurance that we've got certain guidelines, and responsibilities for not just the current installation, but the ongoing service and maintenance. Otherwise they haven't got their real heart in the industry. You know, if you really want conviction in industry, you've got to seek and provide that sort of level of service. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9C60SI0uovY 1.56 2023-05-18T19:45:27.431Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-the-quality-of-solar-products-and-installation-effect-its-long-term-performance https://www.youtube.com/embed/5uRO8YiWV_0 Does the quality of solar products and installation effect its long-term performance? One of our mandates when we started the business was that, we're very conscious due to the young nature of the industry, that there's a lot of cheap inexpensive solar systems even getting deployed back then. And we were quite wary. Unfortunately in recent times, the last couple of years we've seen a bigger uptake, of queries for orphan customers out there who their panels have suffered water ingress. Which made a lot of customers, potential new customers go, Ooh, that's not good, when you tell them some of these stories. You can't stress enough in regards to the quality that needs to be deployed. And we look at the monetary costs, more of as secondary. We say to a lot of customers that if you need financial requirements you're better off doing it because poor man pays twice. We hear that time and time again, if they can afford to spend a little bit more and make sure they get the right size system that's going to meet their needs. But not only meets it today but future-proofing because that's very important. It definitely pays to pick the right installer over the years, we've experienced first hand. Some customers have become orphans, and the so-called cowboys situation has arrived, where they've just made too many shortcuts use inferior switchgear product. Some of them have been recalled, some have even caught fire. No one wants that. It definitely pays to invest in the high quality products. Yep, obviously, understandably, it does cost more but once people have got it, it's less cell denigration rate each year. And because of that, people feel more comfortable, and peace of mind that they're going to get the right solution for their needs for the longer term. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5uRO8YiWV_0 1.57 2023-05-18T19:45:24.063Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-higher-quality-solar-panels-get-you-better-financial-returns-in-hotter-climates https://www.youtube.com/embed/YNsTtGb5by4 How do higher quality solar panels get you better financial returns in hotter climates? So where we are is 16.5 degrees from the equator. Especially on the Atherton Tablelands where we do a lot of work, they get 360 plus days a year. On the coast, slight less due to a bit more rainfall. So in Cairns and Far North Queensland here, we do get some hot climates. When we have a situation where it's 25 degrees celsuis ambient temperature, which a lot of Australia gets to a minimum. Those solar cells can reach 40, 45, 50 plus degrees celsius. So the better the temperature co-efficiency the less that those panels are going to derate. Temperature co-efficiency for the panel is crucial. If you buy or select a panel that is just par or subpar, you're going to notice the performance output compared to a high quality panel. So straight away the return on investment starts to get closer and closer for those factors. So again, I can't reiterate strong enough, you've got to pay for quality, you've got to look at the overall package of the solar solution. Not just the panels, not just the inverter, the whole installation, the quality right through to the switch gear that we use. If you stick to that in the market, you'll be assured, and you'll get a far better return on your investment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YNsTtGb5by4 1.21 2023-05-18T19:45:20.373Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-farmers-in-queensland-taking-advantage-of-solar-power-to-decrease-their-business-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/JHDwPRNE6A8 How are farmers in Queensland taking advantage of solar power to decrease their business costs? So a lot of our rural customers in the farming industry, a lot of their costs are either water, irrigation and how to pump that water, from sometimes quite vast distances, quite deep down in bore sometimes. And it requires a lot of energy, typically electricity. Some of them have even used diesel generators and pumps to do that. And then when we workout that sometimes you can use electricity to cover those costs, and then backend with solar. There's probably three main costs in regards to rural customers that they talk to us about. One is water, one is the distribution of water which is power, electricity is one of the biggest imposters. With that, it's either irrigating straight over channels or the dams that they have, or bores. And their produce that's got to be kept cool, in regards to the climates for down south distribution, the must have large cold rooms, which require enormous amount of power, and a lot of that power can be mitigated during the day. Funny enough, a lot of the avocados and bananas can chill down pretty quickly during the day because they're quite hot fruit. By the time it becomes night-time they can actually cycle out their refrigeration to a lower amount, requiring less energy during the night. So, it seems to work very well with a lot of our farmers and their produce. The two biggest imposters we hear, is electricity power one, water is number two. And then, because of the ambient temperature up here's a lot warmer and their cold room and chilling requirements, a big cost is air-conditioning, refrigeration. So a lot of them, especially last say five to seven years, have seen a substantial increase in their tariffs for their farming requirements. And they've been talking amongst themselves to say, what can we do, and a few of the early adopters considered solar even though back then. Some of the solar systems where quite substantially higher, it was still viable for them. Now with increased efficiency, increase product quality, and warranty with that and increased costs of tariffs, really it's a no-brainer. A lot of these people seeing three to four year payback on their solar system for our rural customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JHDwPRNE6A8 2.26 2023-05-18T19:45:16.799Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-financial-payback-for-businesses-that-install-commercial-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKWi9mRLc1I What is the financial payback for businesses that install commercial solar power? With a lot of our commercial customers, obviously a big factor is their budget. How much they're going to spend, what is it going to cost to spend? And what are they going to get for their money? So they really want to make sure they going to get quality, they're going to get long product warranties. Very, again, very important in regards to the service, the after sales. To make sure that they can train their staff into how to utilise and how to do shutdown procedures. How can they adjunct in regards to the systems. How to energy manage, and energy audit their own systems, and how to monitor those systems. So all that becomes, we work out the paybacks to the type of tariffs that they're on. And they're very surprised to learn how quickly the systems, even the high quality systems that we instal, has a far greater payback. A lot of businesses come and look at solar in regards to the power generation requirements to supply. And when they realise that solar supplies behind the meter, and they got a lot of high consumption, especially during the day, we try and maximise that benefit for them. And when they look at, you know, the energy generation can be sometimes in the thousands or 10's of thousands of dollars a month. And they think initially that there's no way that they can mitigate or reduce that cost. So with regards to that cost, when we show them where they can finance this over five, seven or 10 years, and then they work out what they're currently paying, a lot of times, it's actually cheaper to finance it, debt finance it, and then they save on the annualised cost of energy. So the type of savings with our commercial rural customers, which really is all bundled into one for us, can be quite substantial. A lot of customers operate just during the day between the hours of say seven in the morning until five in the afternoon. Typically, that can vary obviously. A lot of them are five days, some are seven days, especially if they're in the retail sector. And because of that the total utilisation can be substantially higher. Instead of 50, 60% for residential it can be 70 to 90% and up to 100%, if you allow for export as a credit. Payback periods for a lot of these people can be as low as we've seen two, typically three to five years again, because we'd rather get them to invest in a high quality installation. That's going to give more longevity, and the payback might increase by 15 to 18 months at the most. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKWi9mRLc1I 2.43 2023-05-18T19:45:13.353Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-were-the-solar-power-systems-at-serra-farming-engineered-to-maximise-financial-returns https://www.youtube.com/embed/8SWWf7gAAyU How were the solar power systems at Serra Farming engineered to maximise financial returns? So these solutions for the ground mounts. First of all bring them down to a lot cheaper tariff, and they're halving their electricity bills by putting the solar in. And the two smaller ground mounts, the avocado farms, with those ones, the solution was around a two year payback period for those, and that's including the cost of the ground mount. With the solution for the banana farm, the goal is to stop them going onto a demand based tariff. They were borderline. So the solution we're putting in, they have to utilise the solar that's generated. But they win because they're not going to be put onto a demand-based tariff which is based on the size of the pump, regardless of whether they use it. If it's only used for 30 minutes, that pump size is just going to crucify them. The packing shed sites, the solution was to use two NMI's, for packing shed and for the workshop. Move loads, so that it was shared evenly between the two NMI's, and then put solar on to bring the NMI's, both of them under a hundred thousand kilowatt hours, which would reclassify them as small, and also put them onto a feed-in tariff. So, when the packing shed is not operating, half-day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then they would get a feed-in tariff when they were closed. So, it's a win-win for everybody, reduce the daytime costs. Packing sheds are only open at daytime, and to get the feed-in tariff. As an engineer, I want to use quality products that I can just walk away from. I know that they're going to perform as expected, and just peace of mind, and I'm reliant on referrals. So, I want to know that the customer is happy, that I have the backing of the companies. Using quality products is really important. We service the customer after the installation. We want to know there's a reliable quality product in there that has the backing of wonderful warranties, which excel there outside of normal products that are available. We have great technical support from the products that we use. It just keeps on producing electricity. It keeps on performing as expected, and better. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8SWWf7gAAyU 2.18 2023-05-18T19:45:09.447Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-advantages-of-higher-efficiency-solar-panels-for-the-ground-mounts-at-serra-farming https://www.youtube.com/embed/_KrNx7b25yU What were the advantages of higher efficiency solar panels for the ground mounts at Serra Farming? At Serra Farming, there were ground mounts put in for a couple of the solutions. There was no shed, there was no roof to put the solar on. There were pumps at three locations, two for avocados, one for bananas. So the ground mounts were designed to meet the requirements to get them under 100,000 kilowatt hours. But also then on two of the sites, to give them a feed-in tariff when they weren't irrigating. The solutions at Serra Farming for the ground mounts, we're using DC-optimised panels. Ground mount is all about the aluminium, that's not cheap, and the costs of shipping it around from, bring it from the supplier to us. We minimise the amount of legs on the ground mount. We're getting a 340-watt panel in the space, where typically you might only get a 270 to 300-watt panel. The electricity generated from these solutions as well means that you'd need a smaller ground mount. All of this is an advantage to the customer. I monitor them after the installation. When you look on return on investment, which is really important to the customer, it may only be four to six months longer to pay off and they have so many benefits, from a better warranty, higher output, less ground mount. It was a win-win. The product is a fantastic solution for ground mounts. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_KrNx7b25yU 1.30 2023-05-18T19:45:06.445Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-was-solar-power-able-to-reduce-the-irrigation-costs-of-a-banana-and-avocado-farm-in-queensland https://www.youtube.com/embed/B8_9GUc_TEg How was solar power able to reduce the irrigation costs of a banana and avocado farm in Queensland? Serra farming was a multiple sites with multiple electricity bills. And the game was to reduce their electricity costs, to take them away from irrigation tariffs, and to potentially get them on to a tariffs where they could have a feed in tariff for electricity generated that wasn't used. So the goal of this particular site was it had packing sheds, which are commercial operations running Monday to Friday with a half day typically on Friday and closed at weekends. Irrigation is when it's sunny they irrigate, when it's not sunny, they don't irrigate, which is actually a good solution for solar. So it was multiple sites here with multiple goals to reduce electricity, but in two different scenarios. So we have 40 kilowatts of solar on one avocado farm at Kairi, we have 40 kilowatts of solar at a farm in ending, and we have a hundred kilowatts of solar at Serra farming's main area banana farm. This one of course, because it's a hundred kilowatts is not feed-in. It had to be modelled to meet the profile of the electricity usage. At this site most of the accounts were over a hundred thousand kilowatt hours, classified as large. One particular account was very large and has a 90 kilowatt pump on it with various dosing fertiliser pumps on it. So the consumption was large on majority of the sites, they will be adjusting some of their fertilising regimes to make and take advantage of the way that solar is generated. Currently it's set up for the irrigation tariffs so that it's off peak, cheaper if you irrigate at weekends. We're going to move things around so that it's daytime and that the staff don't get watered at the same time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/B8_9GUc_TEg 1.57 2023-05-18T19:45:02.052Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-financial-and-environmental-advantages-of-solar-power-for-jaques-coffee-plantation https://www.youtube.com/embed/Reehhq-WL-Q What were the financial and environmental advantages of solar power for Jaques Coffee Plantation? It's crazy if you don't. If you're not using solar power, your are, A, you're costing a lot of extra carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere, B, your hip pocket. It's the main consideration. So if you can get your solar power while you're going for it, obviously it's got a payback period, but once you've got over that payback period, you're sitting in the credit. So each one of those kilowatts, you're essentially saving 30 cents a kilowatt because that's what the price of power is when you're just buying it from the grid in most instances. And you tell me, has power gone down in the last few years, or has it just gone up? And where's it going to go in the next couple of years? So if you get in now, while there is government incentives, then you're going to be even better off. After they finish the installation, I want to be power positive, which I can pretty much certainly guarantee that we will be. Also as I said, we like to be clean and green out here on the plantation. So we've got diesel trees we've planted as well. So we'll be using the solar power to press the diesel trees, and then we'll be able to use the diesel in our harvesters and tractors. So it's a win-win situation on both fronts in that particular matter. Lots of solar power, lots of green energy and a clean, clean plantation. Very good to get behind a local business. They came out, they had a look, they talked to us, they on the phone, they're going through all our concerns that we had. And also they were the best price out of everybody. So it's nice to know that I have a local team. A local business, family owned, here on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Reehhq-WL-Q 1.53 2023-05-18T19:44:58.499Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-will-the-commercial-solar-power-system-help-the-jacques-coffee-plantation-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/xUT36uqTTg4 How will the commercial solar power system help the Jacques Coffee Plantation business? I'm Robert Jaques. Welcome to the Jacques Coffee Plantation. Out here, we have 85,000 Arabica coffee trees producing a really high quality coffee. The whole plantation consists of about 200 acres with two kilometres of Creek frontage. We also have a plantation cafe along with obviously the kitchen and the factories, and everything else that goes along with it. We have various pumps around the property that are consuming electricity. We also have four residences here as well. So, along with the residences, the factories, the cafe, the kitchen, the pumps, there's a lot of energy usage to keep a farm going. The biggest energy user on the farm is the pumps. If you can negate the power that you use in your pumps, then you're on a winner. We love to be green and clean out here on the plantation. So, what we have with the power, we'll be actually feeding some of it back to the grid and powering to the local community. Yeah, so we will, we're going to be powering our plantation as well as the local community around here as well. So, the Mareeba township, that we'll be getting some of ours, Biboohra, and obviously, we'll be using as much as we can with the pumps and with the cafe that runs during the day. So, what we want to do is out here, is just have the solar power. Now, when you have a product like that, you just want to set and forget. You just want to let the solar do its job without any worries. And if there is any worries, everything's being monitored, 25-year warranty on the panels and all the rest of the system. So, we're very happy in that regards. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xUT36uqTTg4 1.46 2023-05-18T19:44:55.596Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solar-power-helping-to-decrease-the-costs-of-irrigation-for-a-coffee-farm-in-mareeba https://www.youtube.com/embed/3zDmeB8VKiA How is solar power helping to decrease the costs of irrigation for a coffee farm in Mareeba? So water is a primary concern on a coffee plantation. In Mareeba we have 300 sunny days, so it's a long dry season that we have up here. So without water, the coffee trees will obviously die, but we also need that dry period so we can stress the trees and create flowers. So that's why Mareeba is the ideal climate for the actual coffee trees itself. So we get to control it with the water, and with the water obviously you have water consumption. Now that isn't very expensive for the water itself, the main consideration is the power, pumping the water out of the creek over the coffee trees. In a traditional setup, so if you can imagine a pump running at 45 kilowatts for 12 hours a day, you're talking in the $40,000 - $50,000 a year plus, just for 85,000 coffee trees. So you can imagine that's a huge impact on a small business. If we're talking about 300 sunny days a year, we're also talking, okay, let's look at solar power. So that's back in 2011 we first got into it, so we put in 85 kilowatts of solar power in 2011, and it paid for itself in no time at all. So with that consideration, we decided that we wanted a bit of an upgrade. So we're doubling that capacity to about 160 kilowatts of solar power. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3zDmeB8VKiA 1.25 2023-05-18T19:44:52.342Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-the-excess-solar-production-at-serra-farming-helping-to-power-the-local-community https://www.youtube.com/embed/2j6jfAl1HuY How is the excess solar production at Serra Farming helping to power the local community? Yeah, it's a good feeling to have the panels up on the roof over here, installed, generating power 8 days out of 10 through the wet season. We're covering our usage which is great, which is what the goal was. Yeah, really good to see that the system's putting the power out and not only that, when we're not using, they're putting the power back in the grid. Yeah, we're feeding the energy back into the grid, so everything we don't use throughout the week when we're not packing on the weekend, that energy gets pumped back into the grid and yeah it's clean green energy. It gives extra power to the community and hopefully over time we'll help to lower the cost of power. As a grower we're price receivers in this industry. So quite often we're under a very, very strong downward price pressures from the big players, and the only way we can really control that is by reigning in our costs, being efficient. And at the end of the day, choosing a solar system which was going to give us good quality, good backup service, and longevity was paramount to our decision. https://www.youtube.com/embed/2j6jfAl1HuY 1.13 2023-05-18T19:44:48.303Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-were-high-quality-solar-panels-and-a-local-installer-important-to-dave-from-serra-farming https://www.youtube.com/embed/h_r-MNOhRQw Why were high quality solar panels and a local installer important to Dave from Serra Farming? So when we were looking into the solar process, we did a bit of homework on the panels and the type of panels that we wanted, the quality of panels that we wanted. Yeah we did that research into the panels, because we're in it for the long haul. We're a long-term family run business and we want a quality product. Yeah so we're expecting to reduce our energy usage by about 120,000 kilowatt hours a year, which in dollar figures it could represent up to $140,000 a year of savings. So it's quite large and has a five-year payback, so yeah to us it was a no brainer. With a solar system it was important to us to get a system that was low to no maintenance and have a long life. We've got a lot of day-to-day jobs to do on this operation and we don't need extra work. Because of the increased productivity, increased performance that they represent, in especially low lights which we have up here quite often in North Queensland. And also the, the quality of the product, the extended warranty and yeah just the overall quality of the product. Looked at a couple of things, looked at the product and we looked at some of their past work, the quality of their work and what they can offer service backup wise. So yeah, that was important to us. Ultimately chose them because of the product they offer, and the service, the backup service that we're going to get from them. Yes definitely we feel comfortable spending the money with them, investing the money with them, because we are going to get the service after the product is installed and we know we've got a quality product at the end of the day. https://www.youtube.com/embed/h_r-MNOhRQw 1.51 2023-05-18T19:44:44.815Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-solar-power-help-serra-farming-reduce-the-operating-costs-of-their-banana-plantation https://www.youtube.com/embed/teh6Ax567W8 How did solar power help Serra Farming reduce the operating costs of their Banana plantation? David Serra, from Serra Farming. We've got a mixed agricultural, horticultural business on the Atherton Tablelands. Our avocados and bananas go along the East Coast of Australia, predominantly the chain stores. And we also got a drilling business which we, this is home based and we serve as Queensland from here. Regarding bananas, we've got 100 hectares of bananas on this site. It's predominantly irrigated from the Tinaroo Dam channel system. So yeah, that's where we're using the solar. Yeah in our business, our energy costs per year, are about $220,000 a year. So the solar for us was a no brainer. The costs come from the packing operations over here and also coming from the pumping irrigation system. So the the irrigation system runs 24 hours a day, probably 320 days of the year, and so as you can imagine this quite a large energy user. The irrigation cost is the biggest, we use about 220,000 kilowatt hours a year. Water wise we're pumping 800 mega litres a year, which is 800 million litres a year. The energy usage on that's about 220,000 kilowatt hours a year. So quite large, the cost is quite high. The tariffs, we're getting upward pressure on agricultural irrigation tariffs from Ergon, and obviously we're trying to reign in those costs. We're in an industry which is very often we're price receivers. So the only way we can move forward with our business and make positive changes to our bottom line is by reining in our costs. So that's what we're doing with the solar. Yeah, the solar was a good decision to our lower environmental footprint and also to reign in our costs, try and get a hold of energy costs and move forward. Make positive changes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/teh6Ax567W8 2.02 2023-05-18T19:44:41.361Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-higher-quality-inverter-technology-give-homeowners-better-solar-power-monitoring https://www.youtube.com/embed/o7Y6Gph7zXM Does higher quality inverter technology give homeowners better solar power monitoring? Choosing a quality product and a quality panel is only half the system. We need to insure the inverter and the inverter technology, is suited to the residence and the property. Latest technology inverters and microinverters and optimisers allow us to check in on the system. All we need is an internet connection at the property for us to connect our inverter system to that connection. This allows us to track the generation of the system. Monitoring for solar systems allows your installer to keep an eye on things, and you to keep an eye on things while you're not at home. You get a text message alert, you might get an email from your system to tell you its underperforming. Monitoring is critical these days in allowing us to track the generation of the system. Gone are the days of just having a screen on your inverter. These days we can see the data we can see the performance we can get error alerts if they're ever available. The monitoring will allow you to track your system better, and then depending on the inverter chosen, our minimum warranty at the moment is a 10 year inverter warranty. Warranties are important to insure that if something goes wrong that the supplier and the company that is providing it is going to be around to help and service that system in the future. Warranty is your insurance policy. Without a company that you can rely on, without a decent warranty, you could end up with a system that needs to be replaced rather than serviced or fixed. We choose quality products because we don't want the liability in 10 years. We're going to be around to support our products, so we need to insure that the decisions that you're making, the decisions we're making, are going to be able to sustain the system for the life of the product. https://www.youtube.com/embed/o7Y6Gph7zXM 1.59 2023-05-18T19:44:38.562Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-help-to-future-proof-your-home-s-energy-savings https://www.youtube.com/embed/omGxUN7FpWY How do higher quality solar power systems help to future-proof your home's energy savings? Choosing a high quality, high-performance solar system, allows you to maximise the energy on your roof space. You know the smaller the block, the smaller the property, we're still able to get a large amount of kilowatts on the roof, to future-proof that property against rising power prices, against the purchase of electric vehicles. Why waste your roof space with an inefficient product? Houses with multiple roof surfaces with multiple azimuths, might also need a micro-inverter or an optimised solution. No point having a high quality product in your panel, with a poor quality installation or the wrong inverter chosen for the job. Each design needs to be tailored to suit the roof size, and also the customer's budget. I've never met anyone that thought that they should have installed a smaller system. Nearly everyone we speak to thinks they should have gotten larger. So we talk about maximising the system size to suit your roof space, and that is within your budget. Feed-in tariffs from retailers are getting better and better each day, electricity costs are getting higher and higher. Getting the maximum system size you can to suit your budget is the best investment you can make. Most residential properties can install a high quality solar system, and have a payback on the five years. And that would be a worst case scenario. I have some clients that can do payback under four years for a high quality system, installed in the right location with the right conditions. This means solar systems have never been more viable and more economical. https://www.youtube.com/embed/omGxUN7FpWY 1.50 2023-05-18T19:44:35.509Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-businesses-factor-in-the-lifecycle-costs-of-a-commercial-solar-power-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/cKFJ7lukuVo Why should businesses factor in the lifecycle costs of a commercial solar power investment? Our commercial clients are getting multiple quotes, and some of these quotes are quite inexpensive. The things that commercial customers should be looking for is life cycle cost of the equipment. You install a quality system and quality component, you can guarantee those savings for a long period of time. A cheap system, or an inexpensive system, will need to be replaced two or three times before a good quality system will ever need replacement. When we're calculating the return on investment for our commercial clients, we're looking at so many factors. We're looking at their load profile and their usage. We're looking at their electricity bill and their tariffs. We're looking at how their businesses run, and their hours of operation. These are the things that determine the value of that investment and how it will pay itself off. Commercial clients are investing in high quality systems because they don't want to have an issue down the track. Quality systems allow you to install and get the benefits and savings for many years to come. Using a high quality product and a high-performance panel means that you're getting more wattage for less square meterage. This allows you to reduce the weight on the roof, which can have better implications on commercial premises when there are restrictive engineering requirements. Our commercial clients, if the system is designed well, can have 100% self-consumption, can have payback less than four years, and sometimes even as close as three years. This means solar systems have never been more viable and more economical. We're installing for local councils, for businesses because we use quality components. And what we install is designed to last for decades. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cKFJ7lukuVo 1.58 2023-05-18T19:44:31.934Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-payback-period-for-a-solar-power-and-battery-system-for-a-homeowner-in-new-beith-qld https://www.youtube.com/embed/xRHKntWNWa8 What is the payback period for a solar power and battery system for a homeowner in New Beith QLD? We're in the greater suburbs of Brisbane, this is a suburb called New Beith. This customer is looking for a larger system, there's three-phase supply to the property, larger shed, bigger house, more people in the house. So we've gone oversize on this location, so 17 kilowatts of solar on a 15 kilowatt inverter. We're maximising return on investment here, these guys being credit each quarter, the solar is a long game. So this is a long-term investment for them to give them the benefits of the system for longer. So 330 watt panels, 52 panels which gets them just to touch over 17 kilowatts. So we've got a 15 kilowatt three-phase inverter limit. This site also does have a single-phase Tesla Powerwall 2 to give a bit more self consumption, and also give single phase blackout protection for the property. This is a forever house, the end game here is the solar in its own right, without the battery would probably be a four or five-year payback. As soon as you include a battery, you lengthen that payback period. So we're lengthening the solar and battery together to a six or seven year payback. Excellent savings here though. This is a large home, ducted air, you know it could be looking to bill of $800 to $1,200 a quarter. With the system we've got the battery we've got here, we can get that down to zero. It's a win-win for the network as well. You know, this is distributed solar within this estate. The demand that this estate creates on the network during the day is a lot less than it would be without solar. So it's a win for the network, it's also a win on the carbon footprint of the property. Now these are big houses out here with big loads, we're reducing their dependence on the grid, we're reducing their dependence on fossil fuel, and we're producing our own power within our own property to make us more self-sufficient. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xRHKntWNWa8 1.57 2023-05-18T19:44:26.404Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-engineering-challenges-with-the-commercial-solar-power-installation-at-kedron-wavell https://www.youtube.com/embed/UXu3FPv3WAE What were the engineering challenges with the commercial solar power installation at Kedron-Wavell? The panels are about 25 kilos each, we've got 250 panels up there. We started out looking at about a 16-ton installation, and that's what had to be scaled back. So the curved roof was quite a challenge, we've got flat rigid panels on a curved roof. It's our best structural roof, according to our engineer, So we had to maximise the installation up there. The strongest roof and the best structure we had was the big curved roof. So that's where we've concentrated the solar, and then the lower, flatter section where we've gone into landscape for the panels. We've had to stay close to that dividing wall there because, again, that's where all the structure was and that's what we had engineering approvals for. So the layout of the array is purely based on what our engineer would allow us. We had to stay close to this wall of the curved structure, because that's where our main supporting beams are underneath. So we're just maximising the amount of energy we can get in this area of the roof, which is how we've come up with this design. We also had to try and stay away from some of these plant and bits of equipment. So the layout is what it is, there was no design considerations. It can't be seen from the road or from anywhere else, it's purely based on loading the roof in the correct way. The original plan was 16 tonnes worth of solar panels on this roof, we've ended up with about four, four and a bit. So we had to be careful with where we placed the panels. So commercial installations, sometimes, can be easier than residential. You've got large football field roof structures, they're generally flatter. We can get all the panels in one direction and one array. So commercial installs are a great way to be able to reduce energy consumption at a low entry cost. We're installing solar at a low price now. That the payback can be under four years, or even in worst case scenario, five or six years. It's an excellent investment for any large user of power. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UXu3FPv3WAE 2.01 2023-05-18T19:44:21.497Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-400w-optimised-solar-panels-helping-an-rsl-club-to-maximise-their-available-roof-space https://www.youtube.com/embed/jyjf8irbzVw How are 400W optimised solar panels helping an RSL club to maximise their available roof space? We're at the Kedron-Wavell Services Club at Chermside, on the north side of Brisbane. This is a commercial solar installation utilising 400 watt panels, these are larger frame panel. They're a 72 cell module, and this is a hundred kilowatt installation. The brief was from the client to maximise their energy reduction. So we tried to fit as much solar as we could on the roof. The club like this has very high energy bills, very high energy consumption. What we're trying to achieve here, is a maximum reduction in bill. So initially we are looking at 350 kilowatt installation here. We had challenges with the weight capacity on the roof. So, had an engineer come out and look at it and we had to scale it back to a 100 kilowatts. So we've done a a 100 kilowatt installation here, but this is stage one of potentially a much larger installation. We're looking at new buildings, new car park. We've got walkways between each panel, that's just because the panels had to sit right over the purlins. So we've got a gap between each panel to allow the system to be installed. Big walkways up the middle, access is good, on the far side gets quite steep. We had to stay off that steep part of the roof and maximise the top surface of the roof. Yeah so to maximise our energy in the small roof space that we had, we've gone to 400 watt module just to try and squeeze as much energy at that roof. While using a high efficiency module, we're getting more watts per square metre, which equates to less weight. So, it did mean that we were getting more wattage in the limited roof space we had. A 100 kilowatts of solar, 82 kilowatts of inverter capacity, this is a large club, this system helps with some of their energy usage. The energy consumption here is huge, the solar here is being a hundred percent self-consumed. This is an optimised solution, so under every panel is a optimiser. So that allows the panels to mitigate the shade. The panels are working in groups and in strings, but there's a lot of plant equipment up there. The technology allows us to get more wattage in areas where we wouldn't normally, and allows us to get higher daily production. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jyjf8irbzVw 2.17 2023-05-18T19:44:17.872Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-a-solar-power-system-helping-to-insulate-a-queensland-homeowner-against-power-price-rises https://www.youtube.com/embed/-nj53j0bVn8 How is a solar power system helping to insulate a Queensland homeowner against power price rises? The big thing for this property is we're looking to achieve a zero bill. So we will get to that. We're still going to export some energy to the grid. We're getting paid a high rate for that up here in Queensland, so we can get up to 20 cents per kilowatt for energy exported to the grid. We're maximising self-consumption, so we're not relying on the grid at this property anymore, we're using it as backup. But every bit of power in this house is being produced, stored and consumed within the boundaries of the fence. The grid is there as backup. He is insulated against power price rises, so any big change in the power network and the price of the network is not going to affect him. He's secured his investment with good quality products. So choosing the right brands for this site means longevity, means high quality, means everything will just work and continue to work. As with any site, two-story house tile, roof, safety is always a key focus. It is a slightly older property, so hiding cables, making things look neat and tidy. No residential installation is ever straightforward. So it's always about maximising the aesthetics of the panels on the roof, and also then just getting things to look right, and get things neat and tidy. So customer satisfaction is high. The guy rang me just the other day just to compliment us on our team and our installation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-nj53j0bVn8 1.28 2023-05-18T19:44:14.569Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-a-homeowner-in-mitchelton-qld-invest-in-a-solar-power-and-battery-storage-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/QjBJ6CzcTD0 Why did a homeowner in Mitchelton QLD invest in a solar power and battery storage system? So we're in a suburb of Brisbane in Mitchelton, at us residential house where we've installed solar and batteries, as part of the state government battery and loans programme. 330 watt panels, there's 20 up on the roof, so it's a 6.6 kilowatt array. We've coupled those panels with micro-inverters. Micro-inverters are sitting behind the panels up on the roof to increase the performance. And we've also installed a Tesla power wall to this site to maximise self-consumption, give some blackout protection and really enhance the system's capabilities. The brief for nearly all of our residential installations is about bill reduction. So it's about reducing the cost of electricity, the lifecycle cost for the house. So solar does that dramatically and then adding in a battery allows this customer to increase their self consumption. Tesla is there to increase self consumption for the property, provide some blackout protection, and also allow the homeowner to interact with their electricity a bit more. They can see their usage and see their performance. With every property we look at, the performance of the system is key, the longevity of the product is key. So all of the components in this system have been chosen for their longevity in their market, their warranty, and their ability to provide ongoing service support, and warranty if that ever arises in the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QjBJ6CzcTD0 1.31 2023-05-18T19:44:09.814Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-system-if-you-re-living-at-your-property-long-term https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_E_4FSPrgU Why should you invest in a higher quality solar system if you're living at your property long-term? The climate that we work in is typically of the higher end of the scale. We get the extremes, and summer's quite a harsh environment for people and solar systems. Typically we're more known for hot summers, hot dry summers. Winters are typically mild, yes cold. They're probably the two highest power consumption points of the year. Those two portions of the year are the drivers for people to maybe look into getting solar systems. Everyone's in a different situation, so you've got people that want to be at a property short-term, or people that are in homes that they want to remain in for a fairly long duration, or the rest of their lives. Utilising better products for people that are going to remain in the same home for many years, the better products are going to offer that better long-term reliability. Choosing a good quality brand is very important, both with panels and solar inverters. Currently, we've got a federal government rebate system, that you can claim a rebate against a cheap solar panel, and you can claim the same rebate against a more expensive solar panel, with a 25 year parts, labour warranty, and a very minimal degradation over 25 years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_E_4FSPrgU 1.34 2023-05-18T19:44:06.310Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-most-common-reason-homeowners-and-businesses-invest-in-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/fZuXeDRLz9E What is the most common reason homeowners and businesses invest in solar power? We have a very large range of different customers. Our customer base is quite wide. Some mums and dads, businesses, customers where affordability is really important, reliability is really important. Value is not cheap, and value isn't certainly paying too much for a product either. So in the last decade, I've had two people, or two customers, over that entire period where the number one driver to have solar was to do everything they could for the environment. The driver for most people to have solar is actually is reducing their current energy costs, freeing up cashflow. And, you know, the side benefit is helping the environment. Yeah, now look, there is the typical payback period for most customers is three to five years with good quality equipment. And that three to five-year payback period is really ensuring the reliability of the long-term investments. So those systems can operate for typically another 20 years with a good quality panel. That allows customers or investors to have that rock solid income from that purchase. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fZuXeDRLz9E 1.28 2023-05-18T19:44:02.615Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-cheap-solar-power-systems-often-unreliable-and-bad-for-the-environment https://www.youtube.com/embed/nnaGK7iypKw Why are cheap solar power systems often unreliable and bad for the environment? For our customers that invest in in better quality solar systems, more reliable solar system, it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. And it's because my job, my job or my role really, is to help educate people and show that the importance of quality over, over cheaper products is you know, key to having a good reliable investment. Of course you can buy, you know, a range of different solar systems that we see advertised in the Sunday mail, or the Sunday mail special we like to call them. Those cheap systems are typically built with lesser products that are cheaper. There's no competition in terms of cheap versus quality, based on price. So the product, the reliability is important. Cheaper products offer much shorter reliability long-term. Most of those cheaper solar panel products end up in landfill, I mean that's a huge driver for us to not use them. We're supposed to be working the renewable energy sector. And I think if we're responsible, we're not going to use products that are going to end up in landfill. There's probably two very key reasons that that anyone would or should be looking at a quality, or quality solar panel system. Of course the reliability both in long-term performance, but also reliability of warranties. We know them, we can provide that backing and support warranty to customers, further down the track. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nnaGK7iypKw 1.43 2023-05-18T19:43:57.921Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-better-to-have-your-solar-system-designed-by-an-expert-instead-of-a-sales-person https://www.youtube.com/embed/XkjySIKOd5I Why is it better to have your solar system designed by an expert instead of a sales person? So, I'm an electrician by trade. My experience has always been to keep everything in-house within the business, I've made the choice not to bring sales people into our company. It's a very technical part of the industry. We're explaining to customers how things work, and technically how things can work is really important. And it's not information that you gain by being as a sales person. So there's a very big difference in their business for that very reason where we're hands on, we're technical and we're able to do things to a much higher level than most. I think the driver for any residential or commercial solar customer is they're wanting to reduce their energy costs, but the cash flow that frees up, particularly for businesses is quite important. Domestically that happens at the same level. Mums and dads and cashflow in everyday lives is really important and basically a lot of young families that we install solar solar systems for, are for those reasons. I think reducing billing is probably one of the key factors in having a solar system for most of our customers. We won't install the Sunday mail specials, or the cheap and cheerful solar systems that we see around the place, because they're simply not reliable. We've been around in the industry for quite a period of time. We have a very good reputation because of our good moral standard of only installing equipment that we would install on our own home. https://www.youtube.com/embed/XkjySIKOd5I 1.54 2023-05-18T19:43:54.737Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-persuaded-homeowner-malcolm-to-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/JT2l3NR5bqE What persuaded homeowner Malcolm to invest in a higher quality solar power system? Malcom currently has just moved into town, from living out of town. They've been, I guess, adapting to new life in town, and different consumption patterns that they've had. The higher electricity billing prompted the need to have a solar system. Today we installed three 50-watt modules on Malcolm's home, coupled with a good European built inverter. We installed a 6.55 kilowatt solar system. We spoke to Malcolm at length about the different types of solar system and why quality again is the number one factor. Well the key factors for the customers is always quality, reliability, backing support. We're in an industry where there's a lot of different products available, but the large majority of those products aren't backed well, or they have significant issues with quality, or backing and support. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JT2l3NR5bqE 1.17 2023-05-18T19:43:50.465Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-brad-and-tracy-decide-to-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/javEtCGWcBc Why did Brad and Tracy decide to invest in a higher quality solar power system? We got a phone call from Brad and Tracy, and they've got a beautiful little, I guess cottage down at Daveyston. The amount of work they've done at that home really called for a product to suit both their electricity needs, but also fit the home itself. Well, your two bigger billing periods of the year typically for power consumption - you're consuming quite a bit more to either cool or heat those styles of homes. Quality for most customers and particularly Brad and Tracy is about doing things once on their home. They've got a home that needs constant maintenance and repair. So we've installed a 5.94 kilowatt solar panel system, with a good quality European-based inverter system. They've definitely wanted to go quality over, you know, a cheaper alternative. And that really is based on having a maintenance-free solar system well into the future, and one that's backed and supported well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/javEtCGWcBc 1.11 2023-05-18T19:43:46.976Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-microinverters-help-homeowners-optimise-their-solar-power-system-size-and-design https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6ob9boDg-Q How did microinverters help homeowners optimise their solar power system size and design? So they had originally quite a small solar system, when the prices were quite high for solar. And that solar system being quite poor quality, we had inspection there and notice that the system was failing, that the panels were degrading, and getting to the point of failing. It had to be turned off and disconnected. And in that process, we've discussed installing a higher quality system. We installed a 13.1 kW system, it turned out to be a little bit bigger. They're certainly at a place or a home that is well investing into high quality solar. And that way they can keep it for the time that they want to remain living there. So we used microinverters on Adam and Chantels's home, because of the multiple roof aspects, the shading issues that they have. And it was a great way to produce power from sun up to sun down in a situation that a string based inverter couldn't operate in. Well, their power consumption was reasonably high. And with that higher power consumption, it was about maximum offset of their daytime power. Also providing a circumstance, where we were able to build a bigger system, and that bigger system would allow for potentially adding a battery source too in the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6ob9boDg-Q 1.32 2023-05-18T19:43:43.443Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solar-power-helping-to-decrease-the-cost-of-living-for-a-family-with-teenagers https://www.youtube.com/embed/LieR8CJ6ixc How is solar power helping to decrease the cost of living for a family with teenagers? I hate when a brown envelope comes in from the letterbox, we always know it's going to be a large power bill. So yeah, just trying to get all of our power bills down. I'd say it's air conditioning and heating. The kids always seem to leave lights on in the house, and the washing machine dishwasher always seems to be going, they're always full. Yeah, so I've got two kids that both go to school, and are home after school. and on weekends, if we're not out at sport. We work hard for our money. So every time a power bill goes you don't see where your money's going. Just seems to be the bill comes in, you pay it, and you don't have anything to show for. It just all adds up. You got sports fees, you got school fees, water bill, how much they eat. So yeah, just everything adds up. I'm just trying to save some money. We worked out our power bills quarterly where we're massive. So the quicker we could save some money, I think it was only going to take us two years and when we were in front. So it was, yeah, we had to do it. I think all the rebates are going to help us. So we seem to get a good system for the price that we paid for it. So yeah, we're really happy with it. Product warranty and parts 25 years. One of the biggest warranties around, just peace of mind that if something does go wrong, they're there to help you. They're going to look after us if we need to. Yeah, definitely, look after the local people. You go to all the bigger businesses, you're just a number. Going local, they know who you are or they're happy to come back and talk you through it, rather than just ringing and talking to someone overseas. Yeah we could ring up, help us out with whatever we needed. These big companies, your power supplies are just, they've got the market at the moment. So if we start to produce our own power, it might get these bigger companies to look and start looking after us, rather than just yet filling their back pocket. Everyone needs to get solar. Yeah. Support your local people and yeah, It keeps you within your town. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LieR8CJ6ixc 2.15 2023-05-18T19:43:40.407Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-a-high-quality-solar-system-help-a-growing-family-pay-off-the-mortgage-quicker https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbDtnLJaH98 How can a high quality solar system help a growing family pay off the mortgage quicker? Adam Harris, we are in Two Wells, South Australia, and it's a nice rural community. We've lived here for about 30 years, at this property only 14 years, but we've been here for quite a long time. We're looking at about $2,500 to $3,000 a quarter for our bills, and so we really needed to do something with that. Father with two kids, a wife, two teenagers, they draw a lot of power. We use the air conditioner a fair bit, the heater in winter. We've got a spa that we run all the time, outdoor heaters, that sort of thing. Originally, we had a 1.5kW system installed 10 years ago. It was quite pricey back then and really didn't give us any relief on our bill, so we've decided to go with a bigger system and a better quality system rather than just a cheaper brand. So yeah, the first one just didn't fit our needs by a long shot, and I think technology has changed since then quite a lot. Just over 30.5kW, so I'm assuming, We'd probably, on a good day, get up around 80kW. We're hoping to save the majority of our bill and put that straight into our mortgage. So we're saving a lot of money on that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbDtnLJaH98 1.39 2023-05-18T19:43:36.682Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-choose-a-local-solar-installer-if-you-re-living-in-a-country-township https://www.youtube.com/embed/lEQ2oEzDXDk Why should you choose a local solar installer if you're living in a country township? Shopped around a little bit. basically, I was getting phone calls from telemarketing, and then I went, oh, sounds too good to be true their deals. And then chatted with someone that actually gave me the correct facts and figures. So yeah, then it was really quite simple, they were very easy to deal with and yeah, come around and showed us basically what we'd be getting in compared to the telemarketing. Yeah, definitely he was right on the money with it, they're definitely number one on my list. And yeah, they did a fantastic job, hassle free, very easy, very friendly, just professional. But still that old fashioned country, we are country people here and yeah, we got along really well. So it was just a simple, easy procedure to go, yes, we're going to pay you to do this job, instead of someone that we didn't know who was actually obviously going to outsource the work to some other mob that you never get to meet ever or whatever. Well, at first, I wasn't that aware of it, the cheaper systems with their warranties and things like that, definitely not as good. They kind of give you a warranty, and then it's you read through the fine print that's not the same. I guess every time you skimp on something, especially when it's something quite substantial, and it comes back and bites on the bottom, it cost you twice as much. So, if you've saved a few dollars, yeah, you're not going to save in the long run, so do it right the first time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lEQ2oEzDXDk 1.32 2023-05-18T19:43:33.689Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solar-power-helping-to-reduce-the-heating-and-cooling-costs-of-a-165-year-old-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/sm6-F0hTXiw How is solar power helping to reduce the heating and cooling costs of a 165 year old home? My name is Brad and we're in Daveyston, South Australia. This is the old coach house in Daveyston, roughly 1854. So I've lived here for the last 20 years, two little girls and beautiful wife. The energy consumption slowly, progressively going up every year. And you see the cost spiralling, not out of control, but you just kind of realise you got to do something, and hence we went for some solar. And all our families have kind of been on solar for a little while and egging us along a little bit, and we were the last ones to do it. The old stone house, so in wintertime, it's very hard to get warm. It cools down, it's very cold here in winter. So yeah, we use a lot more energy in winter. In summertime, it's not quite so bad unless we have a massive heat wave. And then yeah, but yes, then in summertime, we're not quite so bad with the energy consumption. Well we're looking bit over $2000 a year, which isn't that bad realistically, but it's only going to go up and up. So yeah, to try and cut as much expense as we can with using the solar, is yeah definitely what we were looking at. Definitely our power bill is a lot less, waiting for this next one, which actually we should get it this week I would think. And definitely we're looking it should be just about clearing itself, so a zero payment. Maybe batteries in the future, but yeah, we'll wait and see how we go with that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/sm6-F0hTXiw 1.33 2023-05-18T19:43:30.004Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-malcolm-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-from-a-local-installer-in-town https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1DZbRIOoHU Why did Malcolm invest in a higher quality solar panel from a local installer in town? Did a lot of quotes, I had a lot of quotes. Because he's local, somebody that you know he's got a good reputation. That's why I didn't want to go with a city-based installation. And he was referred to me by somebody locally in the area. So yeah, for me, I was always going to go that way, even though I got other quotes. The panels, which are a bit more expensive, but they're the Toyota of solar panels. And Toyota is a proven vehicle they're just, everybody knows that they're expensive, but they're a proven motorcar and these panels are the same, they're a proven panel, they're the Toyota of panels. Yeah, their output's better and the warranty's better. But that didn't worry me that much, the product really, that's why I went that way. Just the better made panels, longer-lasting, and the output as well was another reason. They're better, they put out 350 kilowatts, so yeah, that's the reason we went that way. They're the proven product, so just a better product. It might be a little bit more expensive, but not in the long run. Yeah, so far, so good. I've had a good look at the product, and I'm very happy so far. Very good, just see what happens when it's all hooked up and running, but very happy so far. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1DZbRIOoHU 1.48 2023-05-18T19:43:26.604Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-key-tender-requirements-for-local-governments-installing-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9hYZJd440E What are the key tender requirements for local governments installing solar power? Commercial clients have some important factors, particularly council heritage listed buildings. Looks is a major factor in that, the black frame panels are a requirement for these projects. The Town Hall, for example, they had to be an all-black panel for the looks. So, to put the system on there, that's what they required, so that's what they got. Again, the 25-year warranty was a big tick box for them, as well as the all-black option with the panels there. The payback on commercial systems is extremely good. The usage of their power is between nine and five generally, and the length of time could vary anywhere between two and three and a half years, depending on the usages. Town Hall was not just to reduce costs, it was also what the council wanted to do as part of the environmental factors in the Shire. So yeah, that was not only cost savings for that one. The government's decisions and what they require, for them longevity and warranties are a big tick, more security for those guys to cover themselves and have things last a lot longer. Basically, yeah, anything that has a good backup support, bigger company behind the manufacturing, always good. Payback period is a very important one for businesses, because it's a high financial outlay for a lot of those. So, the quality mix with payback is an important one. Yeah the design challenges, particularly in Beechworth and heritage is layout, streetscape viewing from what's visible. And also the all-black for example with the council on heritage. The trees are a big thing as well, so it can be a bit challenging, and yes, heritage is a big one with that visibility from the streets. https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9hYZJd440E 2.15 2023-05-18T19:43:21.380Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-commercial-considerations-for-the-solar-power-system-at-the-beechworth-gaol https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2TK1q5nBqQ What were the commercial considerations for the solar power system at the Beechworth Gaol? Commercially, obviously it's a large building that uses a lot of power. The usage varies a lot, and then there was of course the Heritage Victoria to accommodate as well. So we had to make sure the location and positioning of the panels met the requirements, so that there was no visibility from the street. Here at the Beechworth Gaol we've fitted 89 panels up on the section of roof that was selected. Used the 335 watt to just get on the 30 kilowatt size. The commercial considerations for the tender were quite specific, high quality warranties, so the 25 year warranty was a big tick on the box. Yeah, the longevity, not having to worry about possible replacements in 10 years time sort of thing. So the longer the last of the system, the better the return on long-term as well. And then obviously there's the installation side of things to make sure that all the safety requirements were done. Basically the Indigo Power Group were the ones to instigate the inquiry with us, and they had pretty well an idea of what they wanted to do size wise. The 30 kilowatt system was selected because of the sizing to stay under the AusNet services regulations, before extra grid protection is required, and the necessity to go bigger really wasn't there at the present time anyway. The Beechworth Gaol's payback should be somewhere around the three year term. The usage was a little bit mixed, because there's different tenants coming in and out of the property as well, so that may get a bit lesser over time. The Old Beechworth Gaol is an extremely good one to be involved with, very historical in the area and yeah, wouldn't wish it upon anyone else but a local company to be doing the job on it. Yeah, so as locally owned and operated, we're exhilarated to capture this project, proud as punch. https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2TK1q5nBqQ 2.24 2023-05-18T19:43:17.914Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-the-indigo-shire-community-using-solar-power-to-met-their-renewable-energy-target https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGVi1Qx19jQ How is the Indigo shire community using solar power to met their renewable energy target? So I love working in the north east Victoria area. It's a great scenery, it's a great area for solar, and we've got a really good climate in that area for it. So yeah, I love the, you know, the half an hour trips just out of Albury-Wodonga, to Yack and to Beechworth. For those areas, they're nice alpine cool areas, great sunshine. Yeah so we've been lucky to be involved with a lot of community projects, so it's a lot different than just your standard day by day installs. We sort of focus on a community area and do a group of installations, including mini grids or yeah, a lot of battery setups, commercial jobs, public halls, and all those sorts of projects. So Solar Integrity focuses a lot in the Yackandandah Beechworth communities. And the last 12 months to 18 months working with the local community groups to sort of incorporate a lot of solar in the area to try and reach a target of a hundred percent renewable. So yeah, we're really proud to be partnering with the community with that, focusing on customers and the community. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGVi1Qx19jQ 1.23 2023-05-18T19:43:14.254Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-to-get-a-local-installer-if-you-re-investing-in-solar-power-for-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yj0_SGht_pU Is it important to get a local installer if you're investing in solar power for your home? Systems can be installed badly, and a lot of things can go wrong, it is an electrical product. So if you're not experienced in the electrical trade or in the solar trade, then there is a lot of connections and a lot of isolation points that can go wrong. So we really pride ourselves on doing a quality work, and the installation needs to be to standard. I've been installing solar for seven, eight years, day in day out basically. So we work on these systems every day, we fault find these systems, you know, multiple times a week. So we really know the backbone and where faults can start, as well as we know where to fix faults and to prevent faults, you know, we work towards not having any problems long term. So if you're investing solar on your house, you should be considering using a local installer. One reason is, if there is any issues, minor issues, they're within, you know, an hour away, they're going to be happy to come here to do a small job. A quick Wi-fi changeover, or any of these little small jobs that, a local installers is happy to come out, and just to do the job just to keep your customer happy. We pride ourselves on customer reviews. So if customer is happy, we get more work. If customer is not happy, we're going to lose work. So we really want to keep the customer happy. We'll work hard to do that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yj0_SGht_pU 1.40 2023-05-18T19:43:10.630Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-homeowners-in-regional-townships-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/fnjK66kIg1A Why should homeowners in regional townships invest in a higher quality solar power system? Homeowners in the area are focusing on still majority of their power bill. They realised their power bills are going up and as well as incorporating technology to be more energy efficient, as well as incorporating solar to reduce their cost in their power bill. So it's making it more affordable for the average homeowner to put solar onto their properties. Homeowners should consider quality, I think as number one. These investments are very expensive investments for your house. You don't want to be installing cheaper products on your home, that aren't going to last. So we tend to only install these quality products. We have that relationship with the customer that they know that they're getting a quality product, they're getting a quality installation and we won't have to be going back, in 12 months to two years to replace any products. High quality products are very important, as a qualified electrician and a solar installer. The technology has come a long way in the last two, three, five years. It used to be very plug and play, these days there's a lot of communications and monitoring, as well as programming. So, we really need to do the training in the products and know how to install these. We can really customise that for the customers well. So the monitoring side, the customers tend to really love and the products that we use have really good monitoring platforms for that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fnjK66kIg1A 1.42 2023-05-18T19:43:06.966Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-indigo-power-choose-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-for-their-community-energy-projects https://www.youtube.com/embed/Av2pj3HmLjc Why does Indigo Power choose higher quality solar power systems for their community energy projects? Indigo Power owns the solar installation that's going up on the roof. We've decided to use really good, high-quality equipment. So that is going to be a system that's a really high-quality system, and it's going to also last for a long time as well. So, part of Indigo Power's offer is that we are a trusted third party I guess, that people look to for information. There's a lot of information out there about solar power systems, and people begin to look to us for advice. And so we, on this installation especially, are looking to put a high-quality system in place. So that gives us a surety that the system, for the 10 years that we're going to own the system, is going to operate well. But it also means that when we do hand ownership over to the Old Beechworth Gaol after 10 years, that they've got a system that's going to last for a long time as well, and guaranteed up to 25 years as well. So that's one of the reasons we are picking a high-quality system, that's going to last a long time. So that's all about longevity and return on investment. Indigo Power is a community energy company. It's got lots of partners in what it does. It's working with community energy groups, including Totally Renewable Yackandandah, including Totally Renewable Beechworth, including Renewable Albury Wodonga, and many others across the region. So, it's a really exciting part of the story as well, is that Community Energy Network that's developing right across the region, and all of the different, exciting projects that everyone's working on. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Av2pj3HmLjc 1.43 2023-05-18T19:43:03.465Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-the-community-owned-solar-power-system-at-the-beechworth-gaol-benefiting-the-local-township https://www.youtube.com/embed/JXnZlQL55Os How is the community owned solar power system at the Beechworth Gaol benefiting the local township? My name is Ben McGowan and I'm the managing director of Indigo Power, and we call ourselves a community energy company. So the Beechworth Gaol here today, we're launching a 30 kilowatt community owned solar power system, and it's going to be the first in north east Victoria. So the old Beechworth Gaol is a social enterprise. It's tying to create rural development, rural entrepreneurship, and we're going to be able to supply 55% of its power usage with community owned renewable energy which is a fantastic story. This is going to be a clean energy site, which is really exciting and that's a wonderful, wonderful feeling to deliver that service to the Old Beechworth Gaol. Really exciting. It's exciting I think for us, it's exciting for the Old Beechworth Gaol itself, and it's exciting for the the businesses that are starting to set up in this complex. So we all get to benefit from that clean energy, and a little bit cheaper energy as well. This project is important in a lot of different ways. It's really important I think to the community energy groups in the area, it gives community ownership of renewable energy. So the community is able to benefit from the renewable energy boom, it's beginning to happen. And that's really important. Indigo Power is really focused on ensuring that there's not only economic development in our region, but also that part of that benefit goes back to the community as well, which is an important part of what we do. The really exciting thing is the renewable energy that's going to be generated over the next 25 years here at the Old Beechworth Gaol, and this model that's going to ensure that there's going to be lots more renewable energy that the community can begin to roll out, right across the region. And that renewable energy story, clean energy story, is one of the most exciting things about it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JXnZlQL55Os 2.02 2023-05-18T19:42:59.903Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-reputable-solar-installers-choose-to-use-higher-quality-solar-power-system-products https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7fI4H9_wsM Why do reputable solar installers choose to use higher quality solar power system products? They actually have a greater return on investment over the long-term. So not just within the five years where they generally you get your return on investment and your paybacks done. But into your 10 year, 20 year time frames, your 30 year time frames, it becomes a positive investment. They also then have a greater efficiency and they produce more over the time. So if you're looking at the actual facts and figures on the products, and you're having a look at their outputs over that time, or their efficiencies of production, they are just absolutely beating the cheaper options that are out there. So, that's where you really want to create that return on investment. It's not just the time frame that it takes to pay for itself, it's actually the money it's going to make you over the longer period. Unfortunately if you're choosing some inferior product, or the install is not up to standard or above standard, in a lot of cases, we do see horror stories out there. And people are aware of the horror stories because the media are certainly gotten hold of that and run with that. Unfortunately they can lead to solar fires, they can lead to systems failing and not producing, and you won't find out until it appears on your electricity bill. So if your system hasn't been working for the last three months, and you get an electricity bill that is a lot higher than what you were anticipating or what you're used to, that's another bill shock there. So you might have had your solar system installed for a period of time and you're used to having low bills, and then all of a sudden you get a big bill that might be $700 more than what you were anticipating. You have to factor for that as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7fI4H9_wsM 1.58 2023-05-18T19:42:56.186Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-a-typical-payback-period-for-homeowners-with-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpZo24gCF3k What is a typical payback period for homeowners with a high quality solar power system? Generally we tell customers their payback period is around the four to five year mark, depending on what their usage is and what their production's going to be out of their solar system as well. So space can often be, or size of system, can often be a restricter as to what that may be. But if systems are sized accordingly to people's usage, you're generally looking at a four to five year payback period. The system's lifespan is over 25 years. It is a positive investment because you're getting money back. By having quality, that gives us peace of mind, because we're wanting to deliver the quality to our customer, and that also then entails what happens if something does go wrong. So we have to factor that in when we're choosing products. So we need to make sure we're choosing product that's going to back us if something goes wrong. Having maintenance service on your systems as well, where we come out and check your systems once a year to ensure it's performing as it intended, that is vital to ensure the health of your system and the longevity as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpZo24gCF3k 1.16 2023-05-18T19:42:52.509Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-be-sceptical-of-solar-power-companies-offering-cheap-deals https://www.youtube.com/embed/bE89JWDkKGs Why should you be sceptical of solar power companies offering cheap deals? You have to be careful when your looking for solar, because unfortunately there are some great prices or they look to be great prices out there in the media, and in the papers and on social media. You see these great prices advertised but when you scratch that surface, and actually have a look at the technology their using, for those that are in the know like we are, we can see the issues that people are going to face, if they install those kinds of systems in the future, and that actually scares us. We actually prefer to install systems that are going to give greater longevity, and go well beyond the warranty periods. That's what we're looking for and that's what we want our customers to enjoy. We believe everybody should have a good solar experience. So you see those cheaper prices, and it's that old saying, that old cliche 'you get what you pay for', 'pay cheap, pay twice' that sort of thing. You hear those sayings often, and that's really upsetting to us because we are incredibly passionate about what we do. And that's why we choose quality, because we don't want to have customers having those sad experiences and being dissatisfied, it's not fair. One of the things, we see as being a part of the solar industry is its an environmental aspect as well, and we don't want to see the increasing waste. So insuring that you using quality product and product that has the long standing warranties behind it. That's why we choose those the brands that we choose, is because we know we're not going to have to go back in a couple of years time, or in five years time, and pull panels off and replace them or replacing inverters in two years, which unfortunately we do see often. That's why we use the brands that we choose, so as that we know that our customers are going to get longevity, and we're not going to add to the waste issues that Australia currently faces. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bE89JWDkKGs 2.05 2023-05-18T19:42:47.418Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-is-a-site-inspection-for-homeowners-that-are-looking-to-install-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/bE7W4a7Y9es How important is a site inspection for homeowners that are looking to install solar power? For homeowners, we certainly advise them in having a obligation free site inspection. So those site inspections, that's where we can talk to them about the placement of the product. So where the hardware will go, the orientations of their buildings, the analysis of their electricity bills, so that the sizing of the system is correct for their needs, and not just bigger is better, or anything like that. We actually look at return on investments as well. So we're bringing all those aspects in and also, what do they want? What are their goals out of having a solar system? Is it environmental? Is it economics? All those sorts of things. Do they want to look at and include the plans for batteries in the future? And if so, how far down the track? Are they looking at those sorts of things. So we take all those things into account at our site inspection, which is just vital. It is a really, really valuable conversation to have with the customer, because then you can talk about their needs, their goals, where everything's going to be placed so that it gets the best production for them and the level of quality that they're looking for. When we're talking to our homeowners, we talk to them as individuals, we do not do a one size fits all because everybody's needs they're different. Your needs to your next door neighbours needs, are completely different. Even if you do have four people in the house, you might have completely different things that use power. So everybody's different and we treat you accordingly. We treat you as a person as an individual. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bE7W4a7Y9es 1.48 2023-05-18T19:42:42.860Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-for-homeowners-to-choose-higher-quality-products-for-their-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/MoX_BXrIHwo Is it important for homeowners to choose higher quality products for their solar power system? When we're talking to customers about what they should look for in solar, we always head to quality. It's an investment and we see that for them, because they're choosing something that they want to have longevity out of, and we want to see that for them as well. So we certainly always talk to the level of quality, the warranties, where those warranties are held and who's going to look after them post installation. The pre-sale aspect of a job and the sales process is very small in the grand scale of things. We're looking at technology that's going to last them many years. So that's why we recommend certain brands and certain levels of quality to ensure that they're going to get that value, not within the first couple of years, but over the longterm. We do a lot of community aspect where we can educate people on how renewables can benefit them and the things to look out for as well. So watching out for those ultra cheap prices, that are not going to give them longevity out of their system, and we're going to be out there in a couple of years time replacing parts. So we really take all that on board as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MoX_BXrIHwo 1.25 2023-05-18T19:42:39.826Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-community-energy-projects-helping-regional-towns-take-control-of-their-local-power-grid https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcRL6QvhVOU How are community energy projects helping regional towns take control of their local power grid? What will happen is this energy will then form part of the local production, which will include residential and other businesses as well, with whatever they're producing that goes back into the network. And solar power is used at its next point of location effectively, so whether they have solar or not. So, being able to produce their own power and share their own power locally is empowering, so it's building resilient communities and bringing people together. What this will bring to the community, it they're going to be producing more power than what they're going to be using here as well. So, it will feed into the local energy network, which we're trying to create about energy sharing locally. Where the uptake of solar, and then the bringing in of battery technology as well will enable people to produce their energy local, and share their energy local. So it's just all about that real local economy effectively, where people can participate locally and build a stronger and resilient community. The council have been incredibly supportive of the uptake of solar and renewables, in the whole Indigo Shire and across the Northeast. We have a very, very active community energy network here, so it's really quite exciting to play a part of that. In north-east Victoria, we have a number of historical sites and it would be great to see those start to uptake solar and participate. Personally, I'm incredibly proud to play our part in this. Our staff are incredibly proud of this as well, as much as what we are, because it is part of our background and it's part of our backyard. https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcRL6QvhVOU 1.54 2023-05-18T19:42:36.735Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-the-solar-installation-at-the-beechworth-gaol-helping-to-power-the-local-community https://www.youtube.com/embed/BFHyYNwWxkk How is the solar installation at the Beechworth Gaol helping to power the local community? The old Beechworth gaol has great significance in history for Australia. It's very well known for housing Ned Kelly when he was caught at Glenrowan. And we have been installing a 30 kilowatt system here on the roof, and that is about merging history with new technology. The Beechworth gaol is incredibly significant to the local area here and across the country really because of its bushranger heritage, and tie in with Ned Kelly and the Kelly gang. And it's also been one of the big employers locally in Beechworth across the years as well. It's a significant building in the country. So it's really a central pivotal point and a recognised point for the community, and they all feel ownership of it or connection to it. The community are very very active in this area about renewables as well, so it's been really good to see a building of such significance, wanting to include renewables into their landscape effectively. So this is a real mould of the old meets the new, and it's how we can tie in with their heritage and bring new technology in and, you know, power themselves effectively and then help power the greater community as well. This actually forms part of totally renewable Beechworth's 100% renewable energy goals. So, they have a plan on how they can reach a 100% renewable, and this plays a big part of that. And being able to generate more energy locally and seeing greater uptake and including businesses into that is really quite exciting. Everybody's really excited for this installation in Beechworth because it's that bringing together of the history and the future, and it can be done, and this is how we can do it. So this will showcase exactly that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BFHyYNwWxkk 2.06 2023-05-18T19:42:33.731Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-environmental-and-financial-win-win-of-investing-in-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/_21CgraH2Po What is the environmental and financial win-win of investing in solar power? Ten years ago, if we had've been talking about environmental benefits of putting solar in, it wasn't really something that was discussed. And nowadays I'm finding it's probably a 50/50 split where people are saying, I want to do the right thing by the environment, I'm conscious of the effects of coal-fired generators and that side of things. So people, they make a conscious decision based obviously on what they want, but the environment does come into the play now. Yeah, money's a great motivator, and if you can save a lot of money, especially for some of the people that are retired, they've got money invested, and if they can put a solar power system in that's going to save them money, then their investments are going to sustain them for a lot longer as well. So they'll look at selling power back to the grid and depending on who your energy retailer is, you can get 8, 10, 11, 12 cents a kilowatt, you can get up to 20. So it really comes down to just trying to balance whether it's worthwhile getting a higher discount on the power that you're buying, or whether you get a higher feed-in rate for the power you're selling back to the grid. The feed-in tariff, in a lot of cases, if you're getting that 12 cent mark, 11, 12 cents, that seems to be about where the market is. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_21CgraH2Po 1.28 2023-05-18T19:42:30.493Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-a-manufactures-product-warranty-give-you-a-safer-solar-power-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/6lROsjvGgZU Why does a manufactures product warranty give you a safer solar power investment? We actually offer a 25 year manufacturer's warranty, so, it's, again, it's more peace of mind. You can look at a fault in a panel and if it's a manufacturer's fault, then it's covered. If you look at a fault in a panel and someone says, oh, that's an efficiency fault, you can't prove it. So, where you've got a manufacturer's warranty over an efficiency warranty, it's just more peace of mind for the customer. It's a manufacturer's warranty. Whereas a lot of the opposition product out there is offering a 25 year performance warranty. I don't talk about the performance warranty. It's something that unless you've got the ability to monitor your system panel by panel, you can't prove that there's a problem with the performance of panels. If they're using a panel with a 25 year warranty, an inverter with a 10 or a 12 year warranty, then the system's going to have paid for itself and they've still got warranty there, so, it's a peace of mind in knowing that the investment is safe. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6lROsjvGgZU 1.05 2023-05-18T19:42:26.606Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-should-you-think-about-if-you-re-wanting-to-future-proof-your-solar-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/4NCHVTUISbg What should you think about if you're wanting to future proof your solar system? Depending on the size and age of the system and the size of the inverter, we've sold a lot of systems over the years where more people have said, oh look, I only want to put three kilowatts in now, but can you put a five kilowatt inverter in, and I'll add more panels to it later on. General rule of thumb is it never happens. So I, I sort of tend to say to people if you're looking at putting five kilowatts in, then you're better off to do it now. Because it just, a lot of time, it just doesn't happen. In terms of upgrading a system, or adding to an existing system, a lot of the time, the systems if there are two kilowatt system, they've got a two kilowatt inverter. So realistically, you can't upgrade that anyway. And a lot of the time, you've got to match the panels. And panels, there's not, there's certainly not the number of panels on the marketplace or available in the marketplace now that there was 10 years ago. So we've seen that, the number of suppliers dropped dramatically so a lot of the time, it's not even feasible, because you can't find the panels or the manufacturers to match them. If you invest the right money in the right product, and you do it right the first time, then there's no need to upgrade down the train. Price should be relevant to quality, but what we find in this industry, there are people out there selling cheaper products at a much higher rate. There's a lot of tools that people have at their fingertips as in Google, I encourage people to research product. I'll give them as much information as I possibly can, but before they take the leap and spend money on something, they really need to research it as well. I mean, we see advertisements every day, if you did a bit of research on on some of those companies, lord knows what you're going to find. Researcher panels, researcher inverters, research the person that's doing a quote for you. If you can, go read testimonials, ask people that have got solar in, and Google. Google is just such a great tool. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4NCHVTUISbg 2.12 2023-05-18T19:42:23.005Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-your-peak-energy-use-times-effect-the-design-of-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/qWESQURKmwc How do your peak energy use times effect the design of a solar power system? Look the design of the system really comes down to what the customer's needs are. Generally we will look at their electricity accounts in depth. We'll work out, you know on a basic sort of scale, as to where they're using their power. No one flat lines with their power through the day, they don't use two kilowatts straight out through the day, there's peaks and troughs. We talk about the peaks and troughs with the customers. We look at what the peak energy usage times are and what they're using in those times, and that's where we base the size of the system. We try and make the system so that we're not sending a lot of power back to the grid. But then you'll get the customer that will say, I want to send X amount of power back to the grid. So again we're not rigid with our design. We will, we have to be flexible to make sure that the customer gets at the end of the day exactly what they want. The higher quality systems will give you a longer life that will generate more power. And they'll generate better power over a longer period of time. Whereas the cheaper product is fine when it's first put in. Again the power generated by the cheaper panels tends to drop off fairly rapidly compared to the higher quality products. If they're going to be staying in the house for 10, 15, 20 years, they want a product that's going to be there when they're ready to move out. That's why again I deal with the quality products, because I've got the confidence that the product is going to be there in 10 years. It's still going to be performing in 10 years. Most systems are about six years plus to pay for themselves. So in terms of the investment, the system if it's here in 10 years, their investments paid for itself and it's starting to bring good money for them. So that's what we look for and that's what they're looking for. https://www.youtube.com/embed/qWESQURKmwc 2.01 2023-05-18T19:42:19.305Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-think-about-the-durability-of-your-solar-system-if-you-re-near-the-coast https://www.youtube.com/embed/ipBux5pukBM Why should you think about the durability of your solar system if you're near the coast? The area we're dealing in, I mean, we've sort of we go from, I mean we've got the mountain behind us and we've got the sea at the other side of it. So, we do get a fairly good spread of challenges, I suppose you could put it. So when we start talking about systems that are, by the beach, and in some cases on the beach, we're confident that it's going to be there for the longterm. Salt tolerances I mean, we've had some pretty big seas in recent times and a salt spray goes back a very, very long way. So, it's important for the customer to know that the panels that they're using or the products that we're using have got a very high salt tolerance. The other side of the coin is when we start hitting the mountain area, there's a lot of trees, it is a rural area. And then from that perspective, we're looking at panels should have a very high shade tolerance. Pointless, putting a good quality product up there, when you've got inferior product holding it on the roof, the thought then is it going to stay there? The components need to be able to hold the integrity of the panels. They need to make sure the panels aren't going to come off the roof. And in 10 years, I've never lost a panel, and I have no intention of downgrading, the quality of any of the fixtures for that to happen. You can try and cut cost or cut costs to the customer by getting a cheaper installer. But my philosophy is, if you pay your installers right, then the job's done right, then you don't have any problems. So I, I don't like running around fixing things on site. And if I sell good quality products installed by quality installers, I don't have that problem. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ipBux5pukBM 1.57 2023-05-18T19:42:16.422Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-the-solar-panel-orientation-help-optimise-the-energy-savings-for-the-bakehouse https://www.youtube.com/embed/wDohqmWYFJ0 How did the solar panel orientation help optimise the energy savings for The Bakehouse? Yeah, that job, there's a lot of work went into it. A lot of planning, a lot of forethought in terms of how that system is performing for the business there now. Yeah, it's definitely something that he's very very happy with the performance wise. We did a 50/50 split with that system. We started off looking at one roof area and decided that the best format for that area was to position the panels facing north and another roof area had a little bit of shading at the back, so we positioned them east. Because the business basically works or operates 24/7, it was more important for us to get up, to get the power operating earlier in the morning. So we put half the system facing east, knowing for real we're going to pick up you know, that early start. Their power consumption dropped off a little bit after lunchtime, so it wasn't critical for us to be generating a lot of power after that sort of two o'clock timeframe. So we then opted to put the rest facing north, and that was just going to pull a heap of power during the middle of the day, which was sort of where they were starting to wind up. Yeah, the commercial side of power, he was using one of the energy providers that uses a sliding scale. And obviously the more power he users, the higher the cost. So, solar, while it's generating power and it's lowering his consumption, it's also lowering his tariffs. So, it's benefiting him from a basically a two-fold effect. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wDohqmWYFJ0 1.51 2023-05-18T19:42:13.380Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-commercial-considerations-for-businesses-looking-to-invest-in-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/ONoNZ_CZcFQ What are the commercial considerations for businesses looking to invest in solar power? Commercial customers really need to ensure that it's going to work for their business. We take the time to sit down with them, and it might be a matter of three or four meetings, to sit down with them and make sure that we're catering for their requirements. We make sure that can we optimise the roof area to make sure we fit enough panels up to cater for what they're looking for. An important part of the business is being able to track what's happening with the power that they're generating. And we supply the systems that gives them the ability to monitor the system. In some of the cases we're monitoring panel by panel, so it can show them if there's a panel failure. There is some environmental factor there as well, there's a lot of people now very conscious of being doing the right thing for the environment. But some of these guys are chewing massive amounts of power. And considering most businesses are a nine to five type business, solar is absolutely perfect for them, because daylight hours we're producing. In some cases we'll position panels so that we're getting a morning hit and then we're getting that lunchtime or afternoon hit as well. So it's again, making sure that we are helping them to reduce their energy costs, and therefore to make their business more profitable. You know, people in business are there for the long haul, if you put good quality product in, then it's going to be there for the long haul as well. I think people in business understand the quality issues, you know, they're buying machinery or selling machinery, they've got tools of the trade and they know the effects of buying cheap product. If you're buying cheap product and it's not operating, then your business is basically on hold until you can get that fixed. So they understand that having good quality product that's got good support, good service, they're paramount to the investment that they're making. A lot of people in business are good with their forward planning, so if you sit down to design a system, you can actually say to them, Well, what are your intentions as far as machinery goes? Is there going to be more machinery put in at a later stage? What are you looking at doing? Is there expansion?. So you can talk to them about future-proofing to a degree, future-proofing their system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ONoNZ_CZcFQ 2.32 2023-05-18T19:42:09.807Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-should-you-expect-from-a-high-quality-solar-power-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZ2Q7B1fsfw What should you expect from a high quality solar power installer? I take the time to ensure that the customer's got a full understanding of what they're buying, Not just kind of walk through the door and give them a price and walk away and ring them up two days later and say, are you ready to go?. We'll have a look at the roof area, we have a look at their house, we'll have a look at what their power consumption is. We'll have a look at the meter box and make sure there's enough room for any, you know, if there's any additional work that needs to be done. We make sure that the customer's aware of that, we do a turn key operation. The quote I give is a full quote, there's no hidden surprises there and that's where my word of mouth things come on. People are happy with the product. They're happy with the service. They're happy with the after sale service. Trust and confidence comes with doing what you say you're going to do. So, if I say I'm going to do something to customers or with customers for them, then that's what happens. And again, it's a faith and the confidence I have in the products that I'm selling. And that inevitably, that shows through with me, when I talk to people about the product. I've survived for 10 years selling quality products. I'm sure that if I was selling the cheap stuff, I wouldn't be in business. Quality workmanship, and again, customer service are the two things that I'm really focused on to be able to give people what they want. Explain to them what we're selling them or what we're offering, and letting them make a decision as to what it is that they eventually want to put on their roof. Customer service, pricing isn't that critical but people want the quality. So if we can offer quality at a reasonable price and have the customer service as well, then that that speaks in volumes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZ2Q7B1fsfw 1.47 2023-05-18T19:42:06.118Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-you-get-better-long-term-value-for-money-from-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/HGzzDwyJy1M How do you get better long-term value for money from a solar power system? Customers are really looking for something that they can rely on, it's dependable, it's not going to break down, or if it does break down, they want to make sure, that they want to be sure that the product is going to be, if it's got to be replaced, if there's got to be work done on warranty, it's got to be done in a timely manner. When you deal with the quality products and you're dealing with quality companies. It's not hard to get that service, and that's why I deal with the people I deal with, and that's why my customers deal with me. So it's more about quality of product, longevity and confidence knowing that the product is going to be there for a long time. With a better quality product, we get better power production and that power production is, it's going to go for a long time. So if we, if we're talking about a 25-year manufacturer's warranty, then they're not going to put a 25-year warranty on a product that's only going to last for six, seven, eight, 10 years. So, again, the value for money is that, it's that the product is going to last a long time. We design the system based around the customers use, or what power they're consuming. We look at what components are in the house, that are pulling power, so the major power components. Try to educate them on how to best use the power that is being generated, things like washing machines, dishwashers. People generally put the washing machine on first thing in the morning, dishwashers going last thing at night. So we try and educate the customer on how to best use the solar with those appliances to best utilise the power that they're producing. You can buy the cheap stuff, you can buy the cheap stuff twice. You can buy the good stuff once and you're still paying the same amount of money. So you do it once and do it well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HGzzDwyJy1M 1.50 2023-05-18T19:42:02.457Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-totally-replacing-an-old-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vvby3m6MP9I What are the benefits of totally replacing an old solar power system? He wanted to try and compensate for his electricity consumption. The only way he could feasibly do it is to put a bigger solar system on it. He couldn't reduce his power consumption in any way. So the next best thing, for him was to put a bigger system on, higher capacity system. He wanted to be able to send a little bit of power back to the grid as well. Hence this the system sizing, and he was on a single phase connection. So with that, we opted for the biggest capacity inverter we could do without limiting what he exports to the grid. They wanted to upsize, they wanted a system better suited to their needs. And the fact that the system that was existing was six to seven years old, had micro cracks, it was inevitable that it was going to fail in a short period of time. And it's just financially, it's not worth putting a system beside another system like that when you can just pull the whole thing off and start from scratch, for really not a lot more cost-wise. We took a 1.5 kilowatt system off and put a 5.6 kilowatt system on. That system given the layout of this system is going to generating somewhere between, on a good day 30 to 34 kilowatt a day. During the winter months obviously it's not going to be as efficient, but we're still going to be pulling 20 kilowatts plus a day on the good days. The old system was generating, I think about five kilowatts a day. So we've added another 80% of power production onto what he had. The thing with pulling an old system off the roof is, that we're still able to pull the rebate for the value of the old system, as in the kilowatt value of the old system. So that brings the cost of the new system down as well. So again with old technology sitting beside new technology with the old inverters, old panels, the technology we had back 2012, 2013, is nowhere near as good as the technology we have now. So it just makes sense to take the older system off, get rid of any potential failure, and just put a new system on. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vvby3m6MP9I 2.29 2023-05-18T19:41:59.147Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-homeowners-in-shoalhaven-heads-throw-out-their-old-1-5kw-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/hFKEDPGuiHQ Why did homeowners in Shoalhaven Heads throw out their old 1.5kW solar power system? Today we're in Shoalhaven Heads removing some existing panels off the roof and replacing with a full new system. It was an older system, it was 1.5 kilowatts. It wasn't doing anything for the people, they had only just purchased the house, but they could see that they needed to do something else to cater for their power needs. We discussed the option of putting another system beside the existing, and just with the age and the possibility of an inverter breakdown with the older system, they came to the conclusion that it was better just to pull the old system off and put a whole new system on. New warranties, new panels, more efficient panels and taking up less roof space as well. When we do a tile roof, we grind the back of the tile out so that our tile hooks come out underneath the tile, the tiles will sit down flush. The boys pulled the tiles back and they sent me a photo of the tile hook that wasn't even screwed to the roof truss. The other thing was that when we make a penetration in the roof, we use a Dektite, it's basically sealed down onto the tile. The system that we did this morning, they just stuck a bit of conduit out from underneath the tile, which is, it's just a no go. So, that system was the way I see it, that system was thrown up there in a hurry, and you pay for what you get. The quality of panels wasn't great, there was a few issues with the installation as well. The panels had micro cracks in the cells, which come up as snail trials, which is going to affect the efficiency. The panel performance of the panel, backed up with a cheaper Chinese brand inverter. The age of the system and the inefficiencies of the panels and with the quality of the system as well, there no guarantee that it wasn't going to fail in a very short period of time. They just weren't going to get anything out of the system. And hence, you know, wanting to pull that one off and replace it with a bigger system, or a full system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hFKEDPGuiHQ 2.15 2023-05-18T19:41:56.197Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/can-solar-power-be-used-to-help-decrease-the-cost-of-food-waste-for-businesses https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_bzONY_BK0 Can solar power be used to help decrease the cost of food waste for businesses? We approached the government for rebates for the decomposter. One of our attributes, why we wanted to use it on this site and not use it on another site, was the availability of solar on this site. So we could enhance the benefit and not have it as a pure power usage out on another site. The excess power that we're using, we're trying to, we've mimicked with our web-based app to find what time slot we were actually not using power, and there was power in excess, and that's when we would start the machine up. So in that sense, it gives us the most input into the system that allows it to heat up and start generating enough heat for it to start decomposing the material. Our food scraps that are wastage, we go through a process that our shops actually donate those cakes and pies that are left over at the end of the day to our charity groups. And then we move on to what isn't used at the end of the day, we put through our dehydrator, compost and we turn into a composting fertiliser. We basically use the system twice a day, with an average of about 50 kilograms a day going into the system. And by doing this we're achieving a hundred kilograms per day. We're getting a reduction, a lot of our product is already semi-dry if you like, in dry pastries and things like that. And we're getting about a 50% reduction in that system. So, one tonne of material going into the system over a period of time would achieve 500 kilograms of compost material out the other end. https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_bzONY_BK0 1.32 2023-05-18T19:41:52.983Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-solar-power-help-optimise-waste-stream-management-for-a-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/--_b1iVn06A How can solar power help optimise waste stream management for a business? We've developed a bit more of a waste stream management, as well as our solar side of things. So in our recycling, our milk bottles are returned to our milk vendors. And then the latest project that we've looked at is, a decomposer or a dehydrator, that is being used on our site. We've had it in place now for about three months, the benefit and why we wanted to put it on this site, was that we are using solar here. And we can use that power in periods that we're not maximising it in-house for our baking facilities, it is actually subsidising the energy use of the dehydrator. This is a dehydrator, we link it to our power on our site. We're using solar, generally we aim to try to start it up during a daytime period, so that solar is, any solar that's being exported is utilised through this unit. We use approximately 50 kilograms of waste material will go into this. We dispose or we send a lot of our product through to charity groups and places like that. But once we get to end of use, we don't want to put that into landfill. So we've embraced this system where it basically, we place the 50 kilograms in, it cycles, turns it and heats it up to 160 degrees for an eight hour period, and then after that period, the compost material comes out as a granular, not a powder, but a granular type material. So we place the material into one of our storage bins. This material is of yesterday, and it's a quite a granular type product. As you can see different products, the quite golden colour, probably a lot of pastry was placed in there at the time. But there is, an aroma similar of coffee material throughout this. So this was pies, meat, pastries, cakes, and things like that. And we end up with a product that is quite odourless, but with a pleasant smell, and we use it on the gardens, we do a bit of fertilising on the grass areas. But we're looking at using that on our farm back at home. https://www.youtube.com/embed/--_b1iVn06A 2.08 2023-05-18T19:41:49.906Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-a-local-installer-and-a-quality-solar-power-system-important-to-the-bakehouse-in-nsw https://www.youtube.com/embed/jBuLmao54R0 Why was a local installer and a quality solar power system important to The Bakehouse in NSW? The main outcome was to improve our bottom line. Obviously there's a cost there but you've got to put that cost out there and endeavour that it's going to return in four or five or six years time. There's a lot of companies out there that want to provide solar to you and they are not locally based. We want to support local people, predominantly because it gives us the ability to make that phone call to them locally, and they will be here within half an hour. We wanted to do this project once. We don't want to do this project and come back to it and revisit it. We want to do it with quality and move on. I think you've got to be be realistic to what the panels and the system's going to produce. And certainly when you get days that are cloudy the production is very minimised. So we've used optimisers but we've paired it on two panels, not individually, and we can see that on our live app of different panels that may drop off. But at least the entire string is performing at a high level. So the optimisers was an additional cost. But, when you look at something that's operating 365 days a year, that is soon outweighed by what it produces through the system. You need to embrace solar. You need to do your research. And I think the main thing is, find someone that you're comfortable with. Work with them and I think you'll find a system that will be quite adequate. I'm happy with the system and the install, and we know we will have a quality product that will be for many years to come. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jBuLmao54R0 1.35 2023-05-18T19:41:46.352Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-businesses-with-walk-in-fridge-and-freezers-take-advantage-of-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/dp9h2xOp70A How can businesses with walk in fridge and freezers take advantage of solar power? So the cost of refrigeration, they're running 24/7, so freezer work is constant throughout the day. As the day heats up there's more traffic movements, more door openings and that costs us more for the refrigeration freezes to run. We're fairly energy hungry in the sense that we are on a large power consumption site. So our energy supplier considers us as a large contract, which we can negotiate marginally, but we have to be moving towards more daytime activities. So solar has presented itself as a viable option for us. We've moved to LED lights throughout the whole premises here. We've got scroll compressors and things like that on our freezer side, and refrigeration. That is the most effective and most affordable, but yeah they predominantly cost a lot of money to run, yes. Well, the use of solar, it's developing and it's growing. You have to look at the ability for it to suit the needs of when you're using power. You need to ensure that you're going to get a return out of the product, otherwise it's not going to be feasible. But I think that at the end of the day more businesses can look at solar now, the costs are coming down. The government subsidies are reducing, but I think the cost of the panels and the installation side of things have really decreased over this period time. I just think it assists with your carbon footprint and the overall business community. Our staff embrace it and our staff are actually pleased with, that we are going in the front foot and actually trying to work towards something that is beneficial to everyone. We have to use power. We have to generate power for us as a business to grow. It's a necessary evil, but at the end of the day we can use this benefit to promote our business, but also if we can generate power onsite at our own control. https://www.youtube.com/embed/dp9h2xOp70A 1.54 2023-05-18T19:41:42.923Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-a-bakery-use-solar-power-to-help-reduce-the-cost-of-their-electric-ovens https://www.youtube.com/embed/eoU1BCYC7cM How can a bakery use solar power to help reduce the cost of their electric ovens? So my name is Troy Bryce, and we are part of the Bakehouse Espresso Group, and we have bakeries on the South Coast in New South Wales. We've just built a production plant here about six years ago, and it culminates in the main facility for our retail outlets. Our operations now are growing in the last four or five years to employing around about 60 people. Our predominant energy use would be our oven. We're located in an area that doesn't have natural gas, so bottled gas is always a problem. So we are running on electric ovens, which gives us a nice even heat. But the cost relating to that is quite significant on that on the mains power. We feel that our overall footprint, if you like for energy use, we find that with using solar would allow us to present a bit of control back to us. And in doing that we can monitor what we use on our site and sometimes even vary our day's production to work in with that solar production. We went with the largest panel, or the largest wattage of panel, again for roof size and capacity and to be at the front of the curve for solar at this point in time. We've gone with a maximum that we were allowed for the local energy supplier, but that can still grow into the future. We still have more roof space, but predominantly at the moment we've got ourselves to a situation where the solar is producing approximately 25% of our power supply. And on weekends and some other times we do have some export, but we're looking at other avenues to mitigate that export and use it onsite. https://www.youtube.com/embed/eoU1BCYC7cM 1.42 2023-05-18T19:41:39.695Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-return-on-investment-for-rocco-s-high-quality-solar-power-system-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsGY-5OUCdg What was the return on investment for Rocco's high quality solar power system in Adelaide? Today, we're installing the solar system up in Teringie. Rocco came to us a couple of years ago, he gave us a budget to work with, and he was a bit of a solar sceptic. So we designed up I think back then it was about a 13 kilowatt system to offset his quite large electricity bills. It was a bit of a stage one, stage two type approach. He was so happy with the results of our stage one, that then he contacted us again now a year and a half later. And he's worked out that he can actually save himself quite a considerable amount of money by going solar and not only saving money, but helping the environment. So Rocco approached me again early this year and he asked us to come up with another solar system, basically to cover the remainder of his usage there, that he wasn't able to cover with the existing system. He gave us a budget to start off with, to do the best we could with that. And we got to almost 50% of his usage. And now today we're installing the system to cover the remainder of his bills. Rocco has quite a high usage on his property. He uses a lot of power with irrigation that he pumps from a borehole into a storage tank. And then he also uses irrigation pumps then to irrigate his olive groves and the gardens of the property. So from initial design of the system, we came up with a 13 kilowatt to start off with stage one. Yes following on from stage one, Rocco wants to maximise the amount that we can get on the property now, because there are some limits as to how big we can go in terms of sizing. He thought it was very important now to get the most efficient panel we could because we are maximising right up there on the 30 kilowatts now installed on this property. And we're looking at pretty much now zeroing out his electricity costs there on the property based on the existing system, plus the extra 18 kilowatts that we've put on. So we've worked the payback out on that one there, just over three and a half years to get to full return on investment then. I think we really proved to him with stage one, how much of an impact solar can make on his energy usage and he is a very much a believer now these days. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsGY-5OUCdg 2.08 2023-05-18T19:41:35.758Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-chris-s-solar-battery-storage-system-help-protect-his-home-during-bushfires https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fna48GpTvRE How does Chris's solar battery storage system help protect his home during bushfires? Yeah so Chris lives up in Norton Summit just in the foothills of Adelaide. So Norton Summit is known to have some power insecurities up there. Obviously in the summertime, with the risk of bushfire and heat waves, they tend to cut power out to the property. So security of supply was very important for Chris. Also in winter time with storms, high winds, and lightning and things like that. Trees tend to drop over power lines and cause a lot of outages. So it was very important for Chris to have a security of supply. Chris was also very mindful of the fact that he is in a fire-risk area. So we definitely made sure that we had things like a couple of pumps there backed up on the battery. So in case there ever was to be any issues there with fire that he would have his pumps backed up and he knew he had water. There's a few things we had to consider on Chris's job. Some of the things we had to consider where shading, obviously there's a lot of trees around the property. So we had to be mindful of shading. Although there's not a lot of shading on the property, we decided to go for an optimised system. So that way, when there is shading on certain parts of the home, we're not going to affect the majority of the system and have a good amount of power going into his battery. The design of the home was built all completely out of timber on the inside. So everything was basically no cavity. So we had to be mindful of the way that we ran cables around the property. There was a bit of surface mount conduit and things like that which we discussed with Chris. We let him know exactly where we would be running our cabling. So Chris was aware and he knew what to expect because basically on a raked ceiling there's no other option. We were able to achieve a high-output system with a low amount of panels. So that's very important when we've got certain areas to work with within a home. Now obviously he didn't want them on the front of the property, he didn't want to spoil the look of the cottage. So we're able to achieve that all on the northwestern side of the house, nicely tucked away. Chris is very happy with the outcome. With the battery installed as well, the payback goes out just a little bit. We're probably looking at around a five-year return, that's including the battery, the complete new solar system with back-up protection. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fna48GpTvRE 2.14 2023-05-18T19:41:32.541Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-high-efficiency-solar-panels-help-to-maintain-the-aesthetic-of-susan-s-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/zA4GtLXLEQE How did high efficiency solar panels help to maintain the aesthetic of Susan's home? I met with Susan and we come up with a bit of a plan to install solar on the upper level there on her property. Susan was cautious about who she was using to do the installation because she didn't want anything to be seen from the road or from around the property. Susan was a little bit hesitant with which way she was going to go at the beginning. But I went out and had a look at some of the designs that some people had done for her and there was just panels spread all over the roof, and she definitely was not happy with that. So with our experience, we've put together a package that put all the panels neatly on a roof, nicely set out and nothing could be seen from the road, nothing could be seen from the backyard and we're still able to achieve the 13.5 Kilowatts there on her property to deal with their power bills. Because of the extra wattage, we're able to put less panels on our roof, and able to achieve a maximum capacity there to deal with her high usage. She found that very important going for a very high efficient panel. And not just a high efficient panel, but a panel that had a name in the industry. So she knew that she was in safe hands. From Susan's point of view, it was very important that she had somebody here local. She knows we're only a phone call away. We're only up the road, so if there's ever any issue, she knew she had someone to come back to. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zA4GtLXLEQE 1.25 2023-05-18T19:41:29.052Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-problems-you-could-expect-if-you-buy-a-cheap-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/9BYjvVfClqI What are the problems you could expect if you buy a cheap solar power system? Yeah look, it's very easy to convince yourself to go for a cheaper system. I mean, at the end of the day it sometimes can be very convincing to choose the cheaper option. It's something that we face on a regular basis. But look, I found that by the time we've educated the client, they definitely know what the differences are. And majority of the times they'll pick a quality system over a cheap nasty $3,000 deal. And the price bracket really that you should be looking at is between $5000 to $8,000, anything under $5,000, you're really starting to compromise quality. At the end of the day, you want to be installing solar, not just for saving electricity, but also doing good for the environment. And by buying a cheap system, basically all you're doing is contributing to greenhouse gases and landfill, which defeats the point of putting solar on in the first place. They cut corners by paying the installation companies, basically hardly anything to do the install. You know, they're not going to pick the top brand products to install on that system because they need to get it done for a budget. And basically everybody needs to provide for their family. So you know, you're not able to do it on a $3,000 system. Basically, I reckon we get about two to three phone calls a week of customers that have systems on their roof that are either poorly performing or not performing at all. Only just this week, we pulled off a twelve panel system. There was burn marks in panels, panels just not working at all. The system was completely dead you know, and that system wasn't even three years old. The company that they purchased the system through wasn't around. So now we had to break the bad news to the customer that they're up for another $4000 or $5,000 to repair the system. It pays to invest in a good quality system. It definitely pays to pay that little bit more and get yourself a top quality system. I really know the importance of selecting a high quality panel with the backing of a strong warranty, in my book that's just a no brainer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9BYjvVfClqI 2.05 2023-05-18T19:41:25.973Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-typical-payback-period-for-a-solar-power-system-in-south-australia https://www.youtube.com/embed/8M29p4OolY8 What is the typical payback period for a solar power system in South Australia? South Australia is a great place to be buying solar. Basically because of our higher cost of electricity down here, we are able to generally get return on investments between the three to four years. So, that makes it very attractive to put solar on your roof. Generally here in South Australia because of a higher electricity costs, payback periods we're seeing on typical installs are between the three to four year mark, which basically makes, you know in some cases a return of $8000 to $8500 in three to four years which is quite a good investment. Picking the right installer is very important. Like I say to a lot of people, solar systems are more than just panels and inverters. The way the system gets installed on the roof, the way we string the system, you know, the types of components we use, the DC isolators, rooftop isolators, right down to the type of cabling and conduit that we use. We only use the best brands. So, those brands are going to be able to ride out the tough conditions that we have down here in South Australia in terms of the extreme high temperatures in our summers and also the low temperatures in our winters. Homeowners should think about not just the panels and the inverters, but the whole package. You know, who's doing the installation, the people that are designing the system, and then obviously the backing of the products that go with that. Pays to invest in a good quality system. It definitely pays to pay that little bit more and get yourself a top quality system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8M29p4OolY8 1.34 2023-05-18T19:41:22.502Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-better-to-invest-more-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-for-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/PsLxpjspO4c Is it better to invest more in a higher quality solar power system for your home? Homeowners should be thinking about more than just panels and inverters when they're buying a solar system. They should be looking into the company that's behind the installation, the differences in the performance and the longevity of panels, companies that are going to be there to back the warranties of those panels, and not just the panels, also the inverters. Performance is a very important thing, it pays to invest in a good quality system. It definitely pays to pay that little bit more and get yourself a top quality system. We're able to give customers a good return on investment, and we're able to stand by the return on investment that we then propose to them, because we know that that product's going to be there for the long time. Over the years, I've seen a lot of systems that have failed. I've seen panels that have burnt out. I've been an installer for 10 years, so I've actually been out there on roofs, pulling systems down, replacing faulty panels, dealing with customers when they've had shoddy workmanship done, roof leaks, all the rest of it. From seeing that, now that I've gotten into the retail space, I really know the importance of selecting a high quality panel with the backing of a strong warranty. In my book, that's just a no-brainer. Yeah look, it does cost that little bit more. I mean, to pay an extra thousand dollars for the next 15 years, hassle-free, a company that's got a good reputation in the industry that they know that will be there for them to back up the system down the track, it just makes sense. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PsLxpjspO4c 1.33 2023-05-18T19:41:19.129Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-solar-power-monitoring-help-to-detect-errors-or-optimise-a-solar-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/ciimchvhj4U How does solar power monitoring help to detect errors or optimise a solar battery? So monitoring is very important. Every one of our systems we do here is monitored here, right here in our office. Basically every single solar system that we instal here, we monitor day in, day out. We have an inbox dedicated to monitoring systems. So basically if there's anything that goes wrong with the system, we will know before the customer has even realised. And then our process, obviously, if there is any sort of problem, we would contact that customer and get onto it straight away. Monitoring is a very important part of any modern solar system. Solar is going down the track now where it's not just about producing energy, it's about finding ways we can store that up and then use it in times of need. So monitoring plays a massive part in that because we can grab a good profile of a customer's usage and that way, then we can size batteries appropriately to be able to deal with their night time usage. So monitoring these days plays an important part of sizing batteries down the track. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ciimchvhj4U 0.59 2023-05-18T19:41:16.209Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-high-quality-installers-customise-a-solar-power-system-to-your-individual-needs https://www.youtube.com/embed/9-ArzZuCKN4 How do high quality installers customise a solar power system to your individual needs? When designing a system we definitely take into consideration the time of use of a customer. So what time you're likely to be home during the day? Do you work night shift? Do you work from home? So all these things are important to take into consideration when designing the complete package. So do we place panels on the east side or on the west side of the home? Do we use the northern aspect of the house? Are batteries suitable? So we take into consideration how a family uses their power. Generally most people work during the day, the kids come home around three or four o'clock in the afternoon, the wife gets home. So we designed systems around that type of living. So we tend to put panels more towards the west of the home, this helps cope with the afternoon loads. Versus maybe a retired couple, who may be home all day, so they need a bigger spread of power. They might need power from the morning right through to the afternoon. So these are all things that we take into consideration when designing for our customers. The installer plays a massive part of designing how our system comes together in terms of dealing with a customer's load profile. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9-ArzZuCKN4 1.09 2023-05-18T19:41:12.424Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-dangers-with-buying-a-low-quality-or-poorly-installed-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/5DuG5TX9eRg What are the dangers with buying a low quality or poorly installed solar power system? There's systems out there that haven't been on roofs for three or four years. We've been out there, completely looked over the systems, haven't been worth repairing. We've pulled them off and had to replace them with completely new systems. In doing this, it's quite a pointless exercise for people to be buying cheap solar. Because generally, by the time the system is even paid for itself, it's time to replace it because panels fail, there's micro cracks, burning, inverters failing. It really can be a mine field out there. In my time in the industry, I've turned up to installations where panels are left unearthed, Dektites not sealed properly, roof leaks, rooftop isolator fires, inverters catching on fire. There's a lot of things that can go wrong with solar. So, it's very important that you pick an installer that's going to do all the correct things. We like to choose panels that are designed to last in the conditions like they're supposed to. In the Australian summer it can get up to 40 degrees. So, it's very important that you've got a panel that's able to handle those temperatures. There's a really big difference between quality. There is a lot of systems marketed out there and it is very important to select a high quality panel. It's a long-term investment. So, we're in it for the long haul. So that's why we need to make sure we're choosing products that are going to be there to back us, so that we can back the customer. So that way they're getting support, not just for the first two, three years, but in 10, 15, 20 years time. If you buy the right inverters and you buy the right panels, it is really a setup and forget type scenario. And it gives you years and years of hustle-free green electricity. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5DuG5TX9eRg 1.45 2023-05-18T19:41:09.449Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-a-solar-sceptic-invest-in-a-27kw-solar-power-system-for-his-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNwRJgfuPDs Why did a solar sceptic invest in a 27kW solar power system for his home? I was a little bit skeptical, because I wasn't confident that the information that was being supplied to me, you know, really satisfied, some of the questions that I had. But as time progressed and the more people I spoke to, people that had solar systems put up and others and so forth in the industry, I became more confident and I took the leap and put in the first solar system that I had. Because my first installation, brought my energy costs down quite substantially, I also still had a remaining cost. Which I thought well perhaps I'll investigate in negating the further costs down to a situation where I reduced it, you know, quite substantially. The initial system was a 10 kilowatt system. The one that we're currently installing is a 17.6 kilowatt system, an additional 17.6 kilowatts. It was installed by a local company. The reasons why I decided to go with this particular company was they were local, they employed local tradespeople and so forth, and I ended up with a very satisfactory result, a good result. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNwRJgfuPDs 1.23 2023-05-18T19:41:06.416Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-financial-and-environmental-reasons-why-rocco-invested-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsbTTeiE3YY What were the financial and environmental reasons why Rocco invested a solar power system? My name's Rocco Musolino, and we're at an area that's called Teringie. Yeah, it's at the foothills of Adelaide. My original thoughts on solar were to explore a situation where I was able to achieve a reduction in my electricity energy costs and so forth. That was the initial look at it. And then from there, as I investigated it further, it was a situation where not only was I able to reduce my energy costs, but also play my part in environmental factors and using clean energy rather than, you know, energy that perhaps contributed to carbon pollution, or had some effects on climate control. The figures that I've been able to put together, and they've been supported by the statistics that have been supplied also by the installer, is I think that I'll have a current payback on a premium system and it'll probably equate to around just over four years, four, four and a half years possibly. If you have a look at the payback at four and a half years and a warranty of say 25 on the panels, and after the 10 year on the inverter and so forth. So I'm exceptionally happy with that. All I've got to say is that you know, I'm happy with what I've put in, and I'm happy with the people that I've chosen because they offer a good service. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsbTTeiE3YY 1.29 2023-05-18T19:41:03.358Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-reasons-rocco-avoided-buying-a-cheap-solar-power-system-for-his-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/vmDWmXa5Du4 What were the reasons Rocco avoided buying a cheap solar power system for his home? Well, firstly, I think you know, you need to be comfortable with the systems that you're putting up. By all means ask questions, look at possibly some reviews or some whatever. But at the end of the day, I think what you've got to take into consideration, is the product that you end up with. I mean, there's a lot of cheap products out there, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it'll give you an end result that you need. It's no good going just on price alone, because if you do, you could end up with a situation later on. But when you do look for maybe warranty issues or when you do look to have further extensions done or whatever, you might find that the people aren't around. After investigating the panels and also having a look at the panels that I had, I felt they offered a better panel, it produced more wattage per panel. It also offered a much better warranty, and I think it was a more reliable warranty. There's some question marks on some of the warranties that are out in the marketplace, yes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/vmDWmXa5Du4 1.08 2023-05-18T19:40:59.970Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-expected-payback-period-for-chris-s-solar-power-and-battery-system-in-adelaide https://www.youtube.com/embed/N3UPEVzdedo What is the expected payback period for Chris's solar power and battery system in Adelaide? We ended up with the just over 10 kilowatt panel system, but we decided that that would be enough to charge a battery fully every day, and satisfy our daily consumption, and still carry us over for an extra 10 kilowatts with a battery in the evening. Even though we will have heating for hot water service, which will kick in on the off-peak rates at night and probably use up 10 kilowatts per night. The battery in the end, it was the one that was recommended to us in terms of compatibility, as well as the cost factor. And for that, the whole picture fitted in well. Over the next five, six years maybe, a large proportion of that investment will be repaid. That's, yet to be seen over the next 12 months. I'll probably have a better idea. My wife, she still wants to see how much our bills will shrink and how long it'll take to repay the system, because it is a significantly larger investment than some of the cheaper companies that do installations. However, I feel that over the next 10, 15 year periods, that investment will prove itself as being a good one. https://www.youtube.com/embed/N3UPEVzdedo 1.17 2023-05-18T19:40:56.228Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-chris-avoid-buying-a-cheaper-or-lower-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3qOuWGO7-8 Why did Chris avoid buying a cheaper or lower quality solar power system? The warranties was a big factor. Some of the other companies, as I said, I've read some pretty bad stories about. First of all, them taking weeks to get back to you for any issues with either the inverter or the panels. And sometimes those companies disappear and you're stuck with a system which may be $3,500 to install, but the actual fix is probably be in the hundreds of thousands to fix the problem. And that's not the headache I want to face in the future. I want to know that this system is going to be good for that period of time. I did a lot of research, again, with the companies that did installations. Some of the companies were fairly new to the markets and especially the ones that advertise in the papers. I have read also a lot about them, rebranding, renaming their companies to avoid future claims of warranty and therefore basically voiding your warranty. I do a lot of research before I make a decision. And I don't regret any decisions I make because they are well-researched. When I purchased items, especially electrical items, I go for the quality. And so, when it came to solar panels I wanted to do the same. I wanted something that was going to last and the backup and service from the installers for, with confidence in that it was going to be safe and lasting. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3qOuWGO7-8 1.31 2023-05-18T19:40:52.565Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-chris-upgrade-his-old-1kw-solar-system-with-new-solar-panels-and-a-storage-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZPdcq-yPKro Why did Chris upgrade his old 1kW solar system with new solar panels and a storage battery? We're in the foothills of Adelaide. We're not far from the Suburbs, it's only about 10-15 minutes to the city. We recently had a one kilowatt system installed when we built the house about 13 years ago. That was when the government rebate scheme first started, and we got obviously a good solar feed-in tariff out of it. The one kilowatt system over the years, we found to be rather insufficient for our needs, And we thought already for quite a few years of expanding that. However, the government feed-in tariff at that time of paying the extra 46 or 50 cents subsidised by the government was very attractive, and made it at that point unfeasible cost wise for us to expand the system because the net benefit wasn't there. However over the years the prices of solar panels have obviously dropped, as have the inverter costs and installation costs.So as of recently there was massive price drop in the media quite noticeable that made us reconsider. Well, we just recently got a solar installation. We also wanted to add a battery to that system. In our area, we are basically with no mains water. We are fed off basically a tank with a pressure pump on demand, when the power goes out we have no water. Battery backup means that after hours the battery will provide us with 10 kilowatts of power if we need to. We can prioritise water as being the main use for that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZPdcq-yPKro 1.36 2023-05-18T19:40:48.657Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-much-power-does-chris-s-10kw-solar-power-system-in-adelaide-produce https://www.youtube.com/embed/8mPmZ0LkFVU How much power does Chris's 10kW solar power system in Adelaide produce? We had as I said, one kilowatt system, we were getting between two and five kilowatts per day production, which with a 10 kilowatt, expected approximately 10 times that which we are getting. On a good day, we get in about 50 up to 53, 54 kilowatts of actual production. Of that probably 80% gets exported into the grid, for which we obviously get the 16 cents per kilowatt credit. We have not yet had a bill, so to date, we've definitely produced over one megawatt of power. It's in line with our expectations. On the dark cloudy day last week, we've still added about 20 kilowatts production on a day. So, the system is definitely in line with our expectations and we're hoping that over the next 12 months, our bills will shrink significantly. We'll get a credit over the six summer months where our user consumption is about 10 kilowatts a day. In winter our consumption is probably closer in line of 30, 32 kilowatts a day and we're hoping with the production and the battery kicking in, we will hopefully at least have that as a cost to us and ours bills accordingly. We don't even known they are there because you can't see them from the road, from the entrance and even if from the side where you can't see them, they blend so perfectly with the roof line. If anything really, there's no visual distraction from them, and set and forget. Yes, absolutely. Every now and again, I will have to have a look at them for cleaning purposes I imagine, and maintenance just to make sure that they perform optimally. So that we have a lot of bats, fruit bats in the area over the summer period so we have to clean them, that's a given. But as to access and accessibility and installation, there's no issue. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8mPmZ0LkFVU 2.05 2023-05-18T19:40:43.990Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-key-reasons-why-homeowner-susan-decided-to-invest-in-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxFgS-M9JcU What were the key reasons why homeowner Susan decided to invest in a solar power system? Probably a combination of things, the rising price of electricity, it's quite a problem here in South Australia. Environmental reasons, our electricity bills, and just an investment actually for the future, because I think getting solar is a long-term investment. And that's why I think it's a good idea to do the research, and get the right quality product so that you can have the long-term benefits from installing solar. And good for your family, good for the state, good for your energy bills. They've installed for us 36 panels, it was a 10 Kilowatt inverter. So I'm really happy with the amount of solar that we're producing every single day, and its exceeds our expectations of what I thought we would be getting. There is thing called having skin in the game. I felt that he had a really good understanding of the business. He has a local company. He has a lot of investment of himself and his family in the company, and he's been doing it for quite a number of years. And I felt very confident that that would be, he would be a good person, he and his team to have it installed. And as it turned out, they were excellent. So I'm really happy with the amount of solar that we're producing every single day. And its exceeds our expectations of what I thought we would be getting https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxFgS-M9JcU 1.37 2023-05-18T19:40:40.309Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-research-did-susan-do-before-buying-a-solar-power-system-for-her-home-in-unley https://www.youtube.com/embed/NVmV8tzgfbw What research did Susan do before buying a solar power system for her home in Unley? My name's Susan Stuklis. At the moment we're in Unley, in Adelaide South Australia, and it's a pretty good place for sun. Actually we have a lot of sun here, and it's a awesome place to install solar. The type of research I did was, well I looked online obviously first, and I realized that I didn't really know anything much about solar. So I decided to start listening to some people who know a lot more about solar than I did, and I realized that it was much more complex than I initially thought. So I thought that I'd try and get as much information as possible. And then I ended up having, I interviewed five people to have our solar system installed. And I think by then I felt like I had a fairly good understanding of what I was getting and what I would expect from the future. The main things I would be concerned about with getting solar, is that you want a quality system that's going to last in time and it's going to give you the return on investment. You want a quality company to install the solar, because without that you are going to be in trouble if you need help down the track. You want to make sure that the solar system that you install is actually right for your property, and that's going to be right for the amount of power that you're using, and your expectations of your returns for the future. And we have such a huge amount of sun here in Adelaide and in Australia, we would be crazy actually not to do it. I think it's a really excellent environmental think to do. Long-term investment and good for your family, good for the state, good for your energy bills. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NVmV8tzgfbw 1.51 2023-05-18T19:40:35.503Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-research-did-scott-do-when-looking-to-invest-in-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/cPDELKayNjo What research did Scott do when looking to invest in a high quality solar power system? The research we did was just look at lots and lots of YouTube clips, look at lots of data, and talk to lots of people. There's a plethora of things that you're able to look at to get you up to speed, and we were able to do that, and it was good, it worked for us well. The reason we didn't go with a cheap system was because we were after quality, we were after something that would last the distance. It was a no-brainer for us. I see long-term value as being something that's going to last the distance. There doesn't have to be a conversation about doing a replacement because it's a cheap-and-nasty. It's something that's going to outlast me. In regard to who I was going to choose, having someone local was a benefit, if there was ever an issue with the system. There hasn't been, fortunately. And there was just a comfort factor in being able to utilise someone who's just down the road. I was looking for an offering that had quality, experience, and these guys have been around for a long time and they know exactly what they're doing, and there's a lot of comfort in that for us. Thoughts on the system? More than happy, absolutely ecstatic with it. Completely, completely off-grid, which is, from a bill perspective, fantastic, environment, fantastic. It's quality, and that's what we were looking for. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cPDELKayNjo 1.21 2023-05-18T19:40:32.350Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-main-reasons-scott-decided-to-invest-in-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/1I2pefQTFTA What were the main reasons Scott decided to invest in a solar power system? My name's Scott Towers and we're at Duffys Forest. First started thinking about solar because our bills were getting up, we're getting close to two grand a quarter, and also the environment. It's a win. The spark for us was pulling off the grid virtually completely. We're able to get a system that had 12 plus kilowatts and that pretty much took us off, which is, combined with a battery, a plus for us. We chose a 13 kilowatt system. It's about 40 panels and it's pretty much taken us off the grid. We were looking for something that would last the distance, and also was a quality product. And that, with an experienced installer, was able to get us where we needed to be. The fact that our bills were getting close, getting north up towards about a two grand a quarter, and also the environment, just being able to do the right thing. In regard to the environment, I just see that there's more and more issues, more and more things that are coming up in regard to the CO2 component, and this for us was a plus. Lots of backing from the kids. Yeah, it's worked well. Yeah, I see this as a win-win for us. It's a saving money scenario and it's also great for the environment. The end goal for the system for us was to add a battery. By doing that, it was able to pretty much take us off grid, which was, a great, great attraction. And we've then gone to the next step. We've done the electric car scenario. We've jumped into Zappi charger, which punches the extra kilowatts off the roof that aren't going into the battery, once the batteries full, into the car. So it's just a win-win. It's been really, really good. Great experience. Yeah, I've also invested in an electric car. It's just lovely to know that I can charge my car from the sun. It's fantastic. It's a 30 second charge. It's 15 seconds when you get home and you plug it in, and it's 15 seconds when you unplug it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/1I2pefQTFTA 1.59 2023-05-18T19:40:28.751Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-solar-power-system-was-required-to-eliminate-the-electricity-costs-of-scott-s-home-in-sydney https://www.youtube.com/embed/_JbaAl1qbPo What solar power system was required to eliminate the electricity costs of Scott's home in Sydney? Scott, the owner is putting in a Tesla Powerwall as well. He's got a Tesla car and he said, we're putting in a couple of car charges. Well Scott wanted a really high quality system. He didn't want to scrimp and save and do it on under a budget I believe. The size of the system has been perfect for him. He's now charging his cars with a car charger that we've installed as well that can make sure that he's only using the solar electricity off the roof. So he's not drawing any power off the grid for a slow charge. We're also installing his Tesla car charger, which will allow him to draw at about 22KW. So it's a really fast charger if he wants to charge his car up quickly. This system has got him pretty much off the grid, he's not actually buying any energy from the grid. He's in fact, he's putting more in than he's taking out. So, it's been a real successful install and as you can see, quite a beautiful looking install as well. Here Scott's installed 40 panels on the roof here. The brief was he wanted to put in a wine fridge and he wanted to have electric cars and he wanted a battery. So when we first put the system in a year or so ago, we did oversize the panels. He's punching out somewhere around 40 to 50KW hours a day, which has got him quite self-sufficient. The battery that he's put in, a Tesla Powerwall, stores thirteen and a half kilowatt hours. So he's making enough power to be self-sufficient. Well what he's done is he's put a system in that has got flexibility. Okay so moving forward, if he wants to add some other dimensions into it, we can do that with the technology that is installed. Okay so Tesla also upgrade firmware within their, within their framework as well. It's like a bottle of fine wine. The system can just mature and get better as time goes by with, with upgrades of firmware and upgrades of hardware as well. Look, I think anyone investing in a system like this, you know, there's two parts to the equation. One's money, one's the environment. And I think most people are environmentally conscious that they're are investing this much money on it. Definitely yes. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_JbaAl1qbPo 2.17 2023-05-18T19:40:25.661Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-was-the-solar-panel-and-battery-system-designed-for-scott-s-home-in-duffys-forest https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQqOHQT8Acc How was the solar panel and battery system designed for Scott's home in Duffys Forest? So today, we're at Duffy's forest up on the Northern beaches. We've got a beautiful day beginning. We've got sun on the panels. We've got 40 of them up there, 12.8 kilowatts of thundering, solar energy being produced today. Put on a, an all black panel and we've pretty much filled up the roof space. It was really important for Scott to have the panels looking symmetrically perfect and matching the roof, which is what we've achieved. It was actually him that came back to me and said he wanted the all black panel just for his roof. So we just designed the system around that. Yeah, well Scott's plan, I believe, is to live in this house forever. I call it their keeper. You know, when you're investing in a solar system that you intend on being together with for the next, you know, 10, 15, 20 years, you want to invest in high quality. And that's what Scott's done here. He's punching out somewhere around 40 to 50 kilowatt hours a day, which has got him quite self-sufficient. The battery that he's put in, a Tesla Powerwall, stores thirteen and a half kilowatt hours. So he's making enough power to be self-sufficient. He's enjoying free energy. And this system's a lovely 12.8 kilowatt solar system that we were just discussing just now the warranties and so forth with the system. He's well backed with the warranty, you've got some of the best warranties in the business. Certainly the solar panel has got the highest warranty that's available and the battery itself, you're looking at a 10 year warranty on the battery, and what they warrant is the capacity of the battery at the end. So you've still got 80% of the capacity at 10 years. So it's not a throwaway at 10 years. It's, you know, if you need more capacity we can just add another battery to it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQqOHQT8Acc 1.54 2023-05-18T19:40:21.985Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-there-technology-that-diverts-excess-solar-power-production-into-the-hot-water-tank https://www.youtube.com/embed/rfelBylobdU Is there technology that diverts excess solar power production into the hot water tank? We're installing technology now that's allowing us to capture the energy or the excess energy that would normally be sent out onto the grid. And we're harnessing that energy and putting it into devices like hot water systems. So a hot water system now is really a cheap form of the battery. Here we are in Wahroonga. We've installed a 10-kilowatt solar system recently with a 9.3-kilowatt-hour LG Chem battery. And we've got an electric hot water control device. So what we've got is we've got a backup inverter, this controls the house. If the power goes out on the grid, the backup allows the battery to feed energy into the house. So they may be the only house with the lights on in the street, lucky them. And up here we've got an electric hot water control device. And what that does is that directs the surplus energy that would normally be put out onto the grid receiving very little remuneration for, and we're diverting that energy into the two electric hot water heaters that they've got in the house, in effect making both of those hot water tanks a battery, and probably the cheapest battery you'll ever get. So now we've got technology available that will allow the actual electricity that's being generated from the solar system, to heat the hot water in your house. Storing energy in a battery is one form of storing energy. Another form of storing energy is storing it in water. And in a hot water tank, there's a whole bunch of energy. So if we can use the solar energy from the roof and direct that into the hot water tanks, we've got in effect a battery, just that it's stored in water and not in lithium. So we've got technology available now that we can harness the sun's energy and put it directly into heating your hot water system electrically, which means you don't have to have solar hot water panels on the roof. We're doing it all from the solar power system. We can set up the hot water system, purely energised by the sun. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rfelBylobdU 2.08 2023-05-18T19:40:19.005Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-better-commercial-investments-for-your-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_i8g80Fhr0 Why are higher quality solar power systems better commercial investments for your business? We do a commercial systems. What's important for them is the financial return. It's more, probably important than the environmental factor because it's got to go past the chief financial officer usually, and get approved that it's worthy of a financial return. Commercial solar system, you're looking at sort of two years up to anywhere up to about four years on return, because we're looking at using more of the energy that's being generated. That sort of business where they're using power during the day. They're the ones that are really going to benefit out of the solar system because they're using it when the sun shining. A road that a lot of companies take when they're putting a solar system on their roof is the cheapest wins the race, but it's not always the best way to go. If they're looking for a long-term investment, you really need to put some quality up there, installed by a quality company that's going to be around to look after the warranty. And the system's got to have a long warranty on it to make sure that you get your bank for your buck. You definitely reduce dollars by spending a bit more upfront. We can show figures that prove that time and time again, putting a system on that is going to last 25 years far outweighs the system that's going to last you 10 or 15 years. A commercial system is all about, is the money that we're going to invest in this, going to come back quickly? And is it a reliable system that's going to to last 20, 25 years. So we're really going to get our money's worth out of this solar system. And that's what we look at. Once that system has paid you back, you want to get as much life out of that system as possible. And you can expect to the life of a, a solar panel to be 25 to 35 years. The electronic side of it the solar inverter may have to be replaced every 15 years but the solar panels are solid. You don't want to be up there changing them every couple of years, it's expensive. So it's worth putting on something that's going to last. There is a warranted income stream, that's very favourable on a high quality system. We're doing a lot of embedded networks now and embedded networks with the solar system work really well. We're getting returns of investment on big hundred thousand dollars solar systems, of two, one and a half to two years believe it or not with an embedded network. So we've worked with an embedded network company and we go in with, like a joint venture and work out the best possible solution for a solar system and for a business to get the best value out of them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_i8g80Fhr0 2.25 2023-05-18T19:40:15.448Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-install-higher-efficiency-solar-panels-if-you-re-buying-an-electric-car https://www.youtube.com/embed/EVv_mnrGTBc Why should you install higher efficiency solar panels if you're buying an electric car? Electric vehicles are coming, whether we like it or not, within five years we're probably all going to have an electric car, might be 10 years. So you need to be sure that you're putting in the right vehicle charger and putting in the right solar system that's going to work with that. And you want to future proof your home as well. But you want to use a highly efficient panel on the roof because we're going to need more solar up there than you realise. As time goes by we're using more and more energy. We need to put more panels and we need more energy to come off the roof, and especially moving forward into the world of EV's or electric vehicles, because a car uses around about 7 kilowatts on a single phase or about 22 kilowatts on a three phase to charge it. So a solar system would not be 22 kilowatts to charge a car, so we're going to really need to maximise that roof space, by using high efficiency panels. Systems that use up as least roof space as possible to get the maximum output of the system that we install. We also supply and install the only EV or car charger that's available in Australia at the moment, that can guarantee the electricity that you're putting into that car is green energy, because most car chargers when you charge your car, you're charging it off the grid. You're not charging it off the solar panels even though you've got solar panels, so you need to make sure that the car charger that you install is one that communicates with the solar inverter so when the car is charging you're not using power off the grid. So you want to be setting your home up correctly now, you know three years, five years, maybe 10 years you're going to have an electric car, there's going to be other electric appliances we don't even know of yet, so you want to make sure that you're ready for that and the right solar system now is going to be able to cater for that later. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EVv_mnrGTBc 2.02 2023-05-18T19:40:12.346Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-important-for-homes-in-coastal-environments https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXBu9Sco29Q Why are higher quality solar power systems important for homes in coastal environments? I would say 30% of our solar systems we install, are within 500 meters from the beach being here on the northern beaches. So it's really, really important that these people buy a solar panel and equipment that is able to be that close to the ocean. There aren't many solar panels around that will actually let you install within 300 meters. Being here on the northern beaches, we get a lot of sea breezes and a lot of ocean winds. So the salt degradation and the wind loadings are the best that they can be. It's well worth spending a little bit of extra money up front now, and putting on a quality system that's going to last. We want to also ensure that that solar panel has got a long life in it as well, we're looking at really getting a 25 year to 30 year life out of a solar panel. And there's only a few solar panels around that will do that. The temperature coefficient, is another real advantage that work really well in hot temperatures, which we get here in Sydney in summer. A lot of solar companies are selling what they want to sell people in the form of, say a five kilowatt system, a 6.6kW or 7kW. We sell solar systems by the panel. So we look at exactly what you need, and we design it around that we mould it to suit you, not what suits us. And then we give you options around what we're going to install sort of like a good, better, best scenario. So you usually come out with three options to choose from, and you'll have a full education on how those systems are going to work on your roof. And the different way that these systems work because not all solar systems are the same. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXBu9Sco29Q 1.47 2023-05-18T19:40:08.430Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/should-you-have-a-solar-power-installer-do-an-inspection-at-your-home-before-quoting https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ty_JO4OUmK8 Should you have a solar power installer do an inspection at your home before quoting? Yeah well, all installers aren't the same you know, you've got sales companies and you've got solar companies. There's a lot of companies out there that mask as a solar company, but they're really sales companies and they just have a team of salesmen. Some of them don't even come out on site and assess the home. They'll just do it all on the telephone and sell you a system that they want to sell you. The right solar company would be someone that would come out and assess the home, lift up the meter box let you know what's going to happen before it happens, because there's a lots of things that a lot of people don't even realise need to happen before the solar system's installed. And a lot of these people are getting bitten at the other end, when the solar system's in, the solar system's being paid, all of a sudden it's time to put the meter in and the meter company says, Well, we're not going to put the meter in because there's all these problems in your meter box. These are the things that we flag before the solar system is installed. So when you go into it, you go into it with your eyes open and you know all of the pitfalls, and you know all of the problems that could occur. The right solar system for anyone depends on three things we say, how much roof space do you have? How much energy do you want to generate? And how much money do you want to spend on it? When we find the right balance on all of those we've got the right system for you. So a system design is all based around the roof. We've got tight roofs that we need to get a lot of solar panels on. So we need to make sure that we're maximising the aspects and the shade, and the constraints within the system that we're designing as well. Even now there's a massive gap in what people know, and there's a massive gap in what people need to know. We really need to educate them. And that's why it's really important to have someone sitting down with you at the table because if you're not being educated, you're being sold what someone else wants to sell you, not what you need. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ty_JO4OUmK8 2.00 2023-05-18T19:40:05.046Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-safer-to-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-panels-if-you-want-a-more-reliable-product-warranty https://www.youtube.com/embed/pmLmTuPbErY Is it safer to invest in higher quality solar panels if you want a more reliable product warranty? Choosing a quality solar systems is all about longevity and about how long that system's going to last. The systems we use, we've got a 25-year full system warranty we can offer on some of the systems we use. The solar panel we use has got a 25-year product warranty. There's only two panels on the market that have that, and that is a full warranty. Full warranty where they cover the panel, as well as the labor. Solar equipment manufacturers come and go. We've seen plenty of them over the years there's been over a hundred solar panel manufacturers come and go, and what we're finding is, people are being left with products with no warranty. So it's really important that you go with big brands, with big companies that have got a big revenue base to look after your warranty. Lots of the old cheaper systems that were installed 10 years ago, are now being pulled off roofs even though they had a so-called 25-year warranty on them. When we look into it, they've really only got a 10-year warranty that they're not even getting to that 10 years. And now all of those products are going into landfill and dirtying the environment up. People are having to reinvest in another solar system because the first one they bought was of poor quality. It's really worth investing in a high quality system upfront. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pmLmTuPbErY 1.23 2023-05-18T19:40:01.803Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-potential-problems-with-solar-power-companies-that-subcontract-out-the-installation https://www.youtube.com/embed/7m_AjZsyVHg What are the potential problems with solar power companies that subcontract out the installation? The right installer is one of the most important things because you need to make sure that if there's a problem down the road, you've got someone to call on to come back and help you out. There's a lot of customers out there that are orphaned. By that we mean their solar company that installed the system has gone broke. In fact, more than two thirds of them have. So we get calls all the time for people wanting us to go and repair their system, because the company isn't around. We're not really happy doing that, to be honest. Our whole ethos is about installing systems that don't require any maintenance. We don't want to come back and see you in a few years fixing things. So we use highly efficient products and systems that are built to last. A solar system isn't a plug and play thing like installing a microwave oven. A solar system requires a lot of technical knowledge on how to install it. There's a lot of tricks and tips that we pick up along the way, and using a contractor isn't always going to guarantee that. We've got full control over our guys. We have regular training sessions amongst ourselves, and we're all learning from each other, as well as learning from industry bodies, and manufacturers come in and train us. So finding the right install team is paramount. What a homeowner should look for, number one is, does the company that you're buying your system from have employed electricians that are working for them? Or is it a sales company. A lot of people go down the road of being fooled on price and utilising a company, that is a sales company, that subcontract out all of their installations. So we don't do that. We have got a team of electricians and a team of roofers that install the systems for us. Ensuring the job goes smoothly, ensuring the after sales and the technical support that's required with this industry is handled in a correct way. So we just don't get negative results because we do a good job in the first place. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7m_AjZsyVHg 2.11 2023-05-18T19:39:58.295Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-invest-more-in-higher-efficiency-and-better-quality-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/f6xg_8rQ6W4 Why is it important to invest more in higher efficiency and better quality solar panels? It's really important to get a highly efficient panel on your roof, because roof real estate is more valuable than you probably realise. Why that's important is we need to generate as much power as we can off the roof, because as we're moving forward, we're using a lot more energy. So we need as much roof space as possible. So to use a highly efficient panel means we're using less of a footprint. We want to also ensure that that solar panel has got a long life in it as well. We're looking at really getting a 25-30 year life out of a solar panel, there's only a few solar panels around that will do that. And we can guarantee that they're going to be around for 25 years. You want to use a highly efficient panel on the roof because we're going to need more solar up there than you realise. As time goes by and we're using more and more energy. We need to put more panels and we need more energy to come off the roof. We're now recommending people put an electric hot water tank in instead of a gas hot water system. We're now heating swimming pools with electricity rather than gas because we can now control the cost and the energy that goes into it. At residential solar system, you will find a return on investment somewhere between three to five years for a good quality system. You know, you can put a cheap system up, that'll pay itself off in about two and a half years, but in a roundabout five years, you'll be replacing the electronic inverter and you'll probably be replacing the panels anyway. So it's well worth spending a little bit of extra money upfront. The return on investment only blows out maybe a year and a half longer, but you get so much more life out of it at the other end. Once you put a solar system on, you don't want to be calling us. You don't want to be worrying about it, and you just want the thing to be up there working and saving you money and functioning. And that's what a good quality solar system will do. https://www.youtube.com/embed/f6xg_8rQ6W4 1.58 2023-05-18T19:39:54.853Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-some-of-the-different-ways-solar-power-can-be-used-to-decrease-your-energy-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-lZfaoc9Fg What are some of the different ways solar power can be used to decrease your energy costs? So we've really got two types of customer. A first customer is one who's really conscious about their power bill and they want to get their power bill down, and we can really take a big chunk out of that power bill. We can reduce 70, 80, 90% of their power bill. And then the other customer is the environmentally conscious customer that really wants to reduce their carbon footprint and help the earth. Reducing the power bill, obviously that's a major contributor to the desires of solar, and now we've got batteries on board. We can really do that because we can capitalise on all of the energy that's being generated by storing it in a battery. We've now got other technologies that we put into the solar system, where we can divert that energy straight into something like a hot water tank or a swimming pool heat pump, or a pool pump, or an air conditioner even. Gas is becoming a thing of the past. We're now recommending people put an electric hot water tank in instead of a gas hot water system. We're now heating swimming pools with electricity rather than gas, because we can now control the costs and the energy that goes into it. The problem with gas is we're stuck with a company that's going to dictate how much you're paying for your energy. With the sun, that energy is yours and once you put those solar panels on, it's costing you nothing. So as time moves on, we're now recommending to people to keep away from gas, where we were putting electric appliances in like electric hot water, we're heating swimming pools with electric heat pumps. We're now driving cars that use it electricity. So you want to be setting at home up correctly now, you know, in three years, five years, maybe 10 years, you're going to have an electric car. There's going to be other electric appliances that we don't even know of yet. So you want to make sure that you're ready for that. And the right solar system now is going to be able to cater for that later. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-lZfaoc9Fg 1.56 2023-05-18T19:39:51.462Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-an-onsite-inspection-by-a-local-solar-installer-important-if-you-have-roof-shading-issues https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWoq-y3gG10 Is an onsite inspection by a local solar installer important if you have roof shading issues? We're in an area where there is a lot of shade. So what's really important in this area is to be dealing with that shade. And there is only certain systems that we can install that can look after that shade and deal with it, and manage the system within that. And that is a system that allows us to have some moving shade around the roof. What we do is we combine that with a high performance panel. We can get 370 watts out of a solar panel now. So when we've got a roof that's got shade on it we need to get these high efficiency panels into the spots that have got the sun for the short amount of time. Shade isn't always just about the tree next door either. Shade comes in many forms. Shade can be bird droppings, shade can be dust, shade can be panels ageing over time. They all age at different rates. So we really need to realise that and design the system around it. Designing a system on the internet is really not the place to be designing a system from. And a lot of people buying solar systems from companies from Melbourne or from Queensland and they live here in Sydney. Now it's crazy. We can't even sell a solar system, we can't even start designing a solar system, until we look at the house. So we make sure that all of our quotes are done by our sales team who are designers and who actually go out to the house, sit at the kitchen table with the customer, talk about their needs. We look at the energy use, we see how much power they're using daily. And then we design the system around it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWoq-y3gG10 1.39 2023-05-18T19:39:47.741Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-solar-power-helping-people-and-businesses-to-reduce-their-carbon-pollution-emissions https://www.youtube.com/embed/p5pX5-WKjbs How is solar power helping people and businesses to reduce their carbon pollution emissions? I think solar is a really important part of the whole mix. There's solar, there's wind, there's other renewables. It's going to take us a little while to transition completely to renewables. The door is open of solar, it can't get closed again. The momentum is there for renewables. It is good for all of us. It's good for us, and it's good for our children. In addition to that, as electric vehicles become more popular, there's going to be greater requirements for charging these vehicles. So having solar as a way of charging the vehicles during the day will help offset that increase in consumption, and electric vehicles are good if we're not using fossil fuels and petrol and diesel. And if we can effectively drive around via the sun, then that's obviously going to be better for all of us. In a commercial situation, it's obviously more focused on a return on investment, but business owners should feel really happy and pleased with themselves. So not only are they saving themselves some money, but they're improving the environment and helping us reduce our carbon footprint. That might not be the major factor from a commercial perspective, but business owners should promote the fact that they are doing these thins to their customers, because I think they will get some return. Customers and their clients will appreciate what they're doing, and that might be a way where they can get some benefit by promoting the fact that they're doing the right thing by the environment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/p5pX5-WKjbs 1.25 2023-05-18T19:39:44.688Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-solar-power-monitoring-help-businesses-to-optimise-their-energy-savings https://www.youtube.com/embed/OajVdYsbxYE How does solar power monitoring help businesses to optimise their energy savings? Businesses are investing quite significant amounts of money in the systems. For us, it's really, really important that that is transparent, and so the client can see what the system is doing. We don't want people to invest, you know literally hundreds of thousands of dollars, and then be unsure as to whether it's doing what it should be doing. Yes, they're getting a reduction on the bill, but they want to be able to quantify that. So part of the newer technology allows us to look at the system in details. With this system, we can see exactly what it's producing, we can see exactly what the shopping centre is consuming, we can see exactly how much of the energy that we're producing is being consumed in the shopping centre. How much is going back to the grid, and then also how much power is coming from the grid overnight. With that information, the shopping centre can also make some other key decisions, and there might be some things that they can do outside of hours that aren't related to the solar, that can reduce their consumption, which can further bring down their bills. So they might have things running unnecessarily, which will show up in the monitoring. So getting that transparency and getting that information on consumption, can help make informed decisions about reducing the consumption, regardless of the solar being put in. And it's that transparency through the technology, that is a key part of the installation. They need to be looked after, they need to be maintained, and they need to be monitored, to ensure they're doing what they're doing. If you don't have monitoring, if there's a problem, it might be three months or two months, whatever it might be before you realise that there's a problem, and all of a sudden you get an electricity bill, that's $5,000 more than it should. With the monitoring, we can see straight away if there's a problem, so we can avoid any kind of issue there where you don't find out about a problem, months down the track, and it's cost you thousands of dollars. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OajVdYsbxYE 1.46 2023-05-18T19:39:41.950Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-long-will-it-take-calwell-shopping-centre-to-payoff-their-100kw-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8nnA4dsUh8 How long will it take Calwell Shopping Centre to payoff their 100kW solar power system? So we're here at Calwell Shopping Centre here in Canberra in the South. Commercial businesses and shopping centres use the most of their energy during the day. So solar works really well with commercial businesses, and most of the energy starts being used sort of eight or nine o'clock, as the sun's coming up and we're starting to generate. So we can get what we call a high self-consumption rate where the energy that we're producing is flowing into the property and being used. Whereas in a domestic situation where often we're not at home during the day and our peak energy usage is in the morning and in the evenings. With a shopping centre like this it's all in the middle of the day. So the return on investment for a commercial like this is between three to five years because you're getting this high consumption rate. So almost all of the power that this hundred kilowatt system is generating is flowing into the business and offsetting a higher rate rather than being exported back to the grid for a lower rate. Today we're doing our one year system check. So we're just doing a physical walk over. We know the system's working fine through the monitoring platform. So the client and ourselves can log in. We can look at the production we can look at each individual panel performance. One of the reasons why they've gone with that panel is that the panel comes with a full 25 year parts and labor warranty. From that point of view the system's working really, really well. So this is more of a bit of a physical check today. We're checking on the clamps. We're checking to make sure all the panels are secure. We're looking for any visible signs of damage. We're looking for buildup of dirt. You know, just as part of the service that we provide is to check on our systems. We want to make sure that they're well maintained. They're doing what they should be doing. And part of that is checking the physical side of it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8nnA4dsUh8 1.39 2023-05-18T19:39:38.545Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-cheaper-for-businesses-to-invest-more-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/4F_3cIjCPqY Why is it cheaper for businesses to invest more in a higher quality solar power system? There's many panels out there that have a 25 year what we call performance warranty, but their parts and labor warranty is really only for 10 years. And so it's important for us for the businesses that we sell systems to, to get the full return on the system and for it to last that time. With a panel that's only got a 10 year warranty if it fails in year 11 or year 12, then it's coming off the roof. There's two or three components about that. One, is the client looking to replace the whole system be very expensive to get it off the roof and then obviously put a new system on. And the other side is you've got close to 400 panels in a 100 kilowatt system that then has to go to landfill. So we're sort of defeating the purpose of what we're wanting to do with solar, which one of the things is to improve the environment so we obviously reducing the energy from coal, we're getting it from the sun. But we don't want to then be counteracting that by putting cheap panels back into landfill, or recycling them, and or manufacturing two lots of panels, when you can spend a little bit more money and get a panel with a full 25 year product warranty, that'll last the full 25 years. So you've got two components. You've got a return on investment for a longer period of time and greater return but further environmental, improvements by yeah, not manufacturing panels twice and also not putting them into landfill. We know in this industry that there's a significant number of solar installations that are what we call orphan systems. They've been installed by companies that are now no longer in business, and they have no one to come and do like what we're doing here today which is a one year installation check. Also with systems that have been installed by other people, other electricians and other solar companies are often a little bit reluctant to get involved with them because once they start playing around with them they sort of take on responsibility from a compliance point of view. So if you have a system installed by someone that's not going to be around, it's not always as simple as what you might think is just ringing up some other solar business to say, hey, can you come and look at it. They're not always overly keen to do that. So investing in a local company where you can walk through the door and talk to somebody is critical. And these systems have a return on investment of three to five years but in reality, you want them to be running for 10, 15, 20 years to really get that fantastic return. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4F_3cIjCPqY 2.15 2023-05-18T19:39:35.383Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-two-major-advantages-of-adding-a-solar-storage-battery-to-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/ggH7Vq0rS18 What are the two major advantages of adding a solar storage battery to your home? When you're purchasing a solar system, even if you're not looking at buying battery now, you're really need to think about designing the system in such a way that adding a battery later is possible. When we design systems, we ensure that the products that we use can be very easily upgraded to add a battery at a later stage. And some don't, so really what that means is that we're installing either hybrid inverters or we're installing inverters that are very easily able to have a battery retrofitted to them. We also look at putting monitoring in with systems so that we get a feel for whether or not a battery is viable for people, how big a battery you might want in the future, so we can start gathering the data so that in two to three years' time, when people perhaps have saved up some more money to purchase a battery, and the costs have come down, that we know, we all have enough information to be able to tell them exactly what battery they need and what size battery they need. So the payback period can vary for customers, anywhere from three to four years, all the way up to sort of eight or nine years. It really depends on when you're using that power in the home. So people that are home during the day, they tend to have better paybacks than people that don't work at home during the day. That's where the case for battery sort of starts coming in. So, what that means is that you can store that solar power that you're generating during the day in a battery and then use it at night, when you're likely to be home. Ultimately, by putting a battery in, you increase the self-consumption of your solar PV. So rather than exporting it to the grid and not getting paid a lot forward, what you're doing is using that in the home later in the day or early in the morning. So that's the first benefit. The second benefit, if you are connecting that battery to a virtual power plant is that there are additional revenue streams available to the homeowner for the use of that battery. So, a retailer may say, Okay, I'm going to buy the power out of your battery because we're going to see a grid issue in the afternoon when everyone comes home and turns on their air conditioner, and I'm going to pay you for that. And certainly that amount, that revenue stream is much higher than what you would typically get from a normal feed in tariff. They're the two major benefits of having a battery - firstly, just to summarise using the solar power in your home rather than exporting it, but also the ability to sit there and support the grid when the retailer asks for it and get some attractive returns for that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ggH7Vq0rS18 2.27 2023-05-18T19:39:31.005Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-risks-in-choosing-a-solar-installer-that-uses-low-quality-parts-and-components https://www.youtube.com/embed/HHv2VfY5XW0 What are the risks in choosing a solar installer that uses low quality parts and components? So yes, we're very selective about the balance of system components that we use as a part of installing solar. So, that's anything from the cable we use to the conduit that we use. All the accessories that go into delivering an end solution. So, there's lots of parts. There's probably about 50 different parts inside a solar system. And we ensure that we use high quality all the way through those components. So many of our competitors cut corners by using cheaper components at various stages in that installation process. What that ends up meaning is that that system while maybe the panels are of an okay standard and the inverter is of an okay standard, all the bits in the middle they've actually reduced the cost and cut corners. And that will mean that the system is very unlikely to last as long as the other components. What you'll see is perhaps potential for water leaks. Potential for safety issues on those systems. And certainly those other bits, like conduit and cable, are just as important in terms of the solar system as the major components, like panels and inverters. The issues with using lower quality components really is risk. Solar systems are very high voltage, so they work in residences all the way up to 600 volts. And certainly, if it's not installed correctly there is a risk of fire. There is a risk of electric shock. Yeah, there's really no substitute for quality here. At the end of the day you get what you pay for. And it's important that when you're buying a system, that you consider you're putting it on your own roof for a very long period of time and that you want it to last that duration and not fail with in a few years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HHv2VfY5XW0 1.43 2023-05-18T19:39:27.510Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-choosing-a-solar-power-company-with-an-in-house-installation-team https://www.youtube.com/embed/rluLNpfTQ64 What are the benefits of choosing a solar power company with an in-house installation team? So we have lots of installation teams. They're all on staff, and the quality of the install to us is just as important, if not perhaps, more important, than they quality of the product that we're installing. So, they're all very highly trained. We've got about seven or eight teams that work for us directly. And they're very very passionate about solar, and very very passionate about the workmanship. So we have internal quality insurance programs that we do, regular audits of our own installs, and then there's also an additional external inspection that's done for every system that we install. So right the way through from making sure that the panels are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines, right the way through to making sure that all the components we use are going to last just as long as the equipment that we're installing with them. So one of the main differences between some of our competitors is that we do it all in house. There are solar only retailers out there that will subcontract the installation, and for me, that tends to lead to a lower quality outcome for the customer. So we have lots of internal teams, and those teams are very passionate about what we do, and it means that there's very good lines of communications between the people that are selling the systems, the people who are designing the systems, and also the people installing it. So, overall the customer gets a better outcome because all of those people are working on the same team. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rluLNpfTQ64 1.28 2023-05-18T19:39:24.018Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-considerations-for-businesses-looking-to-invest-in-a-commercial-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/8J_NiM7wcGA What are the considerations for businesses looking to invest in a commercial solar power system? For business owners looking to invest in solar, it's really important that they consider their energy use profile. It can vary depending on your business type. So certainly homeowners are fairly predictable. We use power in the morning and the evening and not a lot during the day, but for businesses, there can be very different profiles. For example, restaurants that might have refrigeration loads, they're fairly flat and consistent across a day, but a manufacturing business tends to just use power during that sort of nine to five periods. So we look at that, that's the first thing we look at. From there it's important to consider where the panels would go. So a factory roof is very easy, on some smaller restaurants it's a bit hard to find space because generally you're within a multiunit complex. We then also look at direction. So the orientation of the panels and making sure that we can avoid obstructions. What you commonly see on commercial roofs is air conditioning, HVACs, stink pipes, aerials, all these sort of obstructions. So when we design a system for businesses, we take all of these things into consideration, make sure that we avoid all those obstructions on the roof. Ultimately though it's about payback for businesses. It's about looking at the outlay and how long it's going to take for that system to return them their original investment. And that's anywhere from three to five years. By putting a quality system in, we actually extend that much further. And we ensure that those returns that you're getting each year are locked in for a much longer period of time than if we were to put in a cheap system. No, we're not just looking at a payback period and then all of a sudden that revenue stream dries up. If we purchase a high quality system, then that revenue stream is going to be locked in for a 25 year period, which is great for a business owner. When they're looking at forecasting, when they're looking at budgeting, they can ensure that that cost item that sits there on their operational expenses is fixed. And they're not seeing prices rise each year by the same amount that if they would have not have solar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8J_NiM7wcGA 2.11 2023-05-18T19:39:20.332Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-better-to-spend-more-on-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-with-stronger-product-warranties https://www.youtube.com/embed/LR7-47l_YJE Why is it better to spend more on a higher quality solar power system with stronger product warranties? So one of the biggest cons in the industry is this concept of a performance warranty. So what you'll see is a product warranty which is really what we are used to in terms of manufacturer's warranty, that they'll replace it if there's a fault. I mean that's typically 10 years for most panels. And then there's this idea of a 25-year performance warranty. So they warrant that the panel would perform in a certain way over that time. It's really fairly worthless because at the end of the day if the panel isn't performing properly, it's usually due to a fault. So there is a way for them to wriggle out under these performance warranties. So unfortunately in Australia at the moment, of all the about 2 million systems that have been installed, about 40% of those systems are actually orphaned, which means the manufacturer isn't around, the installer isn't around, the retailer isn't around. Which is a really sad story because a lot of people out there that don't have any support when that thing fails. And the sadly for those sorts of 40% typically, they are out of systems that failed because they've been installed by cowboys in the industry very early on and they've typically used fairly cheap components. So our job is to convince those people to buy more quality components. Buying quality means that you're going to have a system that lasts that 25 years. So there's no point, buying a cheap system and then having that fail after three to four years. You really need to be looking past 10 years. And ideally, if you're buying a really good quality panel, you'll get a 25-year warranty out of it and then this system will last you that long. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LR7-47l_YJE 1.36 2023-05-18T19:39:16.861Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-lower-quality-solar-power-systems-likely-to-be-more-expensive-in-the-long-term https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4aSSsGUq-A Why are lower quality solar power systems likely to be more expensive in the long-term? Strangely, most people don't even keep their cars for as long. Solar's a 25-year investment, that's how it should be looked at. So while a cheaper system may give you one year, maybe two years better payback, really it won't last any more than five years, maybe seven or eight years at best. And certainly some of the cheaper systems, really cheap systems, we've seen panels fail within something about two to three year time frame, and the manufacturer's go on burst, and there's no warranty support. So while there may be a perception that you save a little bit of money up front, certainly over the longer term, you're a long way behind and you end up finding you need to buy again, or upgrade that system, or get an electrician out too, which is very expensive to sort of fix and remedy those issues. If buying quality means that you're going to have a system that lasts that 25 years, so there's only two or three manufacturers that actually have a 25-year warranty and most of the rest have a 10-year warranty. So a 25 year warranty is certainly rare in the industry. And it says something about the confidence of a manufacturer to give a warranty that's that long, they stand behind their product and that gives us a lot of confidence that they're going to be there to support us all the way through that 25-year period. And same can't be said for other manufacturers out there. A lot of the cheaper end of town, look there might even be a 10 years but even with that they end up arguing the toss over even very small faults in their panel so it can be even difficult in that 10 years to get a replacement if there is a fault. https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4aSSsGUq-A 1.34 2023-05-18T19:39:13.062Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-financially-and-environmentally-better-to-buy-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/cA9f_k4dStI Why is it financially and environmentally better to buy a higher quality solar power system? When people are looking at solar, really the main driver is to reduce their electricity bill. Electricity prices have been rising over the last five to six years quite considerably. Electricity bills are on thing, but probably the second thing is obviously doing something about climate change. It's particularly evident in Canberra, we find a lot of our customers are very focused on that and that's another driver for them to buy a solar system. I think the key thing here is thinking long-term, you know there's no point going out and buying a cheap system, that's only going to last you three to four years and then you're back replacing those components. There's no point buying a cheap system and then having that fail after three to four years. When they're buying systems, you really need to be looking past 10 years, and ideally, if you're buying a really good quality panel, you'll get a 25 year warranty out of it and the system will last you that long. So homeowners in Canberra are quality focused, probably more so than any other region that we're focused on. And I think that's a fantastic thing. The worst thing I can think of is all of those cheap panels going to landfill in such a short amount of time. Having a panel that lasts you and an inverter is really important. Buying quality means that you're going to have a system that last that 25 years. I know what we do needs to be a profitable business, but the environmental aspect of this is really the reason I got into it. I see solar as a very key part of our sustainable future and the way to tackle climate change. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cA9f_k4dStI 1.30 2023-05-18T19:39:09.782Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-pick-a-high-quality-installer-to-customise-a-solar-power-system-for-your-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/rL97xdr1_6U Why should you pick a high quality installer to customise a solar power system for your home? When you're purchasing a solar system, you've really got to start with finding a good quality installer, that's the key thing. It's a very long-term investment that you're making here and not a cheap one. You're spending anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 on a solar system, and maybe the same again for a battery. So it's certainly important that you find someone that's local, someone that's got experience, someone that's done lots of installations in your area because they'll make an assessment of your current bills, your house and all of these things. It's quite a complex purchasing decisions, so you really need to find an installer that you trust to help you through that process. So when we go to see customers in their home, we have a look at their electricity bill first and foremost, and that tells us how much electricity they're using each day and also gives us an idea of what the seasonal differences are, whether you're using more in summer or more on winter. We also have a look at things like major appliances, like what their hot water system is, what their air conditioning system looks like. And from there we can sort of identify, what size system the customer would need to purchase or what would suit them. We also think forward, so it's not just about what you're using in the home today, it's about other things that you might be considering adding to the home in the future. You might not have air conditioning, for example, you might be wanting to put it in, so we factor that into our assessment of the energy needs. Electric vehicles, for example, are coming and some people are considering that as their next purchase for a car, so we consider that as well. Ultimately, no one ever comes to me and wishes they had gone smaller, they always wished they had gone bigger. So we certainly oversize systems, so there's a little bit of headroom there, a little bit of extra capacity, so that as people renovate, make adjustments to their home, there's extra capacity there. So we certainly don't install the systems and then leave the customer and forget about them. We're there to support them if there's issues, we're there on the phone, if they need to ask us questions about their bills. So we really believe in supporting customer through the entire process and that extends to their experience post sale. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rL97xdr1_6U 2.01 2023-05-18T19:39:05.632Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-for-businesses-to-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-panels-for-their-property https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrxpxpOUh0g Why is it important for businesses to invest in higher quality solar panels for their property? Commercial solar was a bit slower to take off than residential solar, but businesses are really just starting to recognise now the value of putting solar in, and it's a great return on investment. You're looking at anywhere from three to five years for a business in terms of that payback period for solar. So, you know, we're not just looking at a payback period, and then, all of a sudden, that revenue stream dries up. If we purchase a high-quality system, then that revenue stream is going to be locked in for a 25-year period, which is great for a business owner. For commercial businesses, it may be even more important, again, because they're putting so many of these panels on a roof. So for a residential customer, they might only be putting 20 panels on a roof, but for a commercial site, there could be three to 400. So if you've got a fault or you're choosing a cheap panel, the exercise to go and remove all those panels and install new ones, it's vastly greater than it is at a domestic level. So quality's even more important on commercial sites, for me, than it is on residential sites, because it's such a big investment for a business. That said, the investment itself is something that's really worthwhile doing. The savings for businesses can typically be much better, because most of that power that a solar system generates on a business is being used during the daytime, and that's when everyone's at work, so the paybacks can be exceptional for businesses, and I've seen them, even below three years, as low as two and a half years, which is great. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrxpxpOUh0g 1.27 2023-05-18T19:39:02.023Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-can-independent-testing-by-installers-help-to-create-higher-quality-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/JPNaR315tm4 How can independent testing by installers help to create higher quality solar power systems? So our testing sites on top of our warehouse, we've got about 30 kilowatts of solar panels up on there, a number of inverters that we're testing in the room as well, and some batteries that we're running their paces as well. Manufacturers will tell you all sorts of different things about their product. The great thing about this is it allows us to install it and make sure that it does what the manufacturer says it's going to do. So we put these in here for several months before we go on install a bulk of them out in the field. It's also a really great area to come and bring all the electricians in, from before they do an installation, to come in here and see how these things are set up, see how they're wired. And for us to come up with design considerations about how we run conduit into them, how we run cables, how we mount them, all those really important things. We're very passionate about testing products before we release them into the field. Solar is an investment for a very long time. Now, while we can't test them for 25 years, we can give them a run for you know, a good period of 12 months, for example. So we like to put them through their paces and we also like to train our own internal staff on those things before we send them out in the field. So part of that testing lab is not only to test products are fit for purpose before we release them, but to do training for our staff before we go out to do installations. In this lab, we're testing everything from what would be considered a sort of mid tier inverter, right the way through to a better quality inverter. And we believe in putting things through their paces before we send them out the field and install them on mass. So having this lab he really gives us a great facility to test things but also to train new staff on products when they come available. So every time we look at launching a new inverter, we bring them in here first, install them and then do some training with the staff before we go out there in the field. So having this lab here means that at the end of the day, when we go out to the field, we know what we're installing and we're installing in such a way, we've all agreed on the best practice and the best way to install it and ultimately that leads to better quality. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JPNaR315tm4 2.01 2023-05-18T19:38:57.972Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-solar-panel-optimisers-give-you-better-solar-system-performance-monitoring https://www.youtube.com/embed/ghOoUlIE9M8 Do solar panel optimisers give you better solar system performance monitoring? It's a great app and and that really gets people, when they can see what each individual panel is producing at, within 15 minutes or so of that given time. And they can pull it out and show their friends at work or overseas. I'll give you a classic. A retired couple, and they had a system on and there's only a one and a half and it wasn't working. And I said to them, I said, look, we'll upgrade the system. Checked the panels out, they had a little bit of shading issue as well at different parts of the day and different times of the year. And I bumped into them at the Changi airport in Singapore. And this was the time cyclone Marcus was here. And I said, how's your, how's your solar going? Oh, Jeff said, he said, he said, we got a 26 cent bill was the last one. And his wife Fran said, well, it was quite funny. We just visited our son in Hong Kong. And we knew exactly what was going on at home was through the app. We knew that we didn't lose power, or we only lost a few hours. So from Hong Kong, she was checking her system to see what was happening at home. It was unbelievable. So the optimiser optimises each individual panel. So if we have one panel that goes out, we can see that there's a problem either with the optimiser or the panel. And it only takes to do this, would only take a matter of two or three minutes to change over an optimiser if it dies on you. So it's individual monitoring, which is one of the greatest things to be able to do. So you can see, map your performance day by day on, on how each one's going. So if you're shading around you'd see which one had the shading on it, through that individual monitoring. I might get an optimiser pops off now and again, but I know before the customer does and is surprised that I ringing up and say listen, you don't mind if I pop around tomorrow and hop up in your roof and change an optimiser? Oh, they said, Oh, I haven't checked it for a while. And I said, yeah, number seven or whatever is, is hasn't hasn't been working for a week or so. Yeah. Pop around. So I'll usually pop in and, and it takes me longer to have a cup of coffee and a chat, then it does to change the optimiser. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ghOoUlIE9M8 2.25 2023-05-18T19:38:55.063Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-much-was-nick-s-power-bill-after-he-installed-a-high-quality-solar-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/BHIb6u5TTNM How much was Nick's power bill after he installed a high quality solar system? Nick's place is down in Zuccoli. It was a six and a half kilowatt system, and we've put on an extra six panels, so it made it up to just over an eight kilowatt, and we put CT monitoring, the smart meter. Now Nick, he's got four little girls, and he can show them now on the app, on when they turn the air conditioner on, how it spikes, and it's a real education for his girls. There's the oldest one is a round about 11, so she really understands on how she can save energy for mum and dad. Nick is a structural engineer. When Nick started building his house and we just started talking about putting solar on. The way the house is and being a big family is that he's got to, with the solar, has now offset a lot of that cost for him. There's six people plus his mum's living there now. And, I think his biggest bill has been $50 a quarter. So, I think that's not too bad. And, the way he's going, his return on investment is going to be probably about two and a half years. He's extremely happy with his system, especially when he gets his power bill. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BHIb6u5TTNM 1.25 2023-05-18T19:38:51.691Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-possible-to-get-paid-for-the-excess-solar-power-you-put-into-the-electricity-grid https://www.youtube.com/embed/xdBAsvsWOgc Is it possible to get paid for the excess solar power you put into the electricity grid? It's very common, I've got a number of customers that don't even get a power bill these days. From a single-phase at a five kilowatt inverter. We can oversize that by 33% with the clean energy rule, so we can claim our, the STCs, or the rebate as people refer it to. So that's your sizing of your systems. And I always say to people, is work on your budget, put as big a system as you possibly can on, so that you're exporting to the grid. Yeah, I get a lot of customers now, that because I put a good quality system on, they're not getting a power bill, they're getting a credit. And so the credit builds up, and I was speaking to a lady the other day, they've never had a power bill since the system has been on there. And they got up to a stage of, I think she said something like $10,000 in credit, so they're slightly drawing it off and doing other things with it. You're laughing all the way to the bank, as they say. Well, the challenge for solar is trying to design a system that you're going to get on that roof. They've got all these fancy designs on roofs and the only time that a person that owns the house would ever see it is if they fly over, to put a drone over, to have a look at it. You've got to look at solar in the future is to have it so that it's north facing at around about the 12 degree. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xdBAsvsWOgc 1.31 2023-05-18T19:38:48.340Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-are-door-to-door-solar-salespeople-able-to-sell-solar-power-systems-so-cheap https://www.youtube.com/embed/SqP_GPHhFWs How are door-to-door solar salespeople able to sell solar power systems so cheap? The fly in and fly out ,yeah, that's always good. The door knockers that we have around the place, is that cheap and nasty, it goes on your roof. Any problems, try and call them, no answer. They fold it up or whatever the case is. I couldn't sleep at night by doing that. It's got to be quality. They cut every possible corner you can think of is the only way how they can do it. A lot of times is trying to using a string inverter where they should be optimising the system. You see that a quite lot. Different aspects of the roofs especially on a lot of this new houses with they way the designs are now they got so many ridges and small parts of the roof. The only way you can get a good yield out of your system is to put it on optimisers so you can put them on different faces of the roof. The poor man pays twice for everything. If he goes cheap, you're going to be replacing it. So you might as well put, spend a few extra bucks to start with and put a good system on. And you're not going to be coming back in less than 10 years, probably to replace what you just put on. The cheap and nasty is really bad for the environment. It ends up in landfill. The only thing we can really reclaim off of solar power is the aluminium frame. The rest of it goes into landfill. So all these panels that are going to be coming off are going to add to the problem we already have. It's very important to get the right guys to do your installation. You're saving yourself money, you're also saving the environment because less landfill. And at the end of the day you're getting a far better return on your investment. Your return on your investment is roughly three and a half years. Investing good quality solar systems you save money, you save really help to save the environment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/SqP_GPHhFWs 2.00 2023-05-18T19:38:44.613Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-problems-that-make-a-solar-panel-performance-warranty-hard-to-claim https://www.youtube.com/embed/NnrhhEMsT70 What are the problems that make a solar panel performance warranty hard to claim? The performance warranty that everyone offers, 25 years. Who's going to prove that your panel's not working in 10 years time or such like. With a lot of those cheap companies or cheaper panels, good luck in trying to claim them. We just had one just recently and they've closed their office in Australia, and you're going to go back to Shanghai to claim your your warranty. You're going to take the panel off the roof put it in the post and send it to the company? I don't think so. And if you managed to get it over back to China, it'd be, yeah, yeah, so what? They're in Australia, we're in China, you're never going to get any warranty whatsoever from it. And see you later there goes your warranty. And even these cheaper companies they can close tomorrow. They only offer 10 or 12 year warranty and it's hardly worth the piece of paper it's ever written on. Most important is the manufacturer's warranty, 25 years manufacturing warranty cannot be beaten. My whole philosophy of the whole thing is putting good quality system on where I don't have to go back in six months time to replace something. Every time you're getting your car to drive from point A to point B cost you. So do it once and do it right. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NnrhhEMsT70 1.31 2023-05-18T19:38:40.708Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-buy-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-from-a-local-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/rW6sQD9lHwY Why is it important to buy a high quality solar power system from a local installer? I think the most important thing of having solar and a good quality system is that it's going to last longer. We've now taken off systems that are not even 10 years old, and they've totally had it. You wouldn't even sell them on Gumtree because they're full of micro cracks, snail marks all through them. A system that we pulled off 60 panels and the whole 60 were the same. The only thing that would be you could salvage out it would be the aluminium frame. And it was just, I just couldn't believe how bad they were in only 10 years. And a lot of the old framing, wasn't oxidised. So you just rub your hand along it, and you get a handful of aluminium off the side of the frame. A lot of customers come over to quality solar because they're looking for the good warranty, good backup, dealing with a local. Most importantly is dealing with the local person. And a lot of my clients that I get are word of mouth, because they just see what savings they're getting on their power bills. And also with the quality of a system, 25 years warranty. You might pay a little bit more for but you've got a good return on your investment. What more can you ask for? https://www.youtube.com/embed/rW6sQD9lHwY 1.32 2023-05-18T19:38:37.307Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-building-regulations-effect-the-installation-of-a-solar-power-system-in-darwin https://www.youtube.com/embed/e41PILZrfdc How do building regulations effect the installation of a solar power system in Darwin? The most important thing, we have the strictest building regulations in the world. Not just in Australia, in the world. So, it comes down to if we're going to put solar on someone's roof we have to go through the same process. If you're going to build an extension, put a new veranda on we've got all our structural engineering in place, our certification, and at the end I hand over all the information. We had Cyclone Tracy which is 45 years ago that absolutely destroyed Darwin and that's why we have tough building regulations. I always get this question. Oh, my sister has put a system on in Brisbane and only costs $6,000. Yes, if I lived in Brisbane, I could do the same but here in Darwin we've got building permits, and then we've got to put on all our feet the maximum of 400 apart so, that all adds up. Everything that we buy in Darwin has a freight component now. So, you add 5 cents per Watt on a panel to get it from Melbourne to Darwin. So, yes if I lived in Brisbane I could do the same price. In the top end we've got the harshest climate that you could find anywhere probably in the world. From extreme heat in our buildup, humidity and then we curb the rain, and then the winds come along with that. So, with all that testing the way that it's certified, engineered, put on your roof, it's not going to blow off. So, at the end of the day, by paying that little bit extra there's a peace of mind in there. There's really a peace of mind. When it comes down to designing the system as is, what the people's needs are. So, mums and dads are off at work and feeds their fridge, the freezer, the fans or whatever they've still left running, and the excess goes out to the grid. Come home at night and they start drawing off what they put on during the day. So, Mr. Jakarna is the battery. https://www.youtube.com/embed/e41PILZrfdc 2.22 2023-05-18T19:38:34.155Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-solar-panels-decrease-in-output-performance-as-the-weather-gets-hotter https://www.youtube.com/embed/bTFkU6IIS-o Do solar panels decrease in output performance as the weather gets hotter? On any solar panel you lose efficiency in the heat during the day. By putting good quality system on in conjunction with your inverter, you'll get a much better efficiency rate out of a top end panel than you will out of a bottom end. So that also reduces the time for it to pay for itself, your return on your investment. So the hotter it gets, the less efficient it is. So in the middle of summer, a lot of the cheap end systems actually close down. They turn off because they just cannot handle the heat. So you put a good quality system on, it's going to still perform, but it's not quite as good as what it would on a cooler day. You will produce more power with the top end system than you will with the bottom end, and with a good quality inverter you'll still produce a lot more energy than you will with a bottom end of a system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bTFkU6IIS-o 1.04 2023-05-18T19:38:30.075Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-financial-advantages-of-choosing-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJo-TBaf1sc What are the financial advantages of choosing a high quality solar power system? The main thing for me, and with quality solar, is specialising in high-end and quality, that'll give you a good return on your investment. Where you go the lower end, it might be cheaper, but the poor man pays twice. I think the philosophy of the top end of the quality is that people see that the value, it comes down to value for money. You might pay a little bit more at the top of it, the long end of it, works out cheaper, it does work out cheaper. My main clients that I have are the normal mums and dads that are looking for a good investment. And that's what it comes down to, look at your return on your investment. That's what a lot of people look at and your return on investment is roughly the same time of the paying off period as the a bottom end system is going to be. I think the most important thing of having solar and a good quality system is that it's going to last longer. Just by putting the top end of the solar gives me a good peace of mind that the customer's got good value for money at the end of the day. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJo-TBaf1sc 1.27 2023-05-18T19:38:26.569Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-building-compliance-process-in-the-northern-territory-if-you-re-installing-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/9yyiHv4kIjE What is the building compliance process in the Northern Territory if you're installing solar power? They legislated through the federal government that every solar install had to comply to state and territory building regulations. Well here in the Northern territory that means, especially here in the top end, you have to have a building permit. So then all the panel testing came into it to comply. So there are systems out there now that do comply, but they don't have a building permit. So people want to sell the house. Unfortunately, they're going to have to get a building permit and certificate of occupancy to get all signed off. And that can be done, but quite a bit more expensive getting it done now than what it would have been back when it was done. We do a section 40, that's the equipment that goes on the roof on how it's done. Then there's the building permit and then there's once it's been installed it's then an inspection happens, tick boxes, and the certificate of occupancy is then submitted. So they're the process that happen. When you're looking at the section 40, this is the part where everything all fits in to your wind loading. If they're a good quality system, good quality panel, you're not going to have a problem. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9yyiHv4kIjE 1.21 2023-05-18T19:38:22.692Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-financial-results-of-thor-s-high-quality-ground-mounted-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/gmWlnLx7Hbk What are the financial results of Thor's high quality ground mounted solar power system? When we looked at it, the last time we were there, it was at 3:00pm in the afternoon. It was something like 43 kilowatt-hours for the day, bearing in mind that is the gross. So then it runs the house from there. So it'd be exporting off to the grid, probably, roughly 20 kilowatt-hours a day would be going into the grid. I went through a number of panels and a number of systems for him and explained it all to him because he's only just getting into solar. I said, To be honest, it's a no-brainer. You'll pay a little bit more for them at the end of the day, but they're a good quality system, good quality panel, You're not going to have a problem. What have you been getting? - On average, around about 43 kilowatts a day. That'd be about right. 43! So that's this time of the year, bearing in mind that this is facing southeast. So in October, November, December, February, the sun will be over this side of us. So the Christmas period, when all the air conditioners are running, you're going to be doing, probably, close on 50 kilowatt hours a day. - And then the best thing, Bill, it'll be a $0 bill. - That's the important part, isn't it? - It is, mate, yeah. - It's money in the bank. - More money to spend on the family. He said that his last bill that he's just received was $360, I think it was, in credit. And so that's after running his house and everything else on his place. He's got to be a happy Vegemite. We've done 43.2 kilowatt-hours for the day, and it's now 3:45pm in the afternoon. So we've still got another three hours to go of sunlight. So yeah, 40, 45, a bit over really. A bit more. At the end of the day, the ground mount will be a little bit more expensive. But if they've got the room out in the rural area, and you set it up right next to your metre box, and you'll get a better feed going both ways to the grid and back to your house. So that little ground mount system is very tidy, very neat. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gmWlnLx7Hbk 2.08 2023-05-18T19:38:18.145Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-advantages-of-ground-mounted-solar-power-systems-in-rural-areas https://www.youtube.com/embed/CwVIie1VEB8 What are the advantages of ground mounted solar power systems in rural areas? The ground mount gives you, I feel, a couple of good advantages. And that is one that it sits off the ground, and when we get up into October, November, December, when our ambient temperature gets up to 35 degrees, it's going to to get a nice cool breeze blowing under it, and the cooler you keep the panels, the better they perform. Just at the right temperature. The roof in October, November, will get up to about 70, 75 degrees in ambient temperature, so damn hot. Plus, the other issue is that we get, we're in a very dusty environment. And so the cleaning of panels, and it is very, very hard to justify, on paying someone $200 or $300 dollars, to get up on your roof to clean the panels for you. When it's only dust. Different issue if it's droppings, but with dust rain will come and wash them off. You'll see, you clean the panels today, and tomorrow they'll have a light layer of dust on them. It's a dusty environment. We haven't had any rain since, about February, March this year. And we're now nearly halfway through August. That's another two months before we get any rain at all. So it's a big job just to clean panels. And if you're going to pay someone to do it, you pay them $200-$300 dollars. You just won't get that money back, because you're just that return is just not there, just doesn't give you that much more of an output. I don't care what anyone tells me. If you're going to to pay someone it's not worth doing it, If you can do it yourself, absolutely clean them. We live in a very dusty environment. Very, very dusty environment. When we looked at it, they were only cleaned the day before, and wipe your hand over it, and it was a film of dust on it, was 24 hours. So you give it a month and it needed cleaning. So if they were up on a roof and a real steep roof, like there is over in their new suburbs a 25 degree pitch. Can you get up there with some water and a broom? I don't think so. You're going to end up on the ground with the water. So that makes it a lot better and safer. To be able to just hose, he's got it set up with a hose there, and a squeegee, give them a bit of a squirt off and a brush. And yeah, they come up okay. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CwVIie1VEB8 2.17 2023-05-18T19:38:14.399Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-be-cautious-of-interstate-solar-sales-companies-that-come-to-town https://www.youtube.com/embed/EiPzVtwTAto Why should you be cautious of interstate solar sales companies that come to town? Those panels that we see seen yesterday, over in Woodruff, been on exactly six years. And there's definitely the installer who has done the holy jig on them. He's danced all over them, just the state they were. Where you look at the cell, has snail tracks, and then they're developing into micro cracks. And the interesting part, I've never ever seen it before is that right around the edge of each cell has burned through the backing board. the whole 60 cell panel, each one has burned around. And once we clean the dirt off the front, you could actually see through it and see the back. Put your hand on it like this, say, oh, hang on, there's your hand there. You shouldn't be able to do that. And that was a done by an interstate person. He came in, milked the system, and disappeared. As we've seen, a couple of installations we've done the poor lady, the poor man post twice. One was dealing with an interstate company. System wasn't cheap. Nor, was the other one we seen in Woodruff. But one came down to trying to deal with an interstate company. The other one was an interstate company and interstate installer who just didn't have a clue on how to do an installation. So go local and keep Keep everything, everything in town. If people out there don't keep supporting local companies we're not going to have any local companies here. You're going to be dealing with interstate company. Something goes wrong, forget it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EiPzVtwTAto 1.45 2023-05-18T19:38:10.926Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-jan-s-experience-like-when-claiming-a-solar-power-performance-warranty https://www.youtube.com/embed/NYGqfuoZ7ZM What was Jan's experience like when claiming a solar power performance warranty? The performance warranty means absolutely nothing, not even in the paper it's written on. And in Jan's case, it got to the stage where they just wore her out and she just gave up on trying to claim the performance warranty. It would have been a manufacturer's warranty, within the 10 years, she may have been able to do something but because it was performance, so it ended up being somewhat different. I think at the end of the day that the whole experience just ground her down and she said no, she's had enough, and bite the bullet, take it off and put a good system on. At the end of the day, Jan was just exhausted and being a self-funded retiree, just didn't have the funds to continue on the fight with the interstate company. It was installed by a local company but there was to deal with the interstate company that was up. They were around for a couple of years, but that was it, and then vanished. So that's always the problem, these interstate ones is they come up, make a killing and then disappear. Jan's story at the end of the day really teaches I think if anyone is smart and does their homework and research, they'll find the deal with a local company. Get a good warranty, get a good system, and you're not going to have a problem. And that's one of the reason why I install top and quality system, I don't get call backs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NYGqfuoZ7ZM 1.36 2023-05-18T19:38:08.102Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-micro-cracks-effect-the-performance-of-jan-s-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_AEen8LYVg How did micro cracks effect the performance of Jan's solar power system? First set she'd put on, was only a 1.5kW and they just had snail tracks right through them. A couple of the panels when we took them off and had a good close inspection on them, that they had just started to develop into micro cracks and started to burn through. It took some time where we'd done all the tests for her, and she had her, because she is so particular every day, since she'd had the system on she registered what it produced. And you could see just how it had deteriorated, in the period of time. Because the best that it had ever done, back when it was new, was doing about 12kWh, I think from memory and it got down to where she's getting about 6 kilowatt hours a day. It was just the quality of the, of the, the panels. They were just the cheap budget panel. Where they were a 270 watt and they just can't handle it. And, only a couple of weeks ago, I took off a 10 kilowatt system of the same panel and the whole 60 were the same. And, but this, this particular site that a lot of the panels have actually burned through the backing board as well. So they were in real bad shape, and they were only 10 years old, 10 years. So it's going to landfill. I think at the end of the day that the whole experience just ground her down, and she said, no, she's had enough. And bite the bullet, take it off, and put a good system on. What we put on was, 18, 365 Watt. So it makes it a 6.5, optimises, which is for the high output panels. Yeah I think that the system worked out about $4,000 cheaper than what the original systems cost. So she's now got the rolls Royce of the rolls Royce. And knocking out 35 kilowatt hours a day, she's not using anywhere near that. She's very, very happy with the system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_AEen8LYVg 2.10 2023-05-18T19:38:04.344Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-environmental-and-financial-advantages-of-solar-power-for-homeowners https://www.youtube.com/embed/NtI4RbUXFxE What are the environmental and financial advantages of solar power for homeowners? Well, I like solar because it's good for the environment and it saves people's money. I love solar cause I get money back every quarter. And I think it's the way of the future. The less gas, less carbon, and the less emissions we put that it's time that the world started moving towards solar and people have the opportunity now with the federal government rebates and that to actually get solar put on their roof at a right price. If you go for a cheaper product these days and your system fails in five years, that federal government rebate's not going to be all there. So a $10,000 or $12,000 system is going to be a $16,000 to $18,000 system. So you probably want to get it right first time, is my point of view. I've had solar on my place now for a year. I look forward to every quarter. I don't get a bill. It's free power from the sun, it just ticks over. It's just, you go on the thing. You have a look at your little app, you've made 30, 35 kilowatt hours per day. You know you've made more power and they're not burning fuel over there at the power station to keep my house running. It's great. I think it's the best thing in the world. This is like this for six months of the year. These solar systems they actually make a lot of power. Actually, even during the wet season when we do get clouding. I've looked, monitored my system for a year. We get more sun, it's a lot hotter in the wet but we still make a lot of power even when it's raining. But, during the dry season it's just every day. Day after day 30 kilowatts 35, 36, 38 kilowatt hours, every day. I'm only using 15 or 16. So it's just, it's crazy why you wouldn't do it. If you've got money sitting in the bank and you're getting 3% interest on it, why wouldn't you go to something that's going to give you a 20 to 22% return on your money. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NtI4RbUXFxE 1.51 2023-05-18T19:38:00.889Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-financial-benefits-of-investing-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/bm0ubj1h2_0 What are the financial benefits of investing in a higher quality solar power system? I've actually got into the solar industry myself. I left another sales industry and was looking at getting solar put into my property. And so I went and did all the research, and I mean, I really did a lot of research because solar is, when it's not working, time is money. And while your system's down and not working for one, two, three months, it's costing you possibly nine to 10 dollars a day. So, why wouldn't you just invest in a better, high quality product. It's only really, it's just a little bit more. I'm a firm believer in buying the best product, the best quality that you can afford. The problem is that people buy lower quality products, cheap solar, they think they're getting a good deal. They get a cheaper product. They think, wow, we've got a great deal. They go on the internet. They write a great, raving review about the people that just installed their brand new solar system that's been running for one year, but I would like to see how many of them would like to rewrite their review after five or six years when the system has completely failed. I'm sure they'd have a different point of view then, when they haven't got a leg to stand on as far as warranty, and they have to go and get a whole new complete system. I don't think they saved any money at all in that respect. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bm0ubj1h2_0 1.17 2023-05-18T19:37:57.635Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-financial-returns-solar-power-homeowners-can-expect-in-northern-australia https://www.youtube.com/embed/rxMpCkZgTog What are the financial returns solar power homeowners can expect in Northern Australia? Well generally, most customers want solar. Some people want it as an environmental point of view, reduce their carbon footprint, but generally, a lot of people really want to know how much money they can save on their power bill. I've got solar myself, and every quarter, I look forward to, because I get money back. So, I'm the person that rings up the energy company and say, Can you please pay me the money that you owe me?. You know, power is not cheap, and obviously, during the wet season, it's very, very hot. So, like down south, people spend money on heating. Up here, we use money on cooling. If you look at the return on the value, you're going to make a round about $650 a quarter, coming off your bill. So, if you're a heavy user, well that's what you don't have to pay, and if you're a small user, then you'll get a benefit back, and cash into your bank account, in the Territory at the moment. Well, if you have a look at investment, like if you put money in the bank, you'd probably be lucky to get 2% return on your money. Whereas if you look at solar, especially if you invest in a good quality product, you've got a longterm of 22% at around about 22% give or take, depending on the way the tariffs are working. But you know, you can look to pay your system off between four and a half to five years. Then, after that, everything else that comes in is basically free power that you've made from the sun. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rxMpCkZgTog 1.22 2023-05-18T19:37:54.601Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-the-solar-power-performance-warranty-often-misleading-and-hard-to-prove https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eC62e_rdl0 Why is the solar power performance warranty often misleading and hard to prove? Well, the problem I think, is the customers are being misled by a lot of warranties, with the performance warranty of 25 years, by a lot of product. And a lot of companies offer a 25 year warranty on performance but they only offer 10 year warranty on the product itself. And if your product isn't performing it's very difficult to prove that it isn't performing. And the other company will get you to prove that which is a very costly exercise. And if you might save a couple thousand dollars on a cheaper system, you'll certainly chew that couple of thousand dollars up trying to prove your warranty claim, if that company even still exists in 10 to 15 years. Well, there's a lot of, obviously, a lot of people are unaware and that's what we try to do. I try to educate people and give them an idea of what is and what isn't and how a bad install can actually affect the product and how a product needs to be taken care of during the installation. A lot of the products that come from different factories, they're not even made in one place, other companies buy all the other products in from different companies, put it together and label it as their own. And they're only small companies, there might be a company that's only worth $10 million but they've got $40 million worth of product out there. Now if they go bust, they just dissolve as a business and disappear off the face of the earth, so where are you going to go to get your warranty? https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eC62e_rdl0 1.23 2023-05-18T19:37:51.376Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-think-about-investing-extra-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/OWWnnvyiuWY Why should you think about investing extra in a higher quality solar power system? My name's Anthony Fotiades I was born in Darwin, I've been here since 1968. Well, the solar industry has had ups and downs with bad installations and poor quality products. I got into solar because I thought it was a great industry to get into, but on that hand I also wanted to be selling premium products. And the honest truth is if you don't love your product, I don't think you can really sell it. I believe it's quality product, good product, good service. We're a small company, but we do quality work that's so we basically try to put forward the best product to our customers. That's the range that we sort of work with the most. I believe that's the best quality product on the market especially with the warranties that it has and the performance of the product. But you might have to pay a little bit more and what you pay extra is minimal for what you get in return. You're guaranteed to have a system that's going to run for years and years and years. If you work it out it's a long-term investment with solar. The systems designed to be warrantied for 25 years, but a return of a bit 22% per annum. So if you're looking at, over a four year period, it's probably a difference of about $20 a week just to step up to a premium quality product. You make more power, the warranty is 25 years across the board, parts and labour. You're going to get the best quality, you've got the best warranty, a 25-year warranty backed on the product itself, and also performance warranty. I get around town, it's not a very big town. So certainly I wouldn't like to be selling a bad product around here. Basically a lot of people would just want to know about solar. So we will go around there and sit down with them and go over the different types of systems as into the inverter systems. And then obviously with the panels, they want to know what sort of the costs of the panels how long they last, what's the warranties with them, what sort of performance, and what's the bottom dollar I suppose. How much money they're going to get back per annum, and what the saving is. If you want the best to go with the best, that's what we do. Honestly, there's no point in mucking around. https://www.youtube.com/embed/OWWnnvyiuWY 2.10 2023-05-18T19:37:47.785Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-jan-s-key-buying-decisions-for-her-replacement-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/S7kFBd9v7HE What were Jan's key buying decisions for her replacement solar power system? My name's Jan and I live in Nakara, Darwin, in the Northern Territory. Love the climate, love the people, love the laid back lifestyle. I thought it would be a good idea because we have so much sunshine, and our power bills are not cheap. And I thought it'd be a way to save money. I got three quotes. I read them all very carefully. Now I have a local company doing a new system, that I seem to be very thrilled with, with what they're producing. And the pre-sales, after-sales, during-sales service, has been terrific. He's very patient because every time it hiccups, I ring him up. Regardless of the time of day or the day of the week. And he answers me quite patiently and sorts out my questions very clearly. Panels I bought are the more expensive of the range of panels, in the hope that they will last me longer. I'm led to believe that I have got the highest quality that I can get, because it's a big company. And I'm thinking that they wouldn't renege on any claims they make because they can't afford to. Because mine is a 6.5 kilowatt system, there is a five kilowatt limiter on them because I'm tied to the grid. On average, I'm getting more than 30 kilowatts a day going into the grid, above and beyond what I use. My best has been 37 kilowatts in one day. 37 kilowatts is above and beyond what I'm using. That's pure profit. I can't wait to see if it pays for itself in four years. And my first three month electricity bill comes at the end of this month, so I'll really know how I'm going. I know it's going to perform well because I take daily readings of the solar system, and it's going very well. I'm very happy with what I've got. https://www.youtube.com/embed/S7kFBd9v7HE 1.58 2023-05-18T19:37:44.072Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-jan-s-experiences-with-her-solar-power-company-when-her-system-failed https://www.youtube.com/embed/gpueIfXW2u4 What were Jan's experiences with her solar power company when her system failed? I was given the bum's rush on the last warranty claim. They didn't want to proceed in a hurry. It took 18 months and I still got no satisfaction. And anything that I had a relevant point to bring up, they just ignored. They didn't answer it. They just pretended I didn't say anything. And then went back to their old spiel. It was distressing. My blood pressure went up. I was not well. I'm a self-funded retiree, so I can't afford a lawyer. And I had to let it go. Not happy about it, but I had to let it go. I think their whole modus operandi is to keep me running around long enough until I just got too tired, which is exactly what happened, which what makes me very angry that I did cave. I felt I had a valid case, but I didn't have the money to follow it up. And I think they knew that. I'd say to check all the quotes very carefully. Anything you don't understand, ask. Make sure it's in writing as in the what type of panels you're getting, what type of inverter you're getting, and make sure that's what you get when it arrives. Well, first of all, I'd say go for a local installer because they can't run away if there's a problem. Go through a better quality system that you know of. And you can only find that out by researching on the internet, asking questions, hounding people who've already got systems, and how they found it, hounding other people about their service from the company that's provided the panels in the inverter. So you've got a good idea of what you can expect. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gpueIfXW2u4 1.52 2023-05-18T19:37:39.776Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-warranty-fine-print-that-lead-to-a-fire-with-jan-s-solar-power-inverter https://www.youtube.com/embed/LYN-AFNOasY What was the warranty fine print that lead to a fire with Jan's solar power inverter? I was sitting under the house and the fire alarm went off. And on that same wall I have power points, irrigation, the council power box, and the inverter. So I have two smoke alarms there and one went off. And when I got there, the smoke was billowing out of the top of the inverter and running along the floorboards under my house because I've got an elevated house, and it was not a pretty sight. It was not a new one that was replaced the first time round, they replaced it with a refurbished one, which the warranty says they can do. I would have expected that if my inverter had died, they would've given me a new one. They didn't, and they didn't tell me it was refurbished either, I had to find it in the warranty, in the small print in the warranty, that they're entitled to do that. And then it blew up and caught fire in less than three years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/LYN-AFNOasY 0.57 2023-05-18T19:37:36.157Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-main-reasons-why-homeowners-choose-to-invest-in-a-solar-power-battery https://www.youtube.com/embed/m_Zt9JOD4RE What are the main reasons why homeowners choose to invest in a solar power battery? Batteries are a fantastic idea, they are in the early infancy stages at the moment. So having what's called a hybrid, which is where your home is still grid-connected, so I still connected to the electricity network. The biggest bang for buck is getting a good size solar system to be able to put on your roof first. Second is to be able to put some energy storage in a battery so that you can harness the leftover power generated from the sun, to be able to store for evening use. At the moment though, however, batteries are quite expensive. They will be coming down in price in the next few years. And I think most of our customers who choose to put a battery in at the moment have done so, so they've got backup for blackouts, so that we hook up the central services so that they can keep running in the event of a blackout overnight. Secondly, is to be able to store their own power and use their own power in the evening. One of the things I say if you're considering a battery, is try three months first with the solar system, we'll see how much power that you're exporting back to the grid. We'll track that on our monitoring and we can work out the right size battery in the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/m_Zt9JOD4RE 1.16 2023-05-18T19:37:33.322Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-methods-a-solar-company-used-to-sell-jan-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIhnAqK1ChM What were the methods a solar company used to sell Jan a solar power system? I unfortunately got involved with a fly-by-night salesman who was a little bit pushy and didn't give me enough time to think it out. I had problems with the panels, I had problems with dealing with them being based in another state. It was difficult. The whole situation just dissolved into a mess. I was drawn to it because they were very specific about it being European panels and European inverter, not the Chinese one. However, on the date of installation, the inverter was from Austria, but the panels were from China. And when I asked I said, Oh! I thought they were supposed to be European. He said, Oh, no. They're just re-badged. and put me off. Big mistake. First of all, they weren't cheap, they were quite expensive. But I thought I was buying quality, but I wasn't. I didn't get what I thought I was going to get. And dealing with an interstate company was the pits. I had issues with the cheap panels because over time, they stopped producing, like they should have. When we had them inspected visually, they had micro-cracks, they had crazing, they had blisters, and still the company refused any warranty claims saying, Oh, they work okay. without being there. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIhnAqK1ChM 1.28 2023-05-18T19:37:29.975Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-a-reputable-installer-get-you-a-higher-performing-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/W57AtSF3d-g Does a reputable installer get you a higher performing solar power system? Working in the field as an electrician I've made some inquiries and, without naming who I work for, we deal with a few customers that deal with solar. And I did ask at work, what's his reputation like? What's his work like? And, he came with a good rep. He was quick, easy to deal with, most informative and quite good workmanship. And I'll tell you now, being electrician again, I've got keep going back to that because that's the field I'm in, When they came and installed, they did a real tradesman like job. They cleaned up. When you see people cleaning up after themselves, you know that you got a good quality job at the end. Output's fantastic. Every day I'm laughing. I honestly am laughing about the output of the system. My bills are non-existent to be honest, all right. And, you want to do that commercial on TV and point the solar panels. I tell the wife and kids that all the time. It's a cliche I suppose, but they are fantastic. They hold up well, during the wet, I had concerns about lightning strikes and everything else and spikes in the system because up here and down, we do get a lot of lightning strikes. But look, the rectifier, the panels, it's fantastic. My brother actually went with a different make and model and his rectifier was playing up and humming away. But you have to pick quality. You look around at the workmanship and everything that goes with it. As a tradesman, did a fantastic job. When I first decided to get solar put in, I thought I got to get some prices and, I rang up quite a few people to be honest, to get some quotes. And there was a few options there. And, I took down all the paperwork and did some research on it. I won't name names, but there was another supplier, four times he stood me up. Came here, waited for him, waited for him, in the end I just gave up on him. https://www.youtube.com/embed/W57AtSF3d-g 2.01 2023-05-18T19:37:24.514Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-was-the-warranty-claim-experience-like-for-rino-s-high-quality-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/56LvyBYU0WM What was the warranty claim experience like for Rino's high quality solar panels? Yeah, I had an issue with one of the panels. It was faulty, it wasn't working. I thought, oh, well, I thought, here we go. We got to go through all this issues of warranty, and, you know, they want this evidence, they want that evidence, but it was a totally new experience for me and they acted on it and they were really polite, real easy to deal with. They responded straight away, came out to site and it was replaced really easy and quickly, without an issue. They fixed it, no stress, nothing at all. It was really easy, pain-free and quick, that's a big thing. It was just quick, running up. They took the call, they responded, it was replaced and all done within a week, early from memory. And it was replaced, without me stressing about anything, really. So it was great. Yeah, I didn't have to argue with anyone about anything basically, so it was good. https://www.youtube.com/embed/56LvyBYU0WM 1.02 2023-05-18T19:37:21.012Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-motivated-rino-in-darwin-to-install-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/1v_v6ll7v98 What motivated Rino in Darwin to install a higher quality solar power system? Rino Cercarelli and we're in Rapid Creek Darwin. Well the climate in this part of the world is nice and sunny, great days you know, it gets hot, but you can't beat it. I first started thinking about solar a couple of years ago, to be honest. And I was a bit unsure about it, but working in the field as electrician, I've made some inquiries and found that technology has moved forward a fair bit. And yeah, I needed to save some dollars as well. My power bill has always been very high. So having three kids and air-con running constantly you know, during the heating heat of days, I thought, well it's time to save some money and put something up there that's productive and helps the environment at the same time. That is top quality, its durable for this weather, and that was the product that talking around town and being in the field as electrician, that was recommended by a lot of people around town works quite well. I'm quite happy. I'm going to have these panels paid off in three years. And with a 25 year warranty, I still got 22 years of carefree of knowing that I don't have to pay a bill. So you can't get better than that https://www.youtube.com/embed/1v_v6ll7v98 1.17 2023-05-18T19:37:17.863Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-quality-solar-panels-better-for-multi-story-buildings https://www.youtube.com/embed/yS82qMMmi3s Why are higher quality solar panels better for multi-story buildings? Well, the test today was about testing the quality of the panel. It gives us installers, the confidence to install a good quality system on to a customer's roof. The testing here today is showing us that the solar panel will come up a little bit higher than what the Cyclone Tracy was, that destroyed Darwin on Christmas Day in 1974. This one went to just over six, 6kPa would mean that we could put onto a four or five story building here in Darwin and have confidence in doing that. It's cyclone rated. It's been tested now to Australian standards and to what is required in Darwin. Is because Darwin has the toughest building regulations in the world. Not just in Australia but in the world. So this panel has come after that. One of the reason it's a 40mm frame, screwed on the corners, so which makes it a lot stronger, look, it's definitely a positive outcome. Most of the cheaper panels, don't come up to anywhere near this. Is one particular panel that in the manufacturer's wisdom, that put a screw hole here where this one is failed. So it reached about 2kPa when the whole thing failed. So it failed right where that screw hole was. Well after Cyclone Tracy where, people know the damage that was done here. The area where we're actually standing now was probably one of the worst affected areas from Cyclone Tracy. When you consider that a lot of places that were left, was a bathtub and a toilet bowl. So this will withstand that providing the house stayed together. My expectation was around about what we got, and it's a good quality panel, put it together in a good quality system. At the end of the day, people pay a little bit extra and they could know that they're going to put something with quality up on their roof. It's built to last. With 25 years manufacturing warranty and gives you a peace of mind. Gives us as an installer confidence to install a good quality solar panel on a customer's roof. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yS82qMMmi3s 2.23 2023-05-18T19:37:14.486Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-higher-quality-solar-panels-perform-better-in-cyclonic-building-areas https://www.youtube.com/embed/prXqiXdf3Jw Do higher quality solar panels perform better in cyclonic building areas? In simulating what's happening to the panel when it's on the roof, what we're going to do is we're going to introduce compressed air through this line here and the compressor outside. It is pumping air into a bladder under here, pushing the glass up. We will determine when the thing has failed either with it cracking, or we will watch as the deflection increases with the pressure increase. So that metre over there will determine pressure, and this one will determine how much the panel has risen. We're going to turn the compressor on, and we're going to start feeding air into the bag, and we will monitor the pressure in the bag on that metre over there, and we will monitor how much deflection we've got in the centre of our panel over there. We've tested the panel. It came up with 6kPa, the pressures that would've been involved in cyclone Tracy. This panel would have withstood those pressures. So we could turn around and safely say that this panel would have probably stayed on the roof, had the roof stayed on the house. And as you saw from the tests, it went up to six and then the pressure stayed at six. while the deflection kept on going up, which suggested to us something drastic was happening within this structure itself. https://www.youtube.com/embed/prXqiXdf3Jw 1.59 2023-05-18T19:37:11.309Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/are-solar-panels-with-a-higher-wind-load-rating-more-durable-in-harsh-environments https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqC2N9driEw Are solar panels with a higher wind load rating more durable in harsh environments? Second to, not only certifying the installation of the system before it's installed, we also certify the panels. Now that's where we test panels, we put it on an air bed jig similar to what they have at James Cook University, and we take them up to destruction. And we from there we derive our capacity and strength, we test quite a number of panels that way and that's how we certify the panel, then we certify the installation. We're also licensed structural engineers. So basically having tested the panel with the 40mm frame, having come up with a 6kPa tested capacity, we can say here that the panels are capable of withstanding equivalent pressures to what Cyclone Tracy may have exhibited. So Cyclone Tracy's design wind pressures based on their recorded wind speeds, came to about five 5.8kPa and this is tested at 6kPa. The better the panel, the more sturdier, the better the build, obviously, the less issues you're going to have, because you know, you're investing quite a bit of money in such a system. Therefore, if I'm going to spend that sort of money well, I do want to get the maximum year or period I can out of it. And after testing and seeing how they can behave under a cyclone, under normal conditions, you can only assume they're going to be far more superior. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqC2N9driEw 1.34 2023-05-18T19:37:08.229Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-solar-power-monitoring-help-to-give-you-more-control-over-your-energy-consumption https://www.youtube.com/embed/x4qiyWAOqsA How does solar power monitoring help to give you more control over your energy consumption? So, I guess at first it started with the app. You see the great part is with the app is that yeah, you can view your output and your input and you can adjust your consumption during all parts of the day. And you can monitor it from you know, holiday if you're on holiday with a family, right through to being in the office or sitting in the house with the air con on. We also have the capability of monitoring each individual panel and obviously at all parts of the day so we do see which halves or which parts of the roof have the bigger outputs and at times you can readjust your installation if you have to. So what made us choose the system in particular was definitely the warranties, definitely the make of the panels, and also the support that you get. You're getting a better panel you match it with a superior inverter that is done by a great installer and it's all hand in hand. So we have a complete superior system on the roof and also the customer service is second to none. https://www.youtube.com/embed/x4qiyWAOqsA 1.13 2023-05-18T19:37:04.886Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-cheaper-over-the-long-term-to-pay-more-for-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/O_tugCMpTIU Why is it cheaper over the long-term to pay more for a higher quality solar power system? I definitely believe both as an engineer and as a consumer that I'd rather spend that little bit more money, get the quality, get the workmanship, get materials that are Australian compliant. If you buy cheap it will cost you double inevitably because you do have to go through the entire process all over again and you would be doing it with a better system after you've learnt the first time. It will be much cheaper if you do go straight ahead and buy a decent panel and you get your decent installer, it will be cheaper because end of the day you're getting a decent product, you're getting high yield, you are getting a better output into your grid, you're getting the backup and the customer service, and you are getting a far more superior install and product on your roof, and it's an investment end of the day, and it does add value to your home. Getting a cheaper install done and either leaky roofs, again leaky roofs are a big thing. Using a cheaper panel just don't live up to the expectations and our harsh conditions. Quite often, in having seen products after seven, eight years, the deterioration on the glass or the frame, and it could only be five to seven years old, but at the end of the day it will cost you double because you have to reinstall a whole new system and you go through the entire building process all over again. End of the day you're investing, you know, thousands of dollars, you do want it to last, and then you got the great warranty to back it up to change it over if you need to. https://www.youtube.com/embed/O_tugCMpTIU 1.39 2023-05-18T19:37:01.475Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-spending-extra-money-on-a-higher-quality-solar-power-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/NPC6nFBzyfw What are the benefits of spending extra money on a higher quality solar power installer? Hunting for a decent installer, spirals from also our construction company. I have my own building company and structural engineering company. Obviously, you want the right trades, the right people working on, you know, other people's houses, but mainly your own. You definitely want the right people. Definitely, it only makes sense to use the decent installers. So, not only do you get the great customer service and backup, he's there at a moment's notice, fairly priced. End of the day, you are investing quite a bit of money on your roof. And look, there are installers and there are installers, and you do have to be very, very wary of what you're putting on your roof. And you need to make sure that you're getting the right people up there. But then, you've got water leaks and all sorts of things that you want to avoid. So, having a good local installer to back up the warranties that you get with a good panel, to back up the installation, to be there if there's a problem. Number one, first and foremost, local company. End of the day, you're investing quite a bit of money to install something on your roof to specific engineered conditions that needs to be done right, a certain way. But, it's not just the installation. It's also the backup and the support that you're given after the install. My point is, is you don't just want to get any old installer, especially ones that don't have the backup, and aren't local. And look, end of the day, you can go spend $3,000 on an install, or spend a bit more money, and get that quality, and the safeguard that knowing your roof isn't going to leak and that your installation is done with all materials that meet Australian standards. And, you're given the backup and support that you require through the life of the system. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NPC6nFBzyfw 1.57 2023-05-18T19:36:57.615Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-quality-solar-panels-more-durable-for-high-wind-load-environments https://www.youtube.com/embed/VTrx6E3jdk0 Why are higher quality solar panels more durable for high wind load environments? My name is Nicholas Kastellorizios. We're here in Darwin Northern Territory, in a little suburb called Zuccoli. Well it's a great little community. Was also born and breed up here, and I have my own building company. And second to that, I'm also a licensed structural engineer, and I have a structural engineering company. Here in Darwin because of stringent building legislation and building codes, everything needs to be tested, certified, and or pre-engineered. And testing quite a number of these panels, we do see very big differences in performance. Now obviously not the cells, and not how they work electrically, but the structural performances, durability is a better word for it. The better the panel, the more sturdier, the better the build, obviously, the less issues you're going to have, because you're investing quite a bit of money. Now if I'm going to spend that sort of money, well, I do want to get the maximum year or period I can out of it, and after testing and seeing how they can behave under a cyclone, under normal conditions you can only assume they're going to be far more superior. And then when it came to the testing of it, obviously the frames, the structural integrity, because it's a composite panel, we felt better to have something like that on our roof, along with the warranties, along with the things that we see whilst we test materials. So, they are a far more superior product, than what we've seen in other areas. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VTrx6E3jdk0 1.42 2023-05-18T19:36:54.000Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-invest-in-a-local-high-quality-solar-power-installer-if-you-re-in-the-northern-territory https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FMNuChvlz0 Why should you invest in a local high quality solar power installer if you're in the Northern Territory? I'm Thor from DAS Electrical and we're actually at my place here in Blackmore, Northern territory. Just the rural lifestyle, two types of climates in Darwin here, especially the rural area. There's there's hot and then there's really hot. But also we obviously get the nice, beautiful wet season. So obviously once the rains come, everything greens up, it looks absolutely beautiful. We've just done a full 90 day period with the solar in place, our outgoings were about $500, and we've netted $314 on top. So that's a $314 cash back once we submit all our forms to the local power authority. We just thought about capitalising obviously on the environment, the sunlight, the sun beaming down on us every single day. There's not a cloud in the sky, the opportunity was just too great, the local NT government and the power authorities allow us to obviously have a one for one tariff. So it's an absolute, no brainer. So, this is what we've done, we've gone with solar, it's a great investment opportunity. Throughout my time in the territory running a business, there's been a lot of people come and go. And there's been a lot of influence from down south infiltrating into the local market. I've found that by sticking with the local installers, it's a great peace of mind. You're knowing who you're dealing with, there's a great reputation. Reputation is everything here in the Northern territory. I believe the warranty is everything, you get what you pay for. Outsourcing to non-local installers, there's a great risk that they could just close the door any time and walk away with your money, and poof goes the warranty up in smoke. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FMNuChvlz0 1.44 2023-05-18T19:36:49.970Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-do-higher-quality-solar-panels-help-thor-generate-more-money-from-his-ground-mounted-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/bkLl22b0glM How do higher quality solar panels help Thor generate more money from his ground mounted system? There are cheaper panels on the market. One thing that I've learned in my time as a trades person, especially is you do get what you pay for. There are a lot of cheap panels available on the market. We were prepared to pay more money up front for our product. High quality, warranty reasons, and the fact that we can deal with local warranty agents to have our product covered if the case of warranty does arise. Yeah, we just got the bill back the other day: $314 after a 90 day period. That's not bad, is it? The system is performing really well. So we've already had a return so far of over $300. Once our electricity expenses have already been taken into consideration, we've positively made over $300 of return. We are getting paid to generate electricity and it's brilliant. The system hasn't missed a beat. Since day one, since we installed it, we've turned it on. We've been yielding between 40 to 45 kilowatts. Mind you, we are in the cooler months of the year, so the sun is a little bit off its axis. However, coming to wet season, we are going to be yielding a lot more. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bkLl22b0glM 1.15 2023-05-18T19:36:46.524Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-benefits-of-ground-mounted-solar-power-systems-in-regional-areas https://www.youtube.com/embed/1jRg-tR3d6k What are the benefits of ground mounted solar power systems in regional areas? Ground mount system gives you the opportunity to maintain the systems. Keeping an eye on it, and wiping all the bird residue off it, along with dust and other debris. And if you just look at this, this was washed yesterday. You can see much dust is on it in one day. That is unbelievable. But that's just the environment that we're in, so it doesn't matter. Clean it today, wash 'em today, and they're just as dusty tomorrow. 110%, ground mount is the way of the future, rather than getting on the roof. The need to have to upgrade your roof sheets, then you have to remove your solar. But not only that, it's easy to clean. We don't need to get up on the roof and have to dust them off. It's a very dusty environment as it is, but being on the ground mount system as I said, we've got the luxury of just being on foot, cleaning with an extendible squeegee here. The maintaining of the system's a lot easier, as opposed to having to climb the roof and run the risk of falling down and breaking your neck. Ground mount system's a better opportunity. There is no penetrations through the roof sheets, there's no upkeep of the roof. There's no buildup underneath the solar panels. Whereas on a roof mount, you will get leaves and debris. Yeah, it's easy to maintain. There's no risk factor involved in having to climb a ladder. The chances of falling and the like. We're looking at a 9.3kW, and Thor has made the array, the frame itself. It's been hot-dipped in galv. Then we put the rail on top for the solar panels to go to that. So it's probably a little bit of an expensive way of doing it, but the finished product is absolutely superb. https://www.youtube.com/embed/1jRg-tR3d6k 1.50 2023-05-18T19:36:42.476Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/was-is-it-better-to-pay-more-for-higher-quality-solar-power-system-parts-and-components https://www.youtube.com/embed/lZ3KF5yeMDY Was is it better to pay more for higher quality solar power system parts and components? Our systems we try and encompass every single product that is of high quality. All of our installations include components that we've actually taken time to vet. Give you a simple example, the usage of connectors and cable. All of our connectors that we use, we use only genuine ones. It is okay to pay a little more because the slight expense that you incur in putting a genuine component on, far outweighs the liability and risk of it failing. We made a conscious decision that if we were to sell things we would only sell things that had quality. We always sold and retailed the larger brands. All of our parts and components are genuine, we use that because that is the best way to get a quality result that will last the test of time. Yes it does cost us a little more but that's alright because part of our promise is that we will deliver a high quality system. And to deliver a high quality system we do have to charge a little more. In climates like this where we experience extremes every single day, it is critical for a panel that is able to actually deliver based on both its coefficient of efficiency in terms of temperature, and in terms of its ability to actually operate in adverse conditions in the colder climate. However, in the hotter climate when it gets really hot actually allows for a much higher output. If you pick the right size system, the right quality system, which achieves all of your expectations and contributes positively towards reducing your dependence on the grid. I think it is a win for everybody. I think solar is a win-win for both the environment and your pocket as long as you've made the right choice, it's a win in the long run. https://www.youtube.com/embed/lZ3KF5yeMDY 1.53 2023-05-18T19:36:39.253Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-pick-a-local-high-quality-solar-power-installer-for-your-home-or-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/HWKu8d2l4c8 Why should you pick a local high quality solar power installer for your home or business? The criticality of picking the right installer for your solar system has never been more clear than now. We've had a number of large organisations that have decided to shut shop. We have a number of customers who have systems with them. One of the challenges with working with companies that let's say only sub-contract workout is who do you actually go back to for warranties? When the retailer is gone, we have a problem. In our case, we're both the retailer and the installer. We own all of our work. To get the best quality install, you need people to be part and parcel of the organisation. You can never expect the best when you have someone who's just subcontracting out to you, because at the end of the day, they have their own business to run. When a person has a say in the business and is part of the business, I think they always have a commitment to quality, and that is something that they want to showcase to every single customer that they do the right thing. And I know for a fact that in every one of our installations, each one of our team that actually goes out to on installation, we take pride in the work that we do, and we do everything that we can to make sure we leave the place better than what we got it as, and try and make sure we leave the customer as happy as possible. And I believe the formula for that is to make sure that we go a high quality product and high quality workmanship. What we have been trying to achieve for a really long time is to be able to provide the customers with access to quality products at realistic prices. We have a lot of people that offer products that are not so great at unrealistic prices, we are trying to break that. What we have is a quality focused a installer that does a reasonable number of installs. And our aim primarily is to make sure that we do a fantastic job and we're in it for the long run. We want to be here and we want to be successful at what we do. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HWKu8d2l4c8 2.05 2023-05-18T19:36:35.985Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-get-better-financial-returns-for-businesses https://www.youtube.com/embed/mClgPIpuEvg Why do higher quality solar power systems get better financial returns for businesses? The unique challenge for commercial clients is not so much about feed-in tariffs. It is more about offsetting their existing consumption. And with that, you need a panel that's able to deliver every single day with very little downtime. And second, most commercial clients are not in it for the short haul, they're in it for the long haul. Which means even if they have to pay more for a panel or more for the system, they will gladly do that provided they know that the levelised cost of electricity for them is below other competitors. With commercial properties that are looking for solar businesses in particular, what they are looking for is a certainty in what their power costs are going to be over a period of X number of years. They're also looking at what is their return on investment on a quality product, as opposed to a cheaper product. The return on investment, probably a couple of years more or even three or four years more than a cheaper product. However, when you look at the lifespan of the product and what you're hoping to achieve at the end of that, the answer is pretty evident, once you do the math on it. At the end of the day for businesses, what they're looking for is profitability in the long run. And if this contributes towards long-term profitability and gain, it's a no-brainer for them. One of the things that we have been able to do is when we look at the cost of power over the lifespan of the product, what we assume as the lifespan of the product is the time that the product is actually warranted for manufacturing defects or failures, not a performance warranty, but an actual warranty on that. We use that as the timeframe for that. And what we find is we offer one of the lowest costs of electricity and usually with commercial clients, once they've decided that that is important for them, they don't flinch. At this stage, it is actually very easy to say that every customer that we've ever come across have been happy customers. They've been happy customers because they've chosen the right product, we've put a good product on, we've done a good job of putting it on, and we've maintained that relationship with customers. We've had a lot of repeat ones and it is key to being successful in environment like this. https://www.youtube.com/embed/mClgPIpuEvg 2.15 2023-05-18T19:36:32.191Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-federation-university-decide-to-invest-in-a-commercial-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/bhtVXlruzhI Why did Federation University decide to invest in a commercial solar power system? Federation University was looking to put solar on their roof. These are buildings that have been around for many, many decades. What they were planning on doing was modernising their entire building and they said that part of that thing is to make sure we try and offset power consumption and greenhouse emissions. Federation University is a very large user of power. They have an incredible size mains coming in and historically they have really large bills. That was a very long project because what they did was they went to a company of environmental consultants to actually put together a plan of how to tackle their emissions. Which then resulted in us being brought in to the picture to try and see what we could offer that actually met that brief. With the really complex roof structure that they have with sawtooth roofs with a very low pitch roof we realised all of the panels needed to be optimised so, we decided to go with optimisers and every single panel. That allows us to monitor the performance of every single panel and maximise efficiency with the panels even if there is an issue with shading over dirt or anything else. The university has been well aware of the fact that we operate in the quality spectrum of solar, and when they decided to put the tender out we were one of three businesses that bid for that tender. And with the first discussion that we had with both the organisation that was actually managing it on behalf of Federation University and with the Federation University representative, it was pretty evident that what we were offering was a high quality product. At the end of the day all of our parts and components are genuine. We use that because that is the best way to get a quality result that will last the test of time. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bhtVXlruzhI 2.01 2023-05-18T19:36:29.113Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-were-the-environmental-benefits-of-solar-power-for-ryan-in-ballarat https://www.youtube.com/embed/I9t-37YvWyM How important were the environmental benefits of solar power for Ryan in Ballarat? As we got talking with Ryan, what we realised, what we understood was Ryan was looking for not just shaving his power bills, he was looking at doing his bit for the environment as well. We started with a site visit, we went out to his place in January, post the holidays. We had a look at it, it was a fantastic property. That property was, it's one of those architecturally designed properties. It is very nice, but it is a bit of a challenge to work with. Ryan has, the environment at the back of the lot of things. If you actually look at his property you will realise that a lot of it is sustainable. He has spent a lot of time evaluating the panels that we've offered him, discussing not just performance but discussing what environmental strategies were in place with the manufacturers. I think what he is looking at is the life cycle of the panel from birth to the time the panel is decommissioned. And he is happy with that, which he believes is a positive influence on the environment as opposed to there being a deficit. Having looked at all of his proposals that he had and what he chose to go with, I think there were two overriding factors: A, It was the value proposition and B, I think people do recognise when a company actively puts the environment ahead of finances, and I think people do appreciate that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/I9t-37YvWyM 1.38 2023-05-18T19:36:25.454Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-help-frank-transition-to-living-off-the-grid https://www.youtube.com/embed/PX-CWtj6Rnw How did a high quality solar power system help Frank transition to living off the grid? Frank is a customer that has chosen to go off the grid. He had a bush block for a number of years but he's chosen to build. His build took them an extended period of time, working through all of the necessary paperwork to get out there and build. He approached us and he said, Look, this is our first foray into living off the grid, what can you do for us that will make sure that we have as seamless a transition, between moving from Ballarat out to where he stays now. So we started off by looking at what he potentially wanted to have in the house, all of that stuff, and then we looked at what possible solutions we could offer in terms of how he could successfully live off the grid, without having to worry about it. We decided to go with an oversized array, we also decided to oversize his inverter, which offers him more capacity than what he had on the grid. Essentially, what we wanted to do is try and make that transition as pain free as possible. He has 13 kilowatts, he also has about 20 odd kilowatts worth of storage, and a generator to go with it. And from what we can tell we've had some initial teething troubles with him trying to get adjusted with living off the grid, how things work, making sure the generator is topped up with diesel. But once we've gotten past that, what he has found is that he hasn't had a lack of power or shortage thereof, and has therefore been extremely happy with what we've been able to offer him. We were able to offer that to him at a very competitive price, in comparison with others. My understanding is that he did go out and do his homework and get about three or four different people to actually quote him. We were more expensive than some of the other companies but he decided to go with us because he believed that A, we were genuine about what we were offering him, and B, the quality of product that we were offering him was at a fantastic price point. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PX-CWtj6Rnw 2.00 2023-05-18T19:36:21.526Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-a-replacement-off-grid-solar-power-system-help-improve-alastair-s-energy-production https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Li7BdbCRsM How did a replacement off-grid solar power system help improve Alastair's energy production? He had a very simple brief, he wanted to replace an ageing Lead pack, he also wanted to try and increase his solar production because his panels were at about 10 years old, they don't produce as much, so he was looking at a solution for that. Alastair's pretty switched on from a math perspective and it was a no-brainer for him. We decided to do it in multiple phases, so we put a set of panels on to keep them going in the interim, while we worked out a larger solution to replace his existing panels. That has now moved forward and what we have done is we do have a plan to replace all of those panels. We also got Alastair to put on an automatic start generator, he's limited to filling the generator with the fuel and getting it serviced, but other than that everything runs like clockwork. We do get the odd phone call from him to have a chat or to ask us a question about how he could potentially do something different or if he wants to run something differently. But overall I'd say we've gotten a pretty good solution, that's worked for him and he's happy with that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Li7BdbCRsM 1.11 2023-05-18T19:36:17.910Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-consider-choosing-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-if-you-re-going-off-grid https://www.youtube.com/embed/DRwvaTFgJm8 Why should you consider choosing a higher quality solar panel if you're going off-grid? As far as off-grid customers go, we have two types of customers. The customers that who have traditionally already lived off-grid for a really long time, and are looking to upgrade and change and modernise their system. And then we have people who want to get out of the city. Could be for a number of reasons, could be economic reasons, could be the fact that they're now in the bush, they've got animals there, they kind of live a quieter life. You hear the animals, you hear birds, you don't hear a lot of trucks. And that's one of the other reasons that people actually go off-grid. We have done off-grid customers. I can definitely say that none of them have actually picked a lower end panel. I believe there are good reasons for all of our customers picking this; we're able to communicate the value that the brand brings. We're also able to communicate the performance that they can anticipate over the lifespan of the product or for how long they intend to have it on their properties. And we've also been able to quantify it using numbers to show that it's not just what we express as an opinion, but it is backed by numbers. And that is how we deal with our customers. It is about getting the job done right the first time. If you pick the right size system, the right quality system, which achieves all of your expectations and contributes positively towards reducing your dependence on the grid, I think it is a win for everybody. It's a win in the long run as long as you've picked a high quality product. https://www.youtube.com/embed/DRwvaTFgJm8 1.45 2023-05-18T19:36:13.985Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-reasons-homeowners-decide-to-invest-more-in-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/5F-Co6Y-ino What are the reasons homeowners decide to invest more in a higher quality solar power system? I reckon most homeowners want to put a system on and then not have to worry about it. And that really is you know, another component that may not be very well discussed, especially around the aspects of who pays for the repairs if there's anything. People want to put it on there, forget about it and not have to worry about repairs. They want to invest in a product that is not likely to fail. And in the event that there is an issue, they also want to have that certainty and comfort that there is a company that will be able to service them. For all warranty claims, we are the first point of contact. However, they are definitely reassured by the fact that when you have a well established brand in the background, there is a reasonable amount of security in knowing that there's going to be someone who'll be able to service your system. So the reason people invest in a quality system is really about their total ownership experience. It's to ensure they've got the lifespan, the output that they need, and the security and comfort of knowing that they're not up for any sudden bills. Our primary focus is the ability to deliver a solution. It is not about delivering one part of the solution, but to deliver an end-to-end solution. There are customers we spend weeks working with to ensure that they get the solution that they need for their property, and what works for them. Really is about delivering a quality product at prices that are reasonable. One of our mottos has always been to be honest with people, and I think people appreciate that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5F-Co6Y-ino 1.41 2023-05-18T19:36:10.422Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-quality-solar-power-systems-better-investments-over-the-long-term https://www.youtube.com/embed/PA5fLbeSJm4 Why are higher quality solar power systems better investments over the long-term? In the last a year or two, what we have found is we have come across a number of systems that we are now servicing, repairing, or replacing. It is painful, but the fact is some of these systems are three years old. Some have been five or six years old. We've seen panels that are six years old that have either shorted out, delaminated or have failed completely and required replacement. If I was a customer, I wouldn't want to be in a situation such as that, which is what we try and tell customers. We build relationships, and part of the relationship is about being honest with customers. And we don't want to sell something to a customer that we wouldn't want to put on our place ourselves. What we are looking for is the customer that's actually after quality, not after a price-based solution. When we start our conversation with customers about what is the right system for them, we are guided by A, what their current usage is, we're guided by the second thing, which is what their proposed consumptions are going to be, and what is it that they expect to get out of this system. So when we started looking at this, we talk about the performance over X number of years, we talk about how that's going to impact their power bills, we talk about how that's going to impact the environment. If you pick the right size system, the right quality system, which achieves all of your expectations and contributes positively towards reducing your dependence on the grid, I think it is a win for everybody. It's a win in the long run, as long as you've picked a high quality product. There's a component that doesn't get actively spoken about. It's great to try and do the environmentally right thing by putting solar on and reducing your greenhouse gas emissions and all of that, but you need to look beyond that. And a lot of our customers do start looking beyond that when we start talking about the fact that you know, the choices that you make today are reflective of what will happen in a few years time, in terms of whether you add to landfill. All of the greenhouse gases that you save now, we're kind of lost when you have to replace them in a few years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PA5fLbeSJm4 2.11 2023-05-18T19:36:06.893Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-ryan-choose-to-invest-in-a-higher-quality-solar-panel-for-his-home-in-ballarat https://www.youtube.com/embed/jbXAHzX989o Why did Ryan choose to invest in a higher quality solar panel for his home in Ballarat? What Ryan is looking at there, he's looking to offset his electricity usage. He is using the solar to do that. With the way the system's set up, he's going to be able to, down the track, add battery storage to it, so he can offset in the evening. A new build energy-efficient home, looking to get the best system that they could on that roof, multiple aspects and all facing on the front roof, flattish section at the back, he's looking for value, value for money, and performance. So he's looking for this, a good system performance, and he's looking for something that will enhance the value of his property in the longer term. He's going to do a bit of load shifting, so he's going to put a battery system in there at some stage. We also want to be able to know that what we've put on the roof, is the quality product. You're not going to have to go back and service it or replace it. You need certainty. You need to know that what you're putting on the roof will last, and will perform to the specifications and will perform to your needs. So having something on the roof that is a quality product, it's like almost set and forget, but you want to have the assurance that it's going to be there. It's going to do the job that you need it to do. So it's going to last. So you got to have something that's going to perform and not have any issues down the track. I live in and around Ballarat. I work in and around Ballarat. I want to be able to, if somebody stops you in the street thank me for the product that they've put on the roof and not bag it, because something's happened with it, that's due to the fact that panel are poor, the installations poor. I don't want to have that. I want to be able to walk through town and know that if somebody sees me, then I've done a quality job for them. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jbXAHzX989o 2.02 2023-05-18T19:36:03.002Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-it-cheaper-to-install-an-off-grid-solar-power-system-for-frank-s-home-near-ballarat https://www.youtube.com/embed/xOJlHEPtCDk Why was it cheaper to install an off-grid solar power system for Frank's home near Ballarat? Frank's gone with solar because his house is in the middle of a bush block. Because it is in the middle of a bush block it is going to cost them, I don't know, unquoted thousands to get power to that. The cost of a solar system, I think that was about $40,000 thereabouts. Cheaper than putting grid power in. The size of the system again, it's sized to be able to run a modern house, obviously the solar we've got East and West, so we get the maximum capacity into the system that we're using. The customer has gotten energy efficient appliances, they've still got an electric oven. I think they've still got split systems and whatever they're going to be running of it. You have to take each customer individually, it's not a general hard and fast rule. An off-grid system say, the first thing people are going to look at, it's how much is the system going to cost compared to how much it's going to cost to put power in. So the essence with Frank is that we've got to get a system on, that is going to run a modern house. We needed to give him something for the longevity of this system is going to give him the power of a reasonable timeframe. The system's oversized, so it's always going to be running at the maximum capacity, of the 25 year manufacturer warranty of it. The performance at the end of that 25 years is going to be far superior to any of the other products that are out there on the market. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xOJlHEPtCDk 1.27 2023-05-18T19:35:57.603Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-higher-quality-equipment-help-improve-the-performance-of-an-off-grid-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/RYet7MaP8Ic How did higher quality equipment help improve the performance of an off-grid solar power system? So Alastair didn't have enough capacity with his existing system, and what we've done is we've added that capacity with panels that we've installed. Alastair was also looking to, well he's looking to upgrade the existing system that's on his roof and that will give him additional capacity. So basically it's the capacity to charge the batteries, charge the batteries, run the system, and then be able to run the house. The batteries that were there were the lead acids and we've replaced it with lithium, so that Alastair now has a better performing battery, a battery that charges quickly because they have a better performance. And again, increasing the capacity for the house. So we added additional panels on the tilt frame, again facing north to increase the capacity of their system. It's an off-grid system so they obviously want to run a few more things. It's just a matter of improving the quality of the system that they had there. It was, I think 10 or 11 years old when we got to it so it's just a few upgrades and then, again, putting panels on the roof that are going to last the distance. I think it's basically pushing it to the point where it's, okay well this will last you 25 years. But it's also the performance, the temperature performance or the coefficients, that means he's going to get a better performance out of the panels for the time that they're on his roof. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RYet7MaP8Ic 1.28 2023-05-18T19:35:53.787Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-to-get-a-solar-power-installer-to-visit-your-home-before-quoting https://www.youtube.com/embed/8tDAndg8FtU Is it important to get a solar power installer to visit your home before quoting? System design is part of the customer needs. You can't, you can't build something and then just throw it on a roof. You have to go and look at what you're doing. You have to visit the site, because there's so many things that get missed on mapping software that you just won't see. So, a bit of stink pipe, be it screw lines. The other thing recently, is steel frame houses where you got wider trusses and wider beams for fixing materials to. So it's really important to get out there, take a look at what the customer's got, and make sure that you're doing the right thing by them with the products that you've got. So I want to have confidence in what we're putting on the roof, that it is going to be there for a long time. Sometimes I walk away and say no if I don't think its going to be feasible. I don't know if customers want to hear that all the time, but you can't do all jobs, basically. You've got to be on it, you can't miss a trick, you have to be focused on what you are looking at and what you're doing. Making sure the right thing is done by you, and by the other people that you are employing. If you set a good example, lead from the front, get the right thing done. I think all installs, basically, I think you're doing the right thing by the customer. Having something that is, when we put it on the roof, we've got the confidence that it will stay on the roof for a long period of time. Having the confidence in the product that we're working with. So, 25 year genuine manufacturers, As opposed to spruiked 25yr warranties which are horrible, when they say it's just a performance warranty. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8tDAndg8FtU 1.33 2023-05-18T19:35:50.405Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/does-choosing-a-reputable-local-installer-help-to-safeguard-your-solar-power-investment https://www.youtube.com/embed/3vkpCsiU28w Does choosing a reputable local installer help to safeguard your solar power investment? I've been looking forward to getting the installation underway for a long, long time. So it's good to have the guys up on the roof now installing that, and to know that I'm going to be doing my bit for the environment is going to be great. And to see the bills coming in that are going to be a lot lower in future's great too. So I got a quote from three different places. The other two didn't really show much interest in what they were going to offer me, and they just sort of wanted to give me a price, and that was it. So using the local installer was really, really important for me because I know that is going to stay in the community, but also knowing that if there's any problems down the track, I won't have to go anywhere else, but to the people that installed it first time around. And really valuable as well, because I know if there's any problems, they're going to actually deal with the warranty and deal with the service. He was able to talk me through the whole process, explain the different options, and come up with different solutions. Being able to be really flexible and respond to my concerns, which I found was really, really important. They were able to find a solution for me that absolutely suited what I needed, but also is looking down the track as well in terms of what else I can do in future. So a solar panel battery, and all of the service that I would need for that as well, which was something that secured my business. And we went back and forth a few times as well, which was pretty great, to make sure that I actually found the best solution. Yeah, a warranty was really important to make sure that if anything was to go wrong, that it'll be fixed and no further inconvenience for me. It makes me feel good because I know that if anything were to happen, that I'm going to get looked after. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3vkpCsiU28w 1.51 2023-05-18T19:35:46.823Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-ryan-decide-to-invest-in-a-high-quality-solar-panel-for-his-home-in-regional-victoria https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLjExAfXJX8 Why did Ryan decide to invest in a high quality solar panel for his home in regional Victoria? Yeah, so I've been thinking about solar for a little while now, obviously, electricity bills are going up everyone. So that was definitely a reason and for getting it. But I really wanted to do my bit for the environment as well. So that was something that I've been concerned about and passionate about as well. I've already got a solar hot water system, but now I've got a solar electricity one as well. Well, I just sort of think that there's a lot of insecurity around the energy system in Australia at the moment, and obviously, there's a pretty simple solution by everyone getting something on their house, so I thought I can do my bit and get that installed in my home. Well, I live alone, and it's a fairly large house, so heating and cooling and those sorts of things in the house, it does get pretty expensive throughout the year. So hopefully, this will be able to take some pressure of that. So the Ballarat climate is really variable in summer it gets really really hot, and in winter, Ballarat gets very, very cold. It's pretty famous for that. So yeah, extremes on both ends of the year. There's a lot of energy being used through both summer and winter. So during summer, it's pretty hot. So there's lots of fans and cooling going on in the house, and then during winter, obviously heating, it gets very, very cold here. So having the extremes in temperature both ways means that, that there's quite a lot of energy being used, and then obviously everything else goes along with owning a house. So I've chosen a high quality, high value solar panel, to put on the roof because I want to future proof my home. I want to make sure that whatever I put on the house is going to last a long, long time. The panels that are going on today, I have a 25 year warranty, and that was something that was pretty appealing for me. I know that a lot of solar panels are starting to come off other roofs after only a couple of years of service, but with the quality of the brand and the reliability of it made me feel really secure about going with them. I think for anyone it's a no brainer, it's to install solar panels. I mean, it's good for the environment, is good for our wallets. I don't understand why people wouldn't do it. https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLjExAfXJX8 2.13 2023-05-18T19:35:42.831Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-alastair-replace-his-existing-off-grid-solar-power-system-with-higher-quality-products https://www.youtube.com/embed/jAULKDMzDU4 Why did Alastair replace his existing off-grid solar power system with higher quality products? We installed panels to begin with, and we were fairly dissatisfied with the life and efficiency of those panels. So, we were looking for some more efficient panels with increased longevity. We also had lead acid batteries, if anyone remembers those. We were having problems with the batteries and had a quote for replacing the batteries with lithium-ion and adding to the number of panels. One of the issues that I had previously, the system was not harnessing much power at all. We bought our microwave with us from previous house and we found that if we did that, use the microwave, it would start heating the batteries very, very quickly and we have to go to a manual recharge using an external generator. We did a Google on local suppliers, he seemed very competent, very enthusiastic, and above all very honest. We chose the panels he explained the greater efficiency and longevity of life and it's been beautiful ever since. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jAULKDMzDU4 1.29 2023-05-18T19:35:39.196Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-motivated-alastair-to-invest-in-an-off-grid-solar-power-system-for-his-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/4A8JPmKh5x0 What motivated Alastair to invest in an off-grid solar power system for his home? My name is Alastair Wood. We're living in Dereel Victoria, just about 30 minutes, Southwest of Ballarat. We had a quote for running electricity off the grid, it was a very high price, because they would've had to have put in another transformer and it meant digging up a number of eucalypts. Well, first of all, it was the impact of removing a number of native eucalypts down the road. And we wanted to live off the grid as quietly as possible. The installation of the additional panels, the lithium-ion batteries has made a hell of a difference to our lives, really has. It's definitely a win for the environment. It's a win for the hip pocket. The cabling was very, very neat. The installation was very professionally done and it's made a hell of a difference. And they've provided us with quite usable power at all times. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4A8JPmKh5x0 1.17 2023-05-18T19:35:35.419Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-you-need-to-install-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-if-you-re-in-darwin https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yl9Rj8XO7MI Why do you need to install a high quality solar power system if you're in Darwin? Up here in Darwin we experience temperatures of 38 degrees, we experience humidity, we experience rain, we experience cool, dry season mornings. Having installed many, many systems over the years, we've come to realise that only quality panels really withstand the temperatures and climate that Darwin throws at it. Darwin's a little bit more difficult when it comes to installing solar. We have cyclonic engineering that we've got to go through, so we have to install our feet around 350 to 450mm spacings. Basically every roof we do gets engineered and signed off, we have to take out a building permit and then offer the client an occupancy permit afterwards. So quality is important up here in Darwin because the temperatures, vary so different from down south, we can have days of 38 degrees, we can have humidity, we can have rain and they're still operating as they did on day one which is fantastic for the client. I think at the end of the day, it just comes down to installing quality. Quality is what counts and that quality is going to be around for a long time. So I use quality. The return on investment for residential property here in Darwin as you're sitting around three to four years, so look at the federal government, obviously you still got the STC rebate available which is great for customers. Solar in Darwin has probably increased substantially over the last three years, so I think the federal government rebate for solar has done fantastic things in Darwin and everyone's saving money which is great. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yl9Rj8XO7MI 1.43 2023-05-18T19:35:29.236Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-high-quality-solar-power-helping-businesses-decrease-their-operating-costs https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzo2yKHZxp4 How is high quality solar power helping businesses decrease their operating costs? When we talk about commercial, it's a different kettle of fish, we start talking about zero export, and it's basically really more concentrated around the return on investment. It's inevitable that power is going to continually go up, so installing solar on a commercial property, basically gives the business owner the confidence, to own their own power and know what their power is doing, feel like they're in control of how much power they use. They're looking for longevity, they're looking for efficiency, they're looking for the return on their investment. Quality is what we install, and this is how we give the business owners what they want. I think at the end of the day, if we can eliminate a commercial properties power bill, that gives them the ability, especially in tough times, to reinvest that money in their day to day procedures. Whether it be more staff, or other machines that can, you know, help their business, that's that's what we're about. Look commercial obviously, we go to a zero export, we can only kind of generate what the particular building is demanding. So we try to get in there with a Power Analyser meter, or get some data off the metering, so that we can successfully design a system, that matches the power generation needed, by that particular building. When you're choosing quality, you know you're going to have a system that's going to last a long time. Especially when you're talking, a return on investment, You know, around the three to four year period, you really need to put your money where your mouth is. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzo2yKHZxp4 1.39 2023-05-18T19:35:25.681Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-homeowners-wanting-to-achieve-from-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8ZK4m1jJbM What are homeowners wanting to achieve from a high quality solar power system? Look, I think homeowners to put it simply, they just want to eliminate their power bills. They want to get it as low as they can and spend that money elsewhere, going on a holiday or investing into their own children or their own personal career. So I think when they start talking solar, they can see the return but what they're looking for as well, they're looking for quality and they're looking for someone who's going to hold their hand for the next 25 years, and really be there for them if something goes wrong. So that the investment that is sitting on their roof to its full potential at all times. I think that's what they're ultimately looking for. They don't want headaches and I think that's what's really great about the technology we have today. It'll give you the ability to have a look at consumption vs production and see where your household actually sits and what you're actually using rather than what you thought you were using, what you're actually creating rather than what you thought you were creating is really really important for the end-user. We'll stay doing what we do best, which is installing good quality solar systems with quality products, with quality experienced solar installers and electricians. We will never ever cut quality out of what we do to give you a better price. https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8ZK4m1jJbM 1.22 2023-05-18T19:35:21.734Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-is-it-important-to-use-high-quality-products-for-agricultural-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/8LS7HH0p6iI Why is it important to use high quality products for agricultural solar power systems? So obviously again, when we're talking about Darwin we really look at quality because Darwin's harsh environment can go from 38, 40 degrees, the humidity and then it can go to the dry season where we get very cool mornings. So the temperature is consistently changing in Darwin, I mean, it's quite harsh. Today, we're at Adelaide River, we've got a solar bore pump we've installed recently to go around 34 meters deep to supply water to the paddock area. Yeah, so Darwin's temperature, obviously, or Darwin's environment, I guess is quite harsh. It changes from humidity from the dry season to the wet season. So basically, when we design a system, our number one priority is to design it around quality. So top of the range quality, and we've paired it today with a Grundfos pump. So both two really quality components, which basically give Doug peace of mind that he's going to have this for a long time without having any issues. Look, massive savings and it's not just about the savings is about basically the care for his cattle. He knows that his cattle are getting water every day. He doesn't have to worry about days and days without getting water and also it brings a bit of greenery to the place as well, which is great for Doug. That means extra cheap water for me. That no pay's going to it, that's all solar. And while the sun is shining, we got free water. Well, my bills probably dropped by, I'd say up to 2/3, like power bill, so, yeah, I'm happy with that. Agriculture plays a big part of what we do. We really like the opportunity that's coming up in agriculture, helping the farmers, they're doing it tough at the moment. But if we are able to help by solar borehole pumps or solar air conditioners or just solar power, that's what we'd like to do as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/8LS7HH0p6iI 2.06 2023-05-18T19:35:16.975Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-constraints-for-the-solar-installation-at-casuarina-senior-college https://www.youtube.com/embed/jRMiwHLyc_0 What were the constraints for the solar installation at Casuarina Senior College? So Casuarina Senior College was a very similar project, we were able to put around 98 kilowatts worth of PV on that roof. We used a 345kW on that job with the optimisers as well. Yeah, so the NT government specify that they really wanted an optimised system. So like all designs, we really have to look at the roof, the orientation, the pitch of the roof, the shading issues that we might come up against. So basically, our design, you know, is based around the best roof availability we have, the best pitch we have, the best orientation that we can put it on. And pairing that with an optimiser really gives the reliability and efficiency of the system. Look, I think the NT government are really looking for longevity in their systems quality and efficiency. So when they said they wanted a 25 year performance and a 25 year manufacturing warranty, they obviously want the system to last and they want the performance to be there over time as well. So there was a little bit more to this job, obviously, we were working at schools. So we had to basically abide by the school's regulations, Ochre Cards, working with children's cards, working on the weekends working in between school hours. For this particular job, we had a particular time constraints so we had to install this system. Obviously being on a school, we weren't able to do it through the day due to making loud noises. Especially being over the library. We had to do a lot of the work on the weekend. On this particular project, we got our entire team involved, from electricians to solar installers. We had about 25 guys here on Saturday and Sunday, and we were able to successfully do all the railing and lay the panels. A couple of days after that we then continued to commission the system downstairs, where we didn't have to make too much more noise. So in regards to how the job went, yeah, well, it wasn't the easiest, but we got around it and made it happen. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jRMiwHLyc_0 2.03 2023-05-18T19:35:11.495Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-individual-panel-monitoring-help-optimise-the-performance-of-a-commercial-solar-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-NZY59-w1E How does individual panel monitoring help optimise the performance of a commercial solar system? Being able to optimise and have a look at those panels whenever we want, and really have full control over the system helps us in the long run with maintenance, performance, and being able to give the end user peace of mind really that their system is working at its full potential every day, every day the sun's up. Having the optimisation built behind each panel gives us the assurance that when it comes to reactive maintenance, and looking after the system, we always know each panel and what it's doing. And if there's an issue, we can get that rectified and fixed as soon as possible. Basically, that just keeps the customer on track with their return on their investment, and the system operating to its full potential at all time. This means that we can have the ability to track each panel and what it's doing at all times. So when it comes to commercial and residential, we believe it's important because based on commercial, people are looking at their return on their investment to be able to monitor the system and see exactly what it's doing and individualising to each panel helps us in regards to reactive maintenance, keeping the system where it should be, and you know getting the correct performance out of the entire system. For reactive maintenance purposes, if there's a panel not operating the way it should be or even an optimiser idea, it notifies us straightaway. So we can send a electrician onto site, they can have that rectified within 10, 15 minutes, rather than a string inverter where we may have to rip up, you know, strings and strings, or rows and rows of panels to try and find an issue really pinpoints where the issue is and allows us to fix it as soon as possible to keep that system basically operating at its full potential. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-NZY59-w1E 1.56 2023-05-18T19:35:08.395Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-high-efficiency-400w-solar-panels-help-optimise-the-roof-space-at-palmerston-college https://www.youtube.com/embed/xuc_18LoSUo How did high efficiency 400W solar panels help optimise the roof space at Palmerston College? So Palmerston College, we really had to work with, kind of, two roof faces there, as well as a walkway. We had a limited amount of room, so we had to go with the four hundreds obviously, so we could get a bigger size on that roof, utilising the size. It was about decreasing their power bill. So right now after we finished, we're probably sitting around the 27% of their entire load we're offsetting, which is great. And on the weekends, obviously a little bit more due to the school being closed. We utilise the four hundreds on this job because we had a minimum roof requirement that we could work with. So, being able to put 225 panels on this roof, meant we could achieve the highest system for the school. We've found that the four hundreds have proven to be a much more efficient panel than other panels that we've installed, which is why we opted to put it on Northern Territory government schools. At the moment, this school generates around 480 kilowatt hours per day, offsetting their usage. So with this job here, we've used the 400 watts, because we had minimum roof space to work with. Using the 400, this is a much larger panel, we're able to, basically install and complete 90 kilowatt solar system to get the most efficient system we could for this school. Matched with 225 optimisers, it really gives great efficiency, reliability and overall quality to the entire installation. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xuc_18LoSUo 1.41 2023-05-18T19:35:04.862Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-government-requirements-for-the-solar-power-system-at-palmerston-college https://www.youtube.com/embed/O0eOg_k-JLI What were the government requirements for the solar power system at Palmerston College? So Palmerston College, was a 90 kilowatt solar system that we installed recently. So the process of that obviously goes to tender. So we obviously had to tender against a couple of other solar companies, and lucky enough that we were awarded that tender. So today we're here at Palmerston College. I'm up in Darwin, Northern territory. The Darwin NT Government, has recently put together a NT Schools Program where we put solar on schools. Today we're looking at a 90 kilowatt solar system. When it came to reading the tender, it was clear and evident that the government really wanted something that had a great warranty, great quality, and was going to be there for the long haul. They actually stated they wanted a 25 year performance and product warranty. So the requirements of that tender, they're really looking for quality, longevity and reliability. So this project took us around seven days to install from start to finish. This included basically putting the rail, the walkway you see on here for ease of maintenance to completion and commissioning. So the Government in the Northern Territory here really look for quality. They look for a return on their investment with 25 years warranty in performance and product. https://www.youtube.com/embed/O0eOg_k-JLI 1.33 2023-05-18T19:35:01.332Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-typically-the-best-pitch-and-orientation-for-a-solar-panel-installation https://www.youtube.com/embed/ynmj2enjouY What is typically the best pitch and orientation for a solar panel installation? So today we're relatively lucky. The house has basically got a near-perfect pitch facing North, which is really great for installing solar panels, obviously. At around 15 degrees up in Darwin, We like to be around that 12, but yeah, great positioning. So I'm happy with the outcome. A system like this that we're installing today would generate anywhere to around 35 to 44 kilowatt hours a day. So hopefully we can get close to eliminating her power bill. The roof on this particular job is three pitches or offset roofs, both facing kind of Northeast. So we're about 45 Northeast. That's the best pitch we can get is around that 12 degrees facing North. So we can't obviously change the way the roof is, but the way it's facing as we speak is pretty good. We've obviously inspected where the shading occurs on the roof. So where we've actually pinpointed to put the solar is basically where there's no shading at all. And the best outcome will happen due to the sun being able to hit those panels all day long, without any shading issues. The return on investment for a property like this is around three years, consumption is a hard one to speak about because obviously every house is different and every homeowner uses different amount of power. But on average, you can expect anywhere from say 23 to 35-kilowatt hours a day. So this job is about offering the customer a renewable solution, which is obviously solar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ynmj2enjouY 1.30 2023-05-18T19:34:57.806Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/do-solar-panels-with-a-lower-temperature-coefficient-perform-better-in-hot-weather https://www.youtube.com/embed/vKkoQ4VjERM Do solar panels with a lower temperature coefficient perform better in hot weather? My name's Matt, and we're in Parap in Darwin Northern territory. With the heat up here obviously, we get high temperatures of around, you know, right up to 38 degrees. So the temperature coefficient means basically that in really hot areas, our panels have the ability to basically still perform at a very high efficient rate, which gives the end user a better outcome. The temperature coefficient you see on these particular panels really ticks the boxes for us, because obviously Darwin can get extreme heats right up to 38 degrees. Having a great temperature coefficient on the panel helps us continue the system to be as efficient as possible in heat like this. So the brief was, they wanted a quality system. They did their own research, and after doing their research, both agree that this was the best system for the premises. Especially with a lot of the stories that we hear in the news today, about average solar systems being installed. So with the temperature coefficients being so high, it just means the return on investment for our customer will be where we expect it to be, which is brilliant. https://www.youtube.com/embed/vKkoQ4VjERM 1.11 2023-05-18T19:34:54.519Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-three-phase-power-help-to-generate-more-electricity-from-your-residential-solar-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/F0_mYS5ds3U How does three-phase power help to generate more electricity from your residential solar system? So today the customer was fortunately enough to have a three-phase, which gave the ability to go up to a seven kilowatt inverter and allow us to chuck 9.3 kilowatts worth of PV on the roof, which is around 27, 345's. So for the end consumer, she has three-phase, which is great, which means we can upgrade the system to a seven kilowatt inverter and go up to around 9.3 kilowatts worth of PV on the roof. For a single-phase, we would usually do a five kilowatt with around 6.6 kilowatts. So the advantage is to grab that actually three kilowatts really create more power. So the client came to us looking for our really high end quality product that's going to last. Customers like this, we really love to work with because they want quality and it give them confidence for the future. The residential sector really looks for maximising their system straight off the bat. So commonly we'll install five kilowatt inverter on a single-phase and a seven kilowatt on a three-phase pump that up to 9.3kW or 6.6kW. Out of that, the customer obviously makes around, 30 to 43 kilowatt hours per day and it saves them anywhere from $700 to $900 a quarter. So when it comes to residential systems, it's really a no brainer for the end user at the moment. Working with this particular customer, she wanted a quality, reliability and efficiency. https://www.youtube.com/embed/F0_mYS5ds3U 1.33 2023-05-18T19:34:51.289Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-disruptive-was-the-solar-power-installation-process-at-palmerston-college-in-darwin https://www.youtube.com/embed/zuKPGKr94GE How disruptive was the solar power installation process at Palmerston College in Darwin? So we had a bit of an induction when they all came down and there was quite a team of them. And we were advised where the different equipment was going to to be stored, how it was going to be put on the roof, where there was going to be a manhole put in, which is really good because now we have access to the roof. It was quite easy going. I realised that it was in safe hands and we were able to really just let them move in and do their work and they did it without any interruptions to the school at all. They were terrific, they were very communicative and we were able to liaise with them on everything. They kept us apprised of when they were going to be coming in or especially when they were going to be turning the power off to actually connect up the system. So that's really important in school because we can't have anything going off. The team was able to communicate with us really well and just keep us apprised of what the next steps were. That was very helpful. We know that we have plenty of savings coming up. We're saving around three and a half thousand a month. And that will actually eventually add up to around $40,000 a year. That is a huge savings. That kept money is used elsewhere within the school. They also are going to be monitoring and helping us out with any difficulties from now to lifetime I believe. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zuKPGKr94GE 1.29 2023-05-18T19:34:47.674Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-environmental-and-financial-benefits-of-solar-power-at-palmerston-college https://www.youtube.com/embed/pRBeswTXEaM What are the environmental and financial benefits of solar power at Palmerston College? Definitely a nice feeling comes with this generating the power saving on the planet. The students here are all for that environmental savings, right down to the fact that, you know, we try not to use too many plastics, and our canteen has just changed over as well and using all the environmental friendly containers and straws, and the students pick up on that straightaway. They know then that there's no tortoises that are going to be killed out in the sea and things like that. So it is a bit of a buzz for people to actually know that we're helping the environment. In fact, I've had the science teacher come in and ask me Are they operating? Can I have a password to check the consumption and the power that we're actually using in the power that the solar panels are generating?. So that will then of course, be passed on to the student, so probably become part of the curriculum for the science teachers in the future, monitoring it. And I mean, that's something I want to have a look at as well is to keep an eye on it and know that well they're actually working and producing the savings goals. I just really, it's for me, it's all about wanting to know the savings and use them elsewhere. And then that will help me plan for the future years. I can't wait to sort of see the end of the year to see what we have actually saved. With the savings that we're hoping to achieve over the year, which would be approximately around $40,000. This is where we can put that money elsewhere within the school to help student outcomes and that would be whether it's just upgrading the floor in the gym, right to the ICT, where we always require more laptop students, refurbishing of current desktop computers. There's just so much other areas that I can see this money will be helpful. It is stressful working with budgets and knowing that this savings is going to be made, I will be able to allocate that money in so many other areas within the budget. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pRBeswTXEaM 2.04 2023-05-18T19:34:43.850Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-helping-palmerston-college-get-better-student-outcomes https://www.youtube.com/embed/i8IEDk9U-Q4 How is a high quality solar power system helping Palmerston College get better student outcomes? I'm MaryRose Henry, I am at Palmerston College. We're actually one college but two campuses. And I help maintain the property maintenance, Finance, and Administration and the student support team. We get a fixed amount for our property maintenance side of things, and then we get a sort of variable amount to help with the students. So we have to actually allocate the fixed amount out to all the different services: your phones, your electricity, your power. Yeah, it's just basically look after the money, monitor it and know on historical information where we need to be putting the money budget against what sort of work. There was a certain amount of money that was allocated to the Department of Education, for solar panels to be installed on various schools within Darwin region. Our college was really lucky to be on the first round to get the solar panels installed, it worked out really well. The government actually have covered everything with the installation. We realise now that we are getting savings of around $3000 a month, and that will equate to around 40,000 a year. And that money can be used elsewhere, whether it's student related which or improvement of the properties, fixing up the gym, more furniture, replace things like our whiteboards and installing more computers. There's lots of things that can be done with these savings. What I'm looking forward to, is to see what our savings are at the end of this year. Which will help me plan for future years and that money that we are saving, I can now put against something else. So with the savings on this solar, I can use the money far better in areas for our students. https://www.youtube.com/embed/i8IEDk9U-Q4 1.54 2023-05-18T19:34:39.647Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-are-the-financial-returns-for-doug-s-high-quality-solar-powered-bore-pump https://www.youtube.com/embed/BlJIbn6ng1Q What are the financial returns for Doug's high quality solar powered bore pump? And as far as the dollar side of it, cut the power bill back by probably two-thirds, we're not paying for electricity pump water anymore. So that's all solar. So that's free. That means extra cheap water for me that no power going to it. So it's all solar. And while the sun is shining, we got free water. I'm going to plumb it into the main supply. So we've got extra water in the tank at all times. So, I mean, this is the hardest time of the year at the moment, because all the water levels are dropping. And as you can see, the paddocks are as dry as a bone. Cattle need the extra water, and plus we irrigated a couple of little paddocks to keep our weaners in good condition for this time of the year. I think if you're getting plenty of sun, you'd be crazy not to use solar, and yeah. Way to go. Crazy if you don't. Yeah, I mean, you've got a little bit of a initial outlay, and then from then on, it's maintenance-free. My bill's probably dropped by, I'd say up to two-thirds, like power bills. So yeah, I'm happy with it. We've got free sun. We don't have to pay tax on that. So use it to your best of your ability I'd say. People that don't go solar got rocks in their head, I reckon. It's made living cheaper here and I love it. It's the only way to go. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BlJIbn6ng1Q 2.00 2023-05-18T19:34:36.607Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-is-a-solar-powered-water-pump-helping-doug-s-cattle-farm-in-the-northern-territory https://www.youtube.com/embed/uIdBXOnznGY How is a solar powered water pump helping Doug's cattle farm in the Northern Territory? Name's Doug Lovegrove. And we're at just outside of the Adelaide River township. We run two types of cattle here, some Grey Brahman and the Droughtmaster. We've got, yeah, we're just breeding cattle and selling a few overseas. Just the cost of power was going up and up, everything goes up, nothing comes down, and decided to go solar probably two or three years ago, and we're just about solar right through now. Yeah, I mean, you've got a little bit of an initial outlay and then from then on it's maintenance-free. I put the bore in about two years ago and decided in the last couple of months to get solar put on it. I want more water here. So yeah, I think it's, you know, like it's a very expensive outlay for a start, but it pays for itself over the years. This here goes underwater in the wet season. So you couldn't run power down here anyway, so it's up high enough, so it's out of the high water mark, no power going through it, so everything comes from the free sun. I've got the extra water, it's proving itself. Everyone should do it. I've got another bore that's also solar, but this time of the year we do run out of water. So we put the extra bore in to have the extra water. If you want your solar on, all you do is just turn this switch on here and give it a minute and it'll crank up and out comes our water. https://www.youtube.com/embed/uIdBXOnznGY 1.57 2023-05-18T19:34:32.899Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-typical-payback-period-for-a-high-quality-commercial-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/guwdZKev0Zk What is the typical payback period for a high quality commercial solar power system? So a typical payback for a commercial system is relative to the price that they're actually paying for power. Relative to the amount of power that they're using and relative to the amount of solar that we can fit on their roof. But as a typical measure I'd say most commercial clients fall in between three and a half and five years. This is the normal return on investment for a system. So the longterm benefits after that return on investment period just keeps on chugging around for the next 25 years. They keep on saving money and it keeps on doing its business. So I think the core reasons most businesses consider solar in the first place is because they're worried about their energy security. So with a commercial solar system, you absolutely get that energy security. The second concern would be they want to save money and they absolutely do that. The third factor is that the business gets those environmental credentials that a lot of businesses like to present to their customer base. So for commercial clients, I think the reason they go for solar is it's all about saving on your energy bills and securing your energy future. In this day and age, when the you know, the energy prices are always on the up and I think this really secures that. Start to finish these 210 kilowatt job will probably be on site for maybe three weeks depending on weather. But this particular site's going to save $80,000 in the first year off its bills. And over the 25 year life of the system, it's going to be $1.6 million. I think that energy saving is a real cost for businesses these days. So if they can save anywhere, then you know, solar is a pretty easy, low cost investment. I think installing solar is really an easy decision for a lot of commercial businesses. If you own the roof space, you are going to save money. It's as simple as that. https://www.youtube.com/embed/guwdZKev0Zk 1.42 2023-05-18T19:34:29.306Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-commercial-businesses-invest-in-higher-quality-solar-panels-with-stronger-warranties https://www.youtube.com/embed/7oh1d54-J0c Why should commercial businesses invest in higher quality solar panels with stronger warranties? I think every commercial business if you guys own the roof space, then it is a very simple decision to go for solar. It will save you money. This site here at Dandenong is going to save 1.6 million over the 25-year lifespan of the system, which is $80,000 in the first year. And over the 25-year life of the system, it's going to be $1.6 million. The energy security that the commercial solar system offers last for 25 years. The warranties on the panels is 25 years. It covers you for all product parts, labor, freight materials. You name it, if anything goes wrong, that will be fixed. So I think, if you are considering a commercial solar system for your business, then like with everything, you've got to look at the premium product as well as the standard range, and weigh up what the differences are for you and what suits your business. There's obviously a cost difference between those two things but there's also an efficiency return that comes from the more premium product. So the longer-term viability of a premium system with the extended 25-year product warranty gives massive security to our customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7oh1d54-J0c 1.04 2023-05-18T19:34:24.683Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-is-the-process-to-installing-a-high-quality-solar-power-system-for-a-commercial-business https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtjBfQL1Rco What is the process to installing a high quality solar power system for a commercial business? So our job with the design phase of every commercial solar system starts with consultation with the client. And we talk about their energy bills, their energy consumption. We then approach their energy retailer to get the interval data out of their meter. So the interval data comes every 15 minutes from their meter, and then we analyze that through our software to design a system that specifically suits that customer requirement. Then we pair it up with their rates of power and design the system so that it exports just a little bit to allow for some extra growth in the business. Once we've designed all that out then we work out if it fits on the roof. We talk to the structural engineers and then following that, look, once we've got approval for all those sorts of things with the distributor network and things like that and we get the installation team in to come and complete the design. The final step of the process is to set up the monitoring portal. We offer an online monitoring portal that comes free with every system. It will monitor what the solar's producing and also what the site is consuming and when, which is the important bit. And that way you can analyse some of your equipment. You can make some tweaks and changes that may make some more cost savings that weren't obviously apparent at the beginning. So, commercial businesses really are the sweet spot for solar. They operate during the day time, obviously when the suns out, when the solar can have its greatest impact. You have a business like this one here which is cold storage. They have a very stable energy use which is 24 hours a day. So we try to maximize what the solar can cover in that day time period for these type of customers. https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtjBfQL1Rco 1.36 2023-05-18T19:34:20.395Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-does-the-structural-engineering-design-of-a-commercial-property-effect-the-solar-power-system-installation https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcaAs_ZObew How does the structural engineering design of a commercial property effect the solar power system installation? So on this site, we had limited roof space based on the structural engineering certification of the roof. So, for this one we've designed it with the premium grade solar panels. They're a high wattage panel. They take up the same physical roof space with a lot less of them so therefore there's less weight, less load. It works for the design of this particular site. The logistics on this site are, we've got about 25 pallets of solar panels. Each pallet weighs about 700 kilos. We run all the details by the structural engineers so that we learn where we can place the panels on the roof. Obviously we don't want to cause any damage to the roof and we don't want any incidents. So safety is a pretty major concern. So on this particular job we had to reach a long way in. We've used a 120 tonne crane just so that we could get 40 measures worth of reach and we could drop them in above the structural beams underneath. We base all of our designs around the structural engineering for the site. Obviously it's very important to make sure that the roof is able to sustain the load. If that means that we have to go for a more premium panel with less weight then that's what we have to do. So just as an example, on this particular site we had 532 solar panels. If we were to use a lesser quality panel there would have been another 150 odd panels which obviously, times that by however much each panel weighs, it becomes a substantial impact. The logistics on the site are always just a challenge for each job. You know, there's always other tradesman on site. There's always, where do we put the crane to get everything up here. Again, we run all this past the structural engineers to make sure that everything's going to be okay. We don't want to take any risks on the site for anything. So I think with all commercial business, if you guys own your roof, then you've got to go for solar. We'll save you money. It will ensure your energy security over the next 25 years. They're a pretty low maintenance type of investment. They just sit on the roof and they do their business. So I think every business in the commercial space should be considering solar as an option. So the higher efficiency, they return more power, every day long-term for the next 25 years. It makes sense to go for the more premium grade panel. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcaAs_ZObew 2.12 2023-05-18T19:34:17.293Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-will-a-commercial-solar-power-system-help-a-cold-storage-facility-save-1-6-million-dollars https://www.youtube.com/embed/oujm65Bfn_0 How will a commercial solar power system help a cold storage facility save $1.6 million dollars? Today, we're at the cold storage facility in Dandenong, which is just on the outskirts of Melbourne. The job here today is a 210 kilowatt system 530 to 400 watt panels. They're the high efficiency premium panels on the market, paired that up with seven inverters. It all ties into the main switchboard and produces power, enough to supply this entire building. The solar for cold storage facilities is very relevant just because it's a very stable energy load. They have the fridges on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the solar energy can cover about 40% of their load. So on this job here, because we've got a North South aspect to the roof, the rows on this North side they're a little bit closer together. All the panels are tilted up at 15 degrees. So, on the other side with the roof slanting back towards the South a little bit, we've just placed the rows a bit further. Just so that the row in front doesn't shadow the row behind it. For customers like this, it is about saving money, the solar is really an easy decision to make. It saves a substantial amount of money, reduces their energy costs and gives them energy security for the next 25 years. So, the return on investment on this particular site is 4.6 years until the system pays for itself. We set that up conservatively with the 3% increase on their rate of power over the next 25 years. So, the site here at this cold storage facility, has got a 210 kilowatt system. It's going to save them $80,000 in the first year. At the 25 year mark, the system will still be producing and they'll have a total saving of $1.6 million. We get to these figures because we analyze the interval data for the site. We designed the system to suit their actual requirements that they need. Through that data, we get it every 15 minutes, it's very accurate, and we base that on weather data from the Bureau of Meteorology that goes back 20 years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/oujm65Bfn_0 1.50 2023-05-18T19:34:14.365Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-phil-upgrade-to-a-higher-quality-solar-power-system-with-microinverters https://www.youtube.com/embed/m7lFzXvuZK8 Why did Phil upgrade to a higher quality solar power system with microinverters? If we look at Phil's house, as an example, Phil's got 13 solar panels on his house. He paired them up with micro-inverters. So in that situation, each panel has a independent micro-inverter underneath each panel. It monitors each panel as an individual. It increases the efficiency of the system. It produces more power and you don't have as much lag time, I suppose, with your energy efficiency. Phil was trying to expand the size of his system so that he could save more money off his power bills. Phil is quite an educated customer. And he has had solar systems in the past with other residences he's been around, and he understands the difference between buying the quality solar system versus a cheap system. Lately, we've had a lot of customers informing us that they've had people coming around, just knocking on their door, cold calling. And we've had examples of systems being installed at a very poor quality, at a very high cost. So the reasons for going for a higher quality premium system is because it produces more power. It's more efficient, it has longer warranties, and it's just better. It will save you more money. When we're designing a system for a customer, we look at each house as an individual subject. We look at their roof, their aspect, any trees that might be shading it, any environmental issues, like if there's a really high wind zone we design the racking systems to suit all of those different options, each design is very specific to your house. We customise every one of our solar systems to suit each customer's energy needs and environmental conditions. Be that their house, the environment, the shade, the trees, you name it. We look at it all. https://www.youtube.com/embed/m7lFzXvuZK8 1.39 2023-05-18T19:34:09.955Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-higher-quality-solar-panels-better-in-salt-air-environments https://www.youtube.com/embed/ah0-OonGQbk Why are higher quality solar panels better in salt air environments? Mostly our clients around here are residential customers. We do lots of, around the five kilowatt mark seems to be a pretty standard size for a lot of residential homes. So down here on the far South Coast, we have a pretty salty environment. Which is important to choose the right sort of equipment to go on your roof because it's going to be exposed to all that sort of weather element. They do double the international standards for the salt and corrosion testing. Also their panels are nicely powder-coated so that the salt doesn't penetrate into the modules at all. And they perform really well in this sort of low light, high heat sort of zone that we're in. They're a higher efficiency panel. Basically, that means that they produce more power. If they produce more power, you're going to save more money, and basically that's what it's all about. So lately we've been seeing a lot of systems and a lot of customers coming to us that have got systems in that sort of five to six year mark. We come in to inspect a lot of these systems and what we find is that they're producing very little power, and as a result of that, they've chosen the cheap system and, you know, five years down the track the system's not really producing what it was meant to do. So, commonly we're coming in, we're replacing them with a higher performance, high quality system. Yeah, so that there in lies the reason why you should be buying quality solar system now. So the biggest differences between a premium panel on the market versus, say, a tier one type of Chinese panel is purely just the quality of the panel. So with all premium quality systems you know, you do get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap system, you'll get exactly that. If you buy a premium-grade solar system then you've got a really good solar system that will last the distance. It's really a long-term investment to buy solar. You've got to look beyond the five-year market. It's going to to keep producing at that high level for longer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ah0-OonGQbk 1.41 2023-05-18T19:34:06.775Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-were-the-financial-and-environmental-advantages-of-solar-power-for-phil https://www.youtube.com/embed/3GYRxdWppEA What were the financial and environmental advantages of solar power for Phil? I think people in this area, not only in this area, but everywhere, should choose to buy solar. It's much cheaper putting solar on your roof than having money in the bank or buying investments in fact. Because the solar is an investment, and it returns a very good return income, probably about between 10% and 15% on the money you spend. So whether you borrow the money or invest the money of your own, it's a great return. And you're also doing good things for the environment. That was the secondary point that I wanted. Not for me so much as my children, my grandchildren. I'm close to the end possibly, but they're starting. And we do need to look at the environment. So that did form a major part as well. But cost was one thing which really got me started on it. I don't regret putting these on the roof one bit. And I think I've got five friends who I've encouraged to put it on, and every one of them have been positive about the results. So yeah, I think it's very good. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3GYRxdWppEA 1.14 2023-05-18T19:34:03.607Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-choose-a-high-quality-solar-panel-from-a-reputable-local-installer https://www.youtube.com/embed/PZ8S12ZbgL4 Why should you choose a high quality solar panel from a reputable local installer? I don't think investing in a panel is setting you back, quick and cheap. It's about what's the best. If you going to have something you want it to last, and this has got a guarantee life of 25 years. So I think getting the best possible panel, is what everyone should do. Well I did a lot of research. There is choice, put out a wonderful research document, which had been done with the CSRO for 12 months. And they had a numerous amount of panels. And that was one of the reasons we got, in fact that was the major reason we got the panel. So that's why we did it. No other reason. It was the best, you paid for it, sure. But it works. And it works well. I did about three months of research, and I also spoke to one of my friends who's the metallurgist and he agreed with me, and in fact, he's got the same panels on his roof. so it wasn't going to choose a cheap panel, I was going to choose the best panel. The person who put the solar panels in, lived in town here. The main reason was, I think everyone forgets is that, if you have a problem, you want it fixed quickly. And if you want to fix quickly, you want people who are in your area, who work with the people who produce the stuff or put it together, and you need to get them to come and fix the problem straight away. And the guy here, Josh is an incredible worker, done a great job on the roof. And he lets me know, even when we were away and I'd turn my internet off, he told me if something's wrong with your panel I said, No, I've just turned my internet off. And he said, Well, okay, fine. Now, we've got that. But I had an option of, three installers that I was looking at. Two of them were, one was interstate, one was up in Sydney. Now, if I had a problem, How long was going to take me to get it fixed. Here the installer is available straight away. So it's really important that you get an installer, who lives near you or around the area. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PZ8S12ZbgL4 2.09 2023-05-18T19:34:00.117Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-motivated-phil-to-invest-in-solar-power-for-his-home-in-merimbula https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZLqsNroL3Fw What motivated Phil to invest in solar power for his home in Merimbula? My name's Phil Birch and we're in Tura beach, which is about six kilometres out of Merimbula, in NSW. I love this part of the world because of the weather the people, it's really lovely spot to be living in, And it's just a wonderful place to live. It's got a wonderful beach. We've got a beach here, five kilometres long, and it's crowded at Christmas time with 15 people. So that's fantastic. The climate from Merimbula to Eden is one of the modest climates in the world. So we get a fairly good, not too cold in the winter, not too hot in the summer between 16 and 32. It's all in the far South coast. It's just beautiful. They call this a Sapphire Coast in fact, because the sea is so blue its just beautiful. I first started thinking about solar because of the cost. Power prices were going up, the cost of money was reducing, and I thought this was a good way to invest in my roof. And I find it would give me a 10% to 15% saving, on any cost. I was making a profit from the roof basically, that's what it was. But I think the flash point was when they first brought in the savings when you purchase solar, which to us was about 10 years ago when the first savings came in and we bought a one kilowatt, a couple of panels on the roof. That was the first time, the second time was when the prices started to really go up and we thought this is ridiculous. So we then got the extra ones put on. Well, system's performing amazingly well. Actually the system provides, well the last one, two, three, four quarters, three of them have been zero. The last quarter was $140, but that's because we put on the spa....which didn't help. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZLqsNroL3Fw 2.03 2023-05-18T19:33:56.670Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-should-you-take-into-consideration-if-you-re-looking-to-purchase-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/N8SLXe3sMKw What should you take into consideration if you're looking to purchase a solar power system? You need to weigh up a lot of things when you come to put solar on your roof. There is feed in tariffs to take into consideration there is what your energy consumption is. We will talk to the customer about what is best for them in relation to, some customers might be stay at home mums, and they will need a system to support energy use during the day. Whereas other customers may work all day and they might be better suited to a battery storage system where they can produce the energy through the day and then use it at night when they are at home. Power prices are going up and although the government has said that they're going to help pay out with power prices, but I don't know that we have really seen any of it. With higher quality products, you typically get a better output, long-term benefits, including reduced if zero electricity bills, a definite return on investment. Yeah, more stable energy costs and maybe also a more stable energy supply as well and a peace of mind to know that the the company that they're dealing with is going to be around to support them in the future. They want a system that they've got full confidence in, that they know that the system is going to perform. So it's definitely a win-win for customers. It's an environmental benefit, and it's also a benefit for your hip pocket, and it's really important for us to know that the customer understands what they're getting, https://www.youtube.com/embed/N8SLXe3sMKw 1.54 2023-05-18T19:33:52.852Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-there-a-big-difference-in-cheap-versus-high-quality-solar-power-systems https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXrgYl6xF5o Is there a big difference in cheap versus high quality solar power systems? There is a lot of companies out there that are just bottom line driven and they'd need to get sales over the line no matter what. And they don't care about the end customer. And I personally don't like to be treated like that and I won't treat my customers like that. Look there's a mix of customers out there that some of them are well researched and know what to look for but there is a lot out there that are targeted that have no idea and that will just take whatever is put in front of them at the best price. Thinking that they're getting apples for apples and they're not. It definitely is there's a big difference. You do get what you pay for and it's a fairly you know universal principle. A cheap system you've got to expect that it's not going to last long. It's a sad conversation and the customer is sometimes angry at what's happened and they've gone while are expecting a lot better than this. And it's a hard lesson to learn. You know you pay for your mistakes. Panels that have proven performance and proven warranties and backing is you know the only place we will go. We've got to make it work and it's got to be installed to the standards. Installation is you know a major part of the job. And if you got quality product and aren't installed properly. You know it's not going to last. https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXrgYl6xF5o 1.49 2023-05-18T19:33:49.374Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-should-you-avoid-cheap-and-nasty-solar-power-companies https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5_lQrauZYk Why should you avoid cheap and nasty solar power companies? The solar work we're doing at the moment is again a lot of maintenance. And that maintenance can be as simple as replacing a faulty inverter or more detailed in replacing a whole system that has been installed by some dodgy out-of-towner that just comes in, rushes through the job and leaves. Those types of installations are starting to fail more and more and we're removing a lot of faulty dodgy panels from roofs and we're installing newer top quality panels. Unfortunately it's sad to see that people are getting sucked in by dodgy sales people that sometimes they don't even show up on the job. We've got a quote against that a lot of the time and it's hard to compete with that but we want people to know the truth. With higher quality products you typically get a better output. It comes back to the same old thing you know you pay for what you get and if you're going to buy something cheap and nasty you're going to get a cheap and nasty life out of it. And if you're going to buy quality product you're going to get a quality life out of it. So there's lots of reasons to avoid cheap and nasty solar. The system underperforming is one. The system failing completely is another. Your house burning down is another one. And you're basically throwing your money away. Like, your system might perform to a certain standard for a short period of time if you're lucky. Whereas if you go for a high quality product that you know you can rely on, you can sleep at night. https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5_lQrauZYk 2.11 2023-05-18T19:33:46.321Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-policy-do-some-solar-panel-manufacturers-use-to-void-the-performance-warranty https://www.youtube.com/embed/yOxQeWWxaDk What policy do some solar panel manufacturers use to void the performance warranty? The difference between a product and a performance warranty, if you've got a panel that has got a zero percent output, a cheaper panel, that's got no output at all. And you're trying to claim a performance warranty going forward, and you've got no output, then that warranty for that panel is null and void. You can't claim something that doesn't have a performance output to measure their performance value. You need to think about the product warranty going forward because the product warranty is something that needs to be addressed, not just the performance warranty. A product warranty is something that the manufacturer has to then warrant the panel. If it's a performance issue, it's a linear performance over the years. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yOxQeWWxaDk 0.49 2023-05-18T19:33:42.512Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-the-west-bathurst-pre-school-invest-in-a-high-quality-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CG5TmWHZ_M Why did the West Bathurst Pre-School invest in a high quality solar power system? So we've done a few commercial solar systems. We've done the one up at West Bathurst Pre-School. Which they obviously wanted to reduce their power bills going forward. A commercial customer at the end of the day wants to have reduced electricity prices. They're customer's looking at a return on investment and they're also looking at a quality and a workmanship, because they want that to last. And once you explain the benefits of using a quality system over a poor system, the benefits far outweigh the costs. To accommodate the best usage, we also can work out when they're utilising their energy, whether it be morning, middle of the day, afternoon, you can design the system accordingly to do that. Yeah, so it's definitely a case that, to design the system for their consumption usage on site. Whether or not they have a low, medium, high usage and what other components and stuff, that you can potentially take off the system to reduce their costs. Hot water diverters, timers, things like that to reduce their energy profile. So they're in the middle of the day, so they can utilise the solar production and reduce, their bill even further. Bathurst has got a climate that is 40 degrees plus in summer and minus 8 winter, we've got extreme conditions all year round. And sometimes we can even even have four seasons in one day. By having quality, you're sort of assuring that the systems are going to work, in all conditions and maintain that for a period of time. Yeah so obviously a better quality is good in a harsher environment. It's got all the testing procedures and stuff to accommodate the harsh conditions of Australia. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CG5TmWHZ_M 2.00 2023-05-18T19:33:38.934Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-does-it-pay-to-invest-in-high-quality-solar-products-and-expert-solar-installers https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsCEw3RyMcg Why does it pay to invest in high quality solar products and expert solar installers? So picking the right installer for the job is definitely important, you're looking at somebody that's going to be there that can give you a technical advice, give you support, follow up on your system, touch base if, if you ever have any questions, the system design is done correctly going forward. So the install part of it is, is definitely a key in regards to a quality solar installation. You definitely need a quality installer with quality parts to ensure that you're getting a good quality system. You could have a, a really crap system with a good installer and have really good workmanship, but the, the system still going to fail, you could have poor workmanship, which means on, on good quality equipment, which means that the system is still going to be a poor system going forward. Since we're electrical contractors, we also tell the customers in regards to voltage rise, calculations our work, our cable sizing, so they can export more power back to the grid on site. And every site around here is different, whether it be residential, commercial, rural situation, all that is is factored in, in when we're looking at jobs and installing solar on onto those premises. So every system that we design, we will not send a quote out unless we've done a site inspection first, this ensures quality going forward. We can know if there's any TV, antennas, vent pipes going forward, and we can design the system around that. We can relocate TV, aerials, satellite dishes to make the system perform better. But we're aware of the situations before we go, go to site. So there's no variables, most residential customers, depending on what their usage profile is and what the systems design is, and you'll have a return on investment of about five years for using a quality system. And that that's something that that's reasonable within the market. https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsCEw3RyMcg 2.03 2023-05-18T19:33:35.342Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-type-of-set-up-was-created-for-michael-s-ground-mounted-solar-system-in-o-connell-nsw https://www.youtube.com/embed/1S3fTe2Gqtw What type of set up was created for Michael's ground mounted solar system in O'Connell NSW? At the ground mounted system that we done is out at O'Connell, and it was done for a customer under the name of Michael. Michael obviously had a fairly high usage through the day, four pumps, hot water services and things like that. So he approached us in regards to having a system installed. And the requirement was, that he didn't want it on the roof of his house. So we came up with the proposal and put a ground mount system in, for him to offset energy uses on site. The system that he chose was recommended by us. So he's got 36, 350 watt panels, and he's got two inverters split over the two phase supply that he's got on site. We've got a smart meter in the board, which has got wireless communications to the house for monitoring. So he wanted a high quality system that was going to be reliable. A customer wants to put solar on, obviously the first thing is, is to reduce their energy prices. Obviously energy prices are going to increase. They're looking at reducing that cost. They want a good return on investment. They also want the system to last, obviously one performance at the end of the day, out of the panels. And they should be expecting a system to last a lifetime. Their home is their castle. So they want to make sure that the aesthetics of the install represents their house as well. https://www.youtube.com/embed/1S3fTe2Gqtw 1.30 2023-05-18T19:33:32.064Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-do-cheap-and-nasty-solar-power-systems-end-up-costing-you-more-money-in-the-long-term https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yn2Pyxsd7W8 Why do cheap and nasty solar power systems end up costing you more money in the long term? A homeowner should definitely look at a quality system and what else is backed by that sort of service. You want a system that's going to last and it comes down to education. If you buy a crap solar system, realistically, you're going to have to replace it within five years. If you have to replace it in five years, then any return on investment that they might've been thinking about has gone out the window because you now have to factor in a removal of a first system, installation of a second system, where if they had just looked and done a bit more research to start off with, and put a quality system in, they wouldn't have been having these issues going forward. Obviously in the market, there's a struggle to pick out the difference between a price point and a quality point of view in regards to a solar system. And that realistically comes down to education with the customer, what they're actually getting out of the system. So people are always looking at the cheapest product. There's obviously differences in solar systems, you get the cheap and nasty, or you get a premium sort of a product. If you're going down the premium product route, you sort of want to make sure that you've got support, ongoing monitoring, anything that can protect the system, surge arresters, retail metering, it should all be part of the quote. There shouldn't be any extra hidden costs that the customer needs to do at the end of the installation of solar. It should be all factored into that, that one quote, going forward. Obviously, with us as a installer for solar, we want to make sure that the end customer has a great product that's not going to just last for five years. It's going to last for a lifetime. So you're looking at a high quality product that's got a 25 year performance warranty, 25 year manufacturer's warranty, backed by a multi-billion dollar company, so you know that you've got stable support. But going further, it's a case of the other equipment as well that you want it to make sure that it's going to last because there's no a point replacing the system in five years, just because you brought a cheap and nasty system, to start off with. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yn2Pyxsd7W8 2.16 2023-05-18T19:33:28.478Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-are-lower-quality-solar-power-systems-more-likely-to-degrade-faster-and-be-thrown-out https://www.youtube.com/embed/VmmUYxgtXsY Why are lower quality solar power systems more likely to degrade faster and be thrown out? The system that we're replacing today, the array had issues going forward. And we've been doing on-site monitoring for the customer. And in the last six months have found that the panels have degraded and having issues. So we were able to identify that on site. And then on our recommendations, we recommended our high quality panel, because the customer was actually shocked that they had to replace panels going forward. We gave them the option of using a higher quality product. So they've got peace of mind for the next 25 years. In regards to their system. The old panels that were up on the roof, obviously had been installed for a fair number of years. Earth resistance has been down in the system. When we went to site and tested, we found that some of the panels had a zero output on them, and weren't performing to what they were meant to. So we discussed with the customer, in regards to replacing the system with something better quality. So he had a good system going forward. The panels that were on the roof were definitely dead. They had multiple issues and stuff like that. The best course of action going forward was to obviously remove those panels and replace them. We have definitely found that there has been an increase in system replacements. This is mainly due to cheaper systems being installed or less quality workmanship. If it's going to fail, will be sort of after the three-year period. After that three years, with the Australian conditions you'll find that the systems are going to start to deteriorate fairly quickly after that point. The panel coming off, they decided to go a high quality system. Obviously, they've now realised that the system that they had on originally has failed. So when we provided them with the details going forward, it was probably a natural step that they were going to look at upgrading the system to a higher wattage sort of panel. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VmmUYxgtXsY 2.06 2023-05-18T19:33:25.406Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/what-research-did-bruce-do-when-he-needed-to-replace-his-existing-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/6N41Fa3pTnU What research did Bruce do when he needed to replace his existing solar power system? After the diagnosis of the old panels, the company who's doing the work now, made a recommendation. I said, okay. I'll take them on board. Then hit the computer for a while, and come up with, various reviews of those panels. That are being installed now. As well as reviews of numerous other panels, there was other options. And we decided to spend the money to get a, longer warranty higher energy efficiency. So that combination for us at this stage in our lives, seemed the best. It's imperative to look at both price, and efficiency. As reviewed as assessed by as many sources as you can find. Prices one determinant of course in life. But definitely not the only one. Again, just do your research. I'm not endorsing any particular panel. There's so many variables, that you really must ask around. What I'm looking for again, is almost what I was looking for initially. looking for a good product. Good quality product, with a good warranty. And, I suppose one main difference would be, this time it's being installed by a local company. This time around, I expect the warranty to be a little more realistic. I'm 66. I expect the system to see me out. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6N41Fa3pTnU 1.32 2023-05-18T19:33:21.924Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/is-it-important-to-choose-a-local-solar-power-installer-if-you-re-living-in-a-regional-town https://www.youtube.com/embed/h3MHj5LQkZE Is it important to choose a local solar power installer if you're living in a regional town? Anyone living in a regional center, I think, if they want to see that regional center flourish you always look to buy local where you can. Sometimes it may cost a little more, but in the long run, it's worth doing that to support the community and continue to make the community viable and flourishing. There's a guy up on our roof right now, I know several people who were his teachers in Bathurst. So, if you can eyeball somebody and say, I know where you live or occasionally, I know your parents or I know your brother-in-law, or whatever. Again, you're living in a regional town and these things are important. It may not be so significant if you live in a city of 4 million, but it is in a city of 40,000. Well, do your own research, read whatever you can, look online. Be careful about who's presenting reviews, whether they have all come from one place. If they just come from the producer of the panel, maybe not so reliable, but be objective. Certainly ask advice, read magazines, Choice magazine springs to mind. Other reviews online are useful. Look around town. If you know somebody who's already living under a roof covered with solar panels, again in a country town, If you don't know them, you might know their neighbor or someone down the street. Just have a chat to people. What's your experience? Ask people as well as looking at retailing outlets in town. https://www.youtube.com/embed/h3MHj5LQkZE 1.45 2023-05-18T19:33:18.258Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-was-it-impossible-for-bruce-to-claim-the-warranty-on-his-failed-solar-panels https://www.youtube.com/embed/5FYDhHn2Pe8 Why was it impossible for Bruce to claim the warranty on his failed solar panels? My initial expectations were that it would last longer than it did. The panels failed after about 10 years. The inverter, the initial inverter also failed earlier than that, but it was under warranty. The panels that failed probably still under warranty by law. Unfortunately, the company doesn't exist. The people who are installing the new panels now assured me that the company doesn't exist. So there's no point in pursuing it. I suppose the panels were marketed quite actively, by the relevant sales people. Sadly, a company that doesn't exist now is no use as far as warranties. So the decision to go solar those years ago was still the right decision but the choices were perhaps a little more limited than they are now. It's a little disappointing that old panels can't really be recycled in any meaningful way. That is a sign of the times I think, that they're just going to be landfill. I believe there are components that can be recycled, but not at any cost significance to the company doing that. Well again, I thought that the warranty was adequate for the time but the company wasn't. There was no sensible option other than to replace the solar panels. I was more than a little disappointed when I went online and couldn't find the relevant company. However you move on. And then we started investigating what today's options were. We'd already gone through that process 10 years earlier but perhaps with fresh eyes, we looked again. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5FYDhHn2Pe8 1.57 2023-05-18T19:33:14.578Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-did-retirement-help-bruce-discover-the-financial-benefits-of-solar-power https://www.youtube.com/embed/l4Ow1ujzWVg How did retirement help Bruce discover the financial benefits of solar power? Hi I'm Bruce Cameron and I live in Bathurst in Central West New South Wales. Now there are only two of us in the house. Our kids have grown and moved away. So we can be a little more careful about our energy use meaning with solar panels. We would be using most energy during the day. It's sensible to do it that way in a climate like Bathurst where you do have some extremes of temperature in both summer and winter. So we try to make sensible decisions about when we use the most electricity. When I retired from full time work, our expenditure, I suppose we focused a little more on that than we had in the past. So looking to the future, it was sensible to make savings where we could, but you spend money to save money I suppose in that sense. That was what we decided to do. This house that we've been living in for almost 30 years is double brick which is kind of unusual for this part of the world given its age. But the fellow who built the house and who lived in it and sold it to us after he'd been in it for 10 years made the point that a double brick house in this climate was again money being spent to save money in the future. When we were investigating at first, it was a matter of, this is certainly what's going to happen in the future. This is going to be the norm. There's no question of that. There wasn't any question of that when we made that decision more than 10 years ago and it's even more imperative now I think for people to be looking at that as an option if they can afford to do so. Our choice was based on our decision that we would stay in this house for at least long enough to make it attractive to the next buyers and sensible for our energy consumption and costs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/l4Ow1ujzWVg 2.00 2023-05-18T19:33:11.020Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/how-important-was-the-price-when-gary-was-looking-to-buy-a-solar-power-system https://www.youtube.com/embed/CYcyaH4RA-Q How important was the price when Gary was looking to buy a solar power system? The price was a factor in selecting the solar system, but it wasn't the, we didn't look for the lowest-priced system. We looked for a system that would last, and had a reputation for quality. I looked mainly on the Web. We got multiple quotes from different suppliers to see what was around, and then looked at the fact sheets and whatever else, and reviews for those systems, and then made our decision. I went through and looked at what panels were available, what inverters were available, and sort of came through an analysis of what I thought would work. The main motivation to install solar was to save money on the power bills, but they'll also give us a bit of extra capacity in our usage, and what we could possibly do in the future. Looking to the future, we're looking maybe putting some extra panels up, facing different direction to get more morning or afternoon power to cover it. It is important to buy quality within the range that you can afford. There's no point going too low in what you're buying. You need to keep that in mind. But yeah, go from what you can afford. The best that you can afford. The best you can afford, basically for peace of mind and longevity of the equipment. We hope to have this system lasting for the next 15, 20 years. While we're still here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CYcyaH4RA-Q 1.37 2023-05-18T19:33:07.595Z yes yes no https://topproperty.eco/videos/why-did-gary-install-a-new-solar-power-system-on-his-work-shed-instead-of-his-home https://www.youtube.com/embed/TOro1J_peLA Why did Gary install a new solar power system on his work shed instead of his home? Hi, I'm Gary, and we're out at Peel, just out of 20 K's out of North of Bathurst. Okay, around the home, we use energy for air conditioning, swimming pool pump, electric fences to control the stock, and pumping water. We first thought about buying solar to reduce our bill and to be more self sufficient down the track. And I suppose to be a bit more energy conscious. We use quite a bit of electricity, to power all the equipment around here. So we wanted to reduce the amount of bill we actually had to pay. Solar, filled that void and gave us the ability to reduce our bill. We put it onto our garage workshop area. It's on the North facing side of the, the shed and we get sun or solar production from about seven o'clock in the morning to about six o'clock, seven o'clock at night. The shed gives me extra room to expand, all the equipment is in, in one spot away from the house. We did have solar system on the roof before, but that we had issues with the roof, got the roof replaced and thought, well, got plenty of shed space. So put it out there. No more issues and expansion. Did a fair bit of research on the, the web looking at what panels were around. Also recommendations from our supplier, of which panel to go to. We wanted production throughout the day, the higher capacity panel and more capacity in low light for our winter use. They've been going very well. Peak outage is about 45, maximum of 45 kilowatts for a day. They have gone well in the rainy conditions as well. They've dropped a fair bit, but that was expected, but they still are producing during low light and overcast skies and rain. It's doing what I expected of it. The system works very well and is keeping our, our power bills down. https://www.youtube.com/embed/TOro1J_peLA 2.04 2023-05-18T19:32:53.701Z yes yes no