WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SOLAR?:
Read this excellent guide from Which? all about solar installation, including what houses are suitable, and a video of a typical installation.
Listen to this podcast from BBC iPlayer “39 Ways to Save the Planet : More Power from the Sun“
Catch-up with this webinar from SustFest 21 on local scheme Solar Streets (see below).
Read our blog about a St Albans person’s experience of having solar panels installed: “Our New Solar Panels: a real life experience“.
LOOKING FOR AN INSTALLER?:
Solar Together has been launched (August 2022) for residents and businesses to access a group buying scheme to reduce the purchase price of solar panels. This programme has replaced Solar Streets (below).
Solar Steets is the local scheme through which St Albans district residents can get solar panels at a reduced cost and contribute to a local community scheme. Any individual or business in the district can apply for the discounted installation. The Solar Streets project offers discounted solar PV installation at £4,000 for a 12 panel, 4kWp system. That system will save 1.01 T of carbon dioxide per year and each installation adds £50 to a community fund to be spent to help install solar panels on community buildings in the town.
PLEASE NOTE that due to increasing demand due to increasing energy prices, and difficulty obtaining sufficient parts from China due to Covid, customers are being added to a waiting list and can expect to wait up to 6 months for a survey and installation. As this is an industry-wide issue, we encourage you to bear with the delays in order to obtain your panels.
There are several other local solar installers. Look on the MCS Accredited suppliers list and search for St Albans. Word of mouth is important, so it’s always worth asking around, including on Facebook groups like St Albans Eco and St Albans House Renovations..
In general, to find tradespeople, it’s always worth looking on the searchable lists Trusted Traders and Simple Energy Advice.
NEED PLANNING PERMISSION?:
The planning portal is a good place to start if you want to understand planning permission considerations for any eco-friendly adaptation of your property.
WHAT MIGHT IT COST?:
This useful page from, the Renewable Energy Hub breaks down the costs of typical sizes of installation, as shown below:
Remember, you will need to pay for scaffolding, you may need to pay planning application fees, and you may choose optional extras like bird-proof netting and a gadget attached to your hot water tank, which gives you hot water with the spare electricity.
COMMIT: Sign up to Count Us In today, and make changes that matter.
When you register, tick to say you are part of the St Albans Climate Action Network, and then your steps will be counted alongside other local people.
Installing solar panels is one of the 16 highest impact steps to can take.