Solar power a good option in New Zealand

Solar power is a source of renewable energy that more and more New Zealand households are beginning to turn to, and for good reason – it’s a great option in a country like NZ with its perfect climate. During the summer our warm, sunny days provide plenty of sunlight for electricity generation, more than enough to power households whilst in winter boosters can help keep everything running smoothly when electricity demands increase. So should you consider it for your household?

The cost of installing systems can be expensive, depending on the brand you choose. Photovoltaic panels have come down a lot in cost over the years, but they’re still a large initial upfront investment especially if you intend to also install a storage bank to store excess electricity. In New Zealand you might expect to pay anywhere between $7-$10K for a new system which means you may be waiting quite a few years before you see a return on the investment, but for ecologically conscious households it a far cleaner source of energy than traditional fossil fuel generated electricity. In the long run it can also be a great cost saver, although households whom plan to move away after a few years may never get to reap the rewards of their investment.

If you’re looking to get one for your household in New Zealand you should consider your lifestyle and the climate conditions where you live, they are not recommended for areas with minimal sun hours or households that don’t require a lot of electricity. If you want to take steps to make your household more environmentally friendly consider starting by choosing energy efficient LED light bulbs, they’ll reduce your power bill and your carbon footprint and choose appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings.