Here, the experts at Grand Designs Magazine answer some burning reader questions.
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I’d like to install solar panels on my house, but covering
the roof in solar photovoltaic tiles is proving too expensive.
Is there a way of installing tiles to power specific
appliances in our home?
Jane, by email
Claiming that covering the roof in solar panels is too expensive is dangerous. Perhaps you don’t have enough cash and have large borrowings. I’d accept that defence. I wouldn’t accept the view that PV panels are inefficient, or that the payback period is too long. Paul Norris, who runs the website alternative-energy.co.uk, installed 16 panels on his roof last year at a total cost of £17,000 (a Government grant of up to £2,500 is claimable against this). He now receives a cheque from his electricity provider-turned-customer for £200 per year and he will have complete payback in 14 years.
Green Thinking (greenthinking.eu) offer a more modest starter pack, which costs less than £1,000. For small PV kits for powering specific devices, visit siliconsolar.com, or go to maplin.co.uk and key in ‘solar chargers’. I have several of these for MP3 players, my laptop and my car battery.
Think Kevin can solve your building dilemma? Email your question to info@granddesignsmagazine.com
