Year: 2022

Skylights Take Off In Sydney

Posted on by solarbright

The architectural crowds, competing for space in Sydney’s red-hot housing and urban design industries, are often used as a litmus test for what is trending with new home builders today. They are sensitive to the needs and demands of their clients, and they need to be, to reach such a position as theirs as the gatekeeper of new housing trends.

Lately, the trend has been defined quite clearly: new home builders in Sydney these days are going wild over skylights. Natural light, soft and seasonally-aware, has been given a notable vote of confidence by designers of late, and has been invited into the majority of new homes in this fine city.

Perhaps the health effects, or the pleasure of the soft quality of the lighting has convinced new builders to incorporate these skylights. Regardless of the incentive, skylights in Sydney have become intertwined with the current age, and this affiliation has bred some very interesting designs. Some Skylights, otherwise known as tube skylights, or sun tubes, even provide architects with the ability to channel light far below the roofline, bringing natural light pouring into subterranean levels or the lower levels of homes that otherwise couldn’t benefit from a traditional skylight. This, in particular, has introduced this trend to a wide audience of avant-garde home designers, intent on making a new and creative use of it.

And why not? The usage of skylights runs far back in to the annals of architecture. Monasteries in Europe, hundreds of years old, feature ‘light cannons’ in their ceilings, intended to allow light in and illuminate the residents. Luckily for a city as blessed with natural light as Sydney, these lessons were not lost back in medieval times.

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Solar Panel Costs And Solar System Prices

Posted on by solarbright

Switching to solar is a terrific idea for most Australians. You’ll save money on electricity bills, there are generous government subsidies available, and most standard systems pay for themselves in around 3 years. Even better, you’re making a positive contribution to the environment. However, that’s not to say you’re guaranteed to have trouble-free solar panels.

Even the very best and most reliable brands can be subject to damage, improper installation and general degradation. Improper installation is best avoided by not choosing the cheapest systems offered. The good news is that most problems with correctly installed solar panels in Australia can be solved relatively easily if you know what to look for.

Dirt And Grime

One of the most common reasons that your solar panels aren’t performing efficiently as they should is a build-up of dirt or grime. Like any item that’s left outdoors, solar panels are subject to dust, dirt and other debris gathering on them. This can affect the efficiency of your panels.

Common issues include dust, bird droppings, leaves and ash from nearby fires. It’s recommended that your solar panels are cleaned at least once every 12 months, if not more frequently. Rain does a lot of the work for you, but it never hurts to give them a clean every now and again. If you can access your solar panels, just use warm, soapy water without harsh chemicals. This is more than enough to clean them.

Flat roof mounted panels this is especially important. Being flat they naturally collect more grime and this can effect the output of the system if they are not cleaned.

If you can’t reach your panels, you can use a hose from the ground if that’s practical. Otherwise, contact your installer because it’s likely they offer a cleaning service or be able to recommend one they know.

Birds

Believe it or not, birds can cause havoc with solar panels if left unchecked. If your solar panels are mounted on the roof, birds can build nests underneath them. This isn’t a problem in itself, but if birds are near your panels regularly, they’re likely to scratch them or even damage the wiring. If you notice birds or nests, it’s a good idea to call a pest control expert.

Alternatively, you can take precautionary measures by installing mesh wire or other forms of bird deterrent. This is easiest done at installation time. There are ways to prevent birds from nesting under our solar panels without causing harm to them.

Potential Induced Degradation

If you’ve noticed a significant decrease in the amount of electricity your solar panels are producing, it could be down to the PID effect, or Potential Induced Degradation.

This means you’ve got a difference in voltage between the solar panel and the earthing, and this causes a partial voltage discharge. Basically, you’re losing an amount of voltage, and it’s also potentially damaging the long-term effectiveness of your panels.

Because this issue isn’t obvious to the naked eye, you’ll need to call your trusted solar professionals to inspect the problem for you

Issues With Your Inverter

Solar inverters have the crucial task of converting direct current (DC) energy from your solar panels to alternating current (AC) energy that your home uses. As a vital part of the system, you’ll certainly notice if there is a problem.

Inverter technology has improved over the years, however, inverters still usually don’t last as long as your panels. You may find you need to replace the inverter in around 15 years, rather than the 25 years that your solar panels are expected to last.

The great thing is that most modern inverters have very clear displays where you can see the errors that are occurring. Always check the error messages against your user manual, and it should be quite easy to work out what’s going wrong. One of the most common inverter problems is following a blackout; the breaker may be automatically turned to the OFF position, so always check this first.

All good  inverters sold today come with a monitoring app that can be set up on your phone so you can monitor the production levels of the system. You can set the app up to send you an alert if there is an issue with the inverter.

Looking For Solar Panel Experts?

If you’re looking for high-quality solar panel installation in Sydney, then look no further. SolarBright is here to take care of all your solar needs, including solar panels, inverter and battery installation and solar hot water systems. We offer a full set of solar services for all residential and commercial properties. To find out how much you can save by making the switch to solar, contact the friendly team at SolarBright today for your free consultation.

Why Natural Light Is So Important To Our Health, Wellbeing And Pocket!

Posted on by solarbright

Adding free sunlight into your home and workspace has been proven to have both psychologically and physiologically benefits. Pure sunlight, rather than electric lighting, provides the full visible spectrum of light, which helps reduce eyestrain and makes colours in our belongings, decor and clothing look their true colour. This can be particularly important in retail environments where you are trying to make your goods look as attractive as possible, and at home where you want your carefully selected furniture and decor to look exactly as it did in the store or magazines.

Many people initially are concerned about harmful UV rays doing damage to their interior, but today the majority of quality skylight manufacturers ensure their domes or glazing are UV resistant and this simple is not a problem anymore. Yet the rays allowed into your indoor space still help indoor plants thrive. But our plants aren’t the only ones that benefit healthwise.

Daylight has been proven to significantly impact on productivity and health. Our eyes and brains simply function better when working, or relaxing in natural light versus artificial lighting and Vitamin D, gained from mainly from exposure to sunlight, is an essential mineral, as this vitamin has numerous benefits to our health. From a more practical standpoint, natural light also reduces the amount of mildew and mold growth inside, keeping the air in our homes and work spaces healthier, more breathable and reducing the risk of asthma and other breathing conditions.

Ultimately healthier and happier staff all equate to a more productive workforce, less prone to sickness leading to a reduced number of sick days staff are likely to take. And of course happier, healthier families live richer, fuller lives, every day.

Aside from all above advantages, Natural light is FREE and living in a country like Australia, we benefit from so many days filled with sunshine than others, so installing skylights can significantly reduce your electricity bills, because there is simply no reason to turn the lights on from dawn to dusk any more.

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Skylight Installation: DIY Versus Professionals

Posted on by solarbright

As electricity prices continue to rise, it can put a strain of the household budget for Australian families and businesses. Fortunately, we have now realised that natural sunlight is not only beneficial to our health, but is a natural alternative to electricity and far more environmentally friendly.

 

 

Nowadays, more and more families and businesses are seeing and reaping the benefits of skylights, as they are easy to install and will help save you on electricity bills. If you are serious about installing a skylight for your home or business, you are probably thinking if you could do it yourself or get a professional to do it?

 

DIY Skylight Installation

If you are the hands on type of person and love doing home repairs and installations, a SolarBright Skylight is an easy do-it-yourself job that requires only the basics in DIY skills and with basic tools for the job. You can always install your new skylight yourself. Skylight installation will take a few hours to install if you are installing yourself, and there is no greater feeling than seeing the end result of your handy work.

 

Professional Skylight Installation

Finding the right skylight installer will not only save you the headache of having to do it yourself, but the job can be finished within 2 hours depending on how big your new skylight is. As you know, with any home renovations, there is always going to be mess, and skylight installation is no different. Luckily for you though, a SolarBright installer not only takes pride in their work, but the only thing you will see is your brand new skylight once it has been installed. SolarBright has a number of certified dealers that will happily fulfil all your skylight installation requirements.

Whether you are looking to install a skylight in your home of office, SolarBright has skylights that will see your next electricity bill drop.

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7 Reasons To Choose Max Power Solar MPS-390N Panel Now LG Solar Has Gone

Posted on by solarbright

LG has left the solar market. Customers who want premium quality solar panels with superior technology and features are scratching their heads about which panel to choose. In this article, we look at 7 Reasons to choose the Max Power Solar MPS-390N as the obvious alternative to the LG Neon H+ Solar Panel.

For many years, the LG NeON panels were considered the best available in the Australian market, featuring leading technology backed with a long (25-year) product warranty.

Now LG solar is gone, customers who wanted LG panels must now consider other panel brands. When selecting another panel brand, you need to closely look at the technology, features, and warranty to see if it is equal to, or even better, than the LG NeON H+.

The Max Power MPS-390N combines leading technology with great looks.

Let’s make a comparison of the Max Power MPS-390N 390W panel with the equivalent LG panel, the LG390 NIC-E6 390W NeON H+, and see how the Max Power stacks up. We look at 7 major reasons why the Max Power is the obvious alternative to the LG NeON solar panel.

If you have a solar installer in Sydney offering another panel brand such as Jinko, Q-Cell, REC, or Sunpower as an alternative to LG, question them on the 7 points we discuss below. You will then truly see how their panel rates.

Why The Max Power MPS-390N Is The Perfect Replacement For The LG NeON Panel

 1. Dual Glass

This refers to the solar panel having both the front sheet and the backing sheet made of glass. In most standard panels the backing sheet is plastic. In harsh conditions like scorching Australian summers, roof temperatures can easily reach 65°. This can cause the plastic backing sheet to begin to delaminate. If this occurs, it allows moisture to get into the cells and is a common cause of panel failure.

Panels with Dual glass are stronger and last longer than standard panels. The Max Power 390N is a dual glass panel whereas the LG Neon H+ is not, it has a plastic backing sheet like most panels.

Verdict: Max Power wins.

 

2. Bifacial Technology

Bifacial technology on a solar panel refers to the panel having solar cells that can produce power from both the front and the back of the cells. The major benefit of this is increased panel efficiency. The panel will produce more power, resulting in greater savings for the customer.

The Max Power 390N is a bifacial panel and the LG Neon H+ does not have this technology.  LG did produce a range of bifacial panels, the LG NeON 2 range, and these were even more expensive than the NeON H panels.

Verdict: Max Power wins.

 

3. Temperature Coefficient

The panel temperature coefficient may be obscure to you, but it is very important. It seems counterintuitive, but the hotter a solar panel gets, the less efficient it becomes, and less energy is produced. The temperature coefficient measures the percentage of the power output that is lost for every degree of air temperature above 25°C.

A panel with a lower temperature coefficient delivers better output in hot weather compared to other panels. This is a crucial advantage in a hot climate like Australia’s. The Max Power 390N boasts the best temperature coefficient we have seen for a 390W panel in Australia. At -0.31% it beats the LG panel at -0.33% and the Hyundai 400W at -0.34%.

Verdict: Max Power wins.

 

4. High Output From A Normal Footprint – More Watts Per Square Metre

Higher output per square metre is important. Increasing energy consumption, especially for cooling in summer, and a move to electric vehicles, will see consumers wanting to maximise the solar output from their roofs. It makes sense to choose a solar panel with the highest wattage output per square metre.

The Max Power Solar MPS-390N leads the LG 390W NeON H+ with 213.77 watts compared to 211.69 watts.

Verdict: Max Power wins.

 

5. High Efficiency

Another tick for the Max Power here with 21.35% efficiency versus 21.2% for the LG. Higher efficiency means higher production and more savings for the consumer.

Verdict: Max Power wins.

 

6. Long Australian Warranties And Local Support

One of the major attractions of the LG NeON panels to Australian consumers was the warranties that came with the panel. The LG had a 25-year performance warranty and a 25-year product warranty. Most other panels only have a 12 or 15-year product warranty covering panel materials and workmanship.

All solar panels degrade over time, with the output decreasing as the panel ages. The performance warranty covers the warranted output of the panel after 25-years. Many panels will degrade to 80% of original output after 25-years. The LG 390NeON H+ was warranted with annual 0.33% degradation after the first year and at 90.6% after 25-years.

The Max Power MPS-390N has 25-year product warranty like the LG. The performance warranty is longer than the LG at 30-years with 87.4%.

Max Power Solar is an Australian solar company and brand, and as such the panels have an Australian warranty. Max Power also has local support when LG support is now offshore in Korea.

Verdict: Max Power wins.

 

7. N-Type Cells

Both the Max Power and the LG have N-Type cells. Most other panels have P-Type cells. N-Type and P-Type refer to the doping process used during the cell manufacture.

N-Type type cells offer major advantages over the standard P-Type cells, that’s why LG chose them for the NeON H+, and why Max Power chooses them for the MPS-390N.

N-Type cells have lower Light Induced Degradation compared to P-Type cells, meaning the panel will produce more power over its lifetime. They are also better performance in low light conditions such as early morning, late afternoon and on cloudy days. Again this means higher yields and greater savings for the consumer.

Verdict: Max Power and LG are equal and both are superior to every standard panel that has P-Type cells.

***

A table comparing the major specifications and features of the MPS-390N and LG 390 NeON H+ is on this page HERE.

You can download the full comparison table HERE.

Examination of the technology and features in the panels show the MPS-390 is the obvious choice for customers who were considering the purchase of LG NeON H+ solar panels. There is not one key technology or feature where the Max Power MPS-390N does not surpass or equal the LG 390 NeON H+.

We have not even examined the superior economics and payback of the Max Power MPS-390n compared the LG. With the LG panel you paid a premium for the brand.

Will Solar Panels Increase The Value Of My Home?

Posted on by solarbright

When most people consider installing solar panels in Australia, they think of the immediate benefits. Of course, you can automatically slash plenty of dollars from your annual energy expenses with solar, and you can also contribute to improving the environment. But solar energy is also a long-term investment that can deliver benefits even when it’s time to sell your home.

Increased Selling Potential

The simplest answer to whether solar panels will increase the value of your home is ‘yes!’. Buyers know that a home with solar panels represents ongoing electricity savings for the life of the solar system. Basically, those annual energy savings can be put directly into a person’s mortgage, and buyers are aware of this. As such, they’re willing to pay a little extra for a home with a solar system installation.

Solar panels in Australia represent great value for you as a home seller, and for the home buyer. You can legitimately charge a bit more for your home, and the buyer is usually happy to pay because they receive the long-term benefit of reduced energy bills.

The Green Revolution

More and more Australians are joining the green revolution. Whether it’s installing solar panels, campaigning for less reliance on fossil fuels or simply making more eco-friendly choices around the house, Aussies are well and truly on board the green train. This means solar panels are an extremely attractive feature for people when they’re buying a home.

Ultimately, if a home buyer wants solar energy, they have two options. They can buy a house without solar and get it installed themselves – this might cost them $6,000, so they’ll likely want a reduction in the house price. Alternatively, they can buy a home that already has a solar panel installation and pay the full asking price. The latter is probably more appealing and less complicated for most people, so if you don’t have solar, you risk losing buyers or needing to reduce your asking price to satisfy them.

Don’t Get Left Behind The Market

Due to the enormous uptake of residential solar energy in Australia, homes with solar panels are becoming the norm. When you go to put your house on the market, you’re always competing with other similar homes in your area. If homes don’t have certain features, they can quickly be crossed off a buyer’s list, and one of those features is likely to be solar energy in the coming years.

Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes when considering 5 different homes in one suburb. All of those homes have a second bathroom except one. A second bathroom is a common requirement these days, and homes without this feature are left behind or sell at a reduced price. In the future, solar installations will be so widespread that they will become standard, expected features in homes. So, you can install now or risk longer sale times and decreased prices in the future.

Increased Rental Returns

Remember that not all home buyers intend to live in your home. Many are investors and plan to use it as a rental property. It’s a no-brainer that landlords can charge more rent for a house with solar panels because the tenants’ living expenses are already reduced. Depending on the house size and energy usage, many people can slash up to $2,000 off their annual electricity bill by going solar. Rental property owners know this and can effectively charge up to $40 more per week for their property.

As such, a home with solar panels becomes a much more attractive proposition for investors. If you’re selling a home, you can likely generate more interest and higher prices among investors because they know they can profit heavily in the long run.

Need Help With Solar Panel Installation?

If you’d like to increase the future value of your home while also enjoying the benefits of solar energy right now, we’d love to help you out. Solar Bright are the experts you can count on for honest, reliable advice and the best solar products in Australia. Book a free consultation today, and find out how much you can expect to save thanks to solar energy