The sun does not say No when you ask for its help – to reduce your electricity costs, to reduce your carbon footprint, to heat your water, to buffer yourself against load-shedding.
But it may well frown down on us and think, “why on earth did they install solar panels on that roof, at that angle, behind those trees??”
Looking around in the streets of Cape Town, I surprisingly often come across such examples. In the case below the solar panels are installed on the south sides of the roof, where they will produce at most 2/3 of the electricity that they would on the north sides of the roof. And less than 1/3 in the winter months (when one wants it the most!).
Good, high-end solar design software, in the hands of someone who understands the science and the technologies, provides amazing opportunities to get a preview of not only what your solar system will look like, but of what it can achieve for you.
Matching up your electricity consumption patterns, the specifics of your house’s electrics, and the size, shape and orientation of your roof, with your needs and aspirations is what a good solar system designer should be doing for you.
The output of the design is a preview of what is possible. Installing the system then turns the possible into reality – with all the benefits. Make sure you have a good designer and a competent installer at your side.
Give the sun a good reason to shine, and not frown, down on you!
