Savvy and sustainable solar in Merri-bek
We caught up with Maggie in Merri-bek a few months after she installed solar PV to see how her new system was working for her home and her family.
Maggie and her little 1920’s bungalow are no strangers to solar power. She originally installed a 1.5kW system back in 2011. With rising energy costs and the recent end of the premium feed-in tariff (PFiT) it was a good time to upgrade her solar system.
With a family of four, including two older children and often working from home, Maggie saw this upgrade as an important step on her journey getting off gas and creating a more sustainable home.
Maggie was conscious of not only the environmental and financial factors of installing solar, but also the ethical factors.
“It is something worth bringing to the forth of our mind”.
The ethically sourced panels provided by the installer were a serious factor in her decision making. The added confidence of installing through a council-backed program made the decision even easier.
With some spare terracotta tiles on hand, the installation was completed smoothly with only a few delays due to extreme heat. The communication was excellent, with the installers providing updates via text and phone.
Maggie’s new 5.74kW solar system is key to powering her newly electrified home. “The last piece of the puzzle was putting in a heat pump to replace the instantaneous gas hot water system”. Since installing their solar system and replacing their gas appliances, Maggie and her partner have had fun being solar savvy and energy conscious.
“It’s a bit of a game, can we not send anything to grid.”
Maggie’s last bill was only $50 for the month, seeing her usage costs cut in half*. By using the SolarEdge monitoring app, Maggie and her family have been maximising their self-consumption (the amount of solar power you use). Even while doing so, they have exported 11 times more power to the grid than they did with their original system and are excited to see how it will change over the winter.
While the small feed-in tariff provides some bill relief, the excess solar power will allow even more savings in the future, such as for more heating and cooling, charging e-bikes, e-scooters, electric vehicles, or a home battery.
Maggie has talked to friends and family about her installation and the benefits of solar.
“I’d absolutely recommend solar”
Maggie also recommends the Solar Savers program, saying it provides a sense of security against “the sharks out there” with the benefit of knowing you are installing with a company that has passed the rigorous expectations of council.
Maggie’s solar journey showcases the benefits of embracing electrification and the satisfaction of being part of a sustainable future.
*based on electricity usage costs, excluding supply charges and membership fees.
