Reverend Steve Paynter with the alms house panels
SOLAR PANELS
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SUN TRAPS SAVE MONEY
Why rely on an energy company to supply your electricity when you can get the
sun to help you instead? We may not seem to get a lot of sunshine in this country,
but we get more than you might think.
G
enerating your own
electricity by harnessing
the sun’s energy is a cost
effective option for many
homeowners. It involves fitting solar
panels on your home to collect the sun’s
energy – and you can get money back
for every bit of power you generate.
The government supports solar power
and other renewable energy sources
by offering a ‘clean energy’ cashback
scheme called the Feed in Tariff. The
tariff is simply a payment made to you
for all the electricity you produce for
your home, and also for any that you
can pump back in to the electricity grid
when you do not need to use it.
DOING IT LOCALLY
Ealing Council is leading the way
for renewable energy locally and is
continuing to expand its solar panel
programme on council homes to help
residents cut their energy bills. The
revenue generated will improve the
energy efficiency of council housing
and helps residents who face fuel
poverty in the borough. As much as
10% can be saved on energy bills,
which could save residents up to £170
a year. The council is also surveying its
offices for the installation of renewable
energy, with the first projects due to
be completed by this summer.
‘AN EASY PROCESS’
Solar panels have been installed by
St Mary’s Church Homes Trust on their
alms houses to help generate enough
electricity for one of the flats.
Vicar of St Mary’s, Reverend Steve
Paynter, said: “Installing the panels
was an easy process and did not cause
any disruption. There is an initial cost
to buying the panels and having them
installed, but the panels will pay for
themselves in the next 10 years and
should last for another 20 after that which
will help generate funds for the charity for
many years to come. It is really important
to the church that we encourage more
people to think about the environment
and find ways to use sustainable energy.”
AN EFFICIENT HOME
Before you consider producing your
own energy, it is best to make sure
your home is running as efficiently as
possible through insulation, doubleglazing, draught proofing and energyefficient appliances.
Did you know our borough is
part of Green Homes Together? It is
a partnership that provides advice
on energy efficiency in homes, and
can arrange a visit from an advisor.
Call 0300 111 3330 or discover
the latest offers available, at
www.greenhomestogether.org.uk
around ealing
Spring 2015
15