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Top 5 Myths about residential rooftop Solar Busted

07 February 2022

9 min read | By admin

Top 5 Myths about Home Solar Busted

The first solar panel was built in 1881 by Charles Fritts. It has been centuries since its inception but the technology is still evolving. While this technology was initially built for commercial users, its benefits and ease of installation has made it possible for homeowners to reap the benefits. In the last one decade, solar has grown in terms of people opting for it, and solar capacity installed immensely. 

While there is enough literature on solar power for homes and the rooftop solar for commercial sector on the web, there are still many myths that need to be busted. Let’s debunk the 5 most common misconceptions about solar to help you hop on the solar wagon. 

Top 5 Home Solar Myths

  • There Won’t Be Any Power Outages With Solar

A grid-tied rooftop solar system for home enables you to take advantage of net metering – a system where you get credit for contributing excess power to the utility grid and draw power from the grid when in need. However, a downside to this grid-tied solar system is that you continue to be impacted by power outages. When the electricity goes out from your local distribution company due to an overload, routine maintenance, or lightning and other natural disasters, your rooftop solar panel will also stop.

This is because the grid acts like a huge battery bank, which stores all your generated energy, and disburses for your consumption. Your energy exchange happens via grid, so obviously when the grid stops distributing electricity, you stop getting consumption electricity from the grid as well. 

However, integrating a solar battery backup into your residential rooftop solar setup will help you create a power reserve to keep the lights on when your neighbours’ are out due to a power outage.

  • There Won’t Be Any Electricity Bills

The biggest motivation for adopting solar among homeowners is to reduce the cost of electricity, possibly bring it to zero, and increase energy savings. However, eliminating the electricity bill entirely throughout the solar lifespan of the solar system is a myth. 

With an on-grid residential rooftop solar system, you will continue to receive monthly bills. It will reflect the import or units of electricity drawn from the grid, the export or units of excess solar electricity added to the grid, net units (difference between import and export) and banked units (when export is higher) to be carried forward to the next bill cycle. This billing mechanism is called net metering. 

  • No Sunshine at Night Equals No Electricity at Night

Solar panels give maximum solar energy output on bright sunny days, whereas no energy is generated during night hours when the sun isn’t shining. However, when the sun doesn’t shine due to cloudy or rainy weather, solar panels still generate power from the little sunlight reaching the earth. In fact, the solar efficiency level is higher in slightly cold and sunny climates. The reason is that excessive heat interferes with the panels’ ability to convert sunlight (photons) into electricity.

Solar panels need constant sunlight, however dim it may be, but that does not mean that you can’t receive electricity at night. By connecting your solar panel to a battery backup or net metering (connection to the grid), you can enjoy electricity 24/7.

  • Rooftop or Terrace Gets Compromised With Solar

A prominent concern of homeowners is that a rooftop solar structure will consume their roofs or alter the aesthetics of their property. Well, this was the case thus far, but this has not been the case nowadays. There are solar plants with elevated height that even enhances the utility of your roofs while enjoying the benefits of a solar plant.  

With the latest technological advancements in industry, residential rooftop solar has transformed. For example, the elevated rooftop solar plant by HomeScape is designed to suit your home and lifestyle. The pergola-inspired solar design works wonderfully both as a rooftop and ground solar setup and is installed by in-house trained technicians to ensure no damaged roof.

Its transparent glass solar ceiling lets in sunlight, creating a space for your winter sunbathing or morning yoga sessions.

  • Rooftop Solar is not suitable for small houses

Homeowners can benefit tremendously from solar and expect great returns. Since small houses are likely to have lesser load requirements, you will only need a few solar panels to generate enough electricity for your needs. Remember the thumb rule, for every 1 kilowatt of solar panels, you will need at most 100 sq. ft. of shade free area.

As a result, the price of solar systems for your home will also be as per the solar capacity you go for. Also, a home running on solar power will be valued higher should you decide to sell your home. Buyers will be willing to pay more for a home running on renewable energy.

Renewable energy is beneficial for us and the environment. If you are interested in exploring the various types of home solar systems, HomeScape is India’s leading rooftop solar installer and is here to help you make an informed decision.  Our home solar systems are efficient, beautiful, and  practically last forever.

Our team creates customized solar solutions to suit everyone’s needs with high-quality components, an advanced remote monitoring system, and higher efficiency solar panels.

Contact us for an in-person consultation today

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Is Residential Rooftop Solar ready to take off Post Subsidy and Falling Equipment Costs?

16 June 2021

5 min read | By admin

home solar system

Rooftop Solar in India has been seeing a steady adoption, evident from the rising capacity addition every year. According to a Bridge to India report, India’s total commissioned rooftop solar capacity stood at 6130 MW as on September 2020, predominantly driven by the Commercial and Industrial segment. The Residential segment, which is in the nascent stage stands at 804 MW, which is approximately 14% of the total of 5880 MW of Rooftop Solar as on June 2020. However, with the changes in policy and business environment, the residential segment is poised to pick up the pace and is anticipated to have a significant share in the coming years.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2019 launched the Phase-2 of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme in which the Central Financial Assistance (CFA), or in other words subsidy, was accorded to the Residential sector. Phase-2 of the programme had revised the subsidy limits for individual residential houses to 40% for capacity up to 3 kW and 20% for capacity between 3kW to 10kW. The subsidy is based on either the benchmark cost mandated by the MNRE, or the discovered price in the tender, whichever is lower. The subsidy allows the homeowners to significantly reduce their share of the price paid for the rooftop solar system making it more affordable.

On the other hand, the equipment costs have significantly fallen over the past few years globally, which has been observed in India as well. The prices of solar panels which constitute almost 60% of project cost had fallen by almost 18% year-on-year as per Bridge to India.

18% year-on-year as per Bridge to India.   

Figure: Solar module prices (USD cents/W) Ref: Bridge to India

However, the drop in prices has been offset by safeguard duties in India against the import of solar modules to promote local manufacturing, which is also mandated as part of the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR). According to DCR, it is necessary to use indigenously manufactured solar panels to avail subsidy in solar projects. In addition to this, the shortage in supply has driven the prices higher during the second half of 2020. Despite temporary volatility in prices, the long-term reduction has helped Residential Rooftop Solar project costs to reduce significantly and help drive adoption. A major challenge that remains in adopting residential rooftop solar is the lack of awareness, which is being addressed actively by DISCOMS through community-level demand-aggregation programmes. Also, to make rooftop solar economically attractive, businesses in partnership with NBFCs offer financing options through EMIs at lower interest rates for longer tenures than traditional banks.  

Reference: Bridge to India

The percentage share of residential solar in the total rooftop solar capacity added in a year has been almost steady with it being at 11% in 2017, 10% in 2018 and 12% in 2019 and 14% up to June 2020. With the developments to promote residential segment, there is a strong sentiment for it to take off. Charukesh N R B Manager, Residential Solar

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Can you run a house completely on Solar Power?

20 February 2021

8 min read | By admin

Residential Solar panel

An answer to the question, whether you can run a house completely on solar power is yes! Especially in a country like India where we receive abundant sunshine throughout the year, it is convenient and beneficial to have residential solar systems.

Going completely solar you can reap good benefits but there can also be some potential drawbacks which are inadvertently attached to it. The best part about generating electricity through solar power is that it is completely free! The initial investment involves setting up the solar system can be a bit high depending upon your requirement. Solar power is quite efficient and is also free of pollution. But you must also consider the chances of foul weather that might cause a problem to your plans.

TYPES OF SOLAR SYSTEM:

There are two types of solar systems namely off-grid solar system and on-grid solar systems.

Off-grid solar systems:

Off-grid solar systems are the ones that work independently off the grid and have batteries which can store the solar power generated by the system. The system consists of batteries, solar panels, grid box, charge controller, mounting structures, and balance of the system. But there is always a chance of an extended bad weather condition might cause problems for your electricity supply.

On-grid solar system:

In On-grid solar system, if your system produces more power than is required, then the surplus can be fed back into the main electrical grid with the help of solar net metering and you can get credited for the same. Similarly, you can also use the traditional grid provided power during the situations when your system is not producing enough power.

UNDERSTANDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE:

While planning to run your house completely on the solar power, you need to also understand the financial and mental investment required. The infrastructure and working of a solar system are slightly complicated and hence the calculations involved should be precise. With the help of careful routing of a home’s plumbing, you can get hot water heated by the sun and since it is pumped through the house, the heat dissipated can be used to control the temperature of the house. The heat generated in this manner would also not add up to the home’s electric consumption. Although it might be a challenge to execute, in the year 2007, a successful experiment had shown how to heat and cool the house using a solar radiant heat system!

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Before finalizing to go completely solar, the first point to be considered is whether your house gets enough sunlight throughout the year to produce enough electricity. If your requirement is to run an 800-watt load for your home or less than 800-watt then 1kW solar panel is perfect for you. The solar panel installation requires 100 square feet of shade free roof space and to run the load, the first priority would be given to the solar system and second priority would be the grid or batteries. 1kW solar panel price in India for home depends upon the type of solar system.

The different types of 1kW solar systems include:

1. On-Grid Solar System:

Also known as grid-tied system as it connects with the grid electricity system. The solar system with 1kW capacity produces 4-6 units per day on an average. Solar net-metering is installed which reads how much electricity you are using and the balance which can be exported to the grid. All the adjustments are made in your upcoming bills by the government.

2. Off-Grid Solar System:

Off-grid solar system or stand-alone power system is also known as a solar battery-based system. This system has a battery as a backup which helps you store the solar power which can be used during power cuts when the sunlight is not available.

3. Hybrid Solar System:

Hybrid solar system is designed to have the functions of both the off-grid solar system and on-grid solar system. Basically, a hybrid solar system has three sources to run its load – solar energy, battery storage, and grid electricity. The best part about a hybrid solar system is that it stays connected with the government electricity grid and has batteries as a backup. It is most suitable for people living in areas that witness more power cuts, due to frequent rainfalls. The approximate cost of 1kW solar panel with battery storage in India ranges anywhere between Rs.80,000 to Rs. 1,50,000, including installation. While calculating the price also check whether you are eligible for the government subsidy ranging from 10% to 40%.

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COVID-19 Safety Practices in Installation of Residential Solar Systems

24 November 2020

7 min read | By admin

safety practices for solar installation

COVID-19 has changed the process of working in industrial, institutional, government, private and all other sectors. Working remotely is the “New-Normal” since the pandemic started. With the pandemic at bay, the government of India has released the lockdown in various working sectors including the energy sector. Due to increasing time spent at home, a large number of homeowners are opting for residential rooftop solar to reduce their electricity bills and to utilize their terraces to spend time. The installation process of residential solar systems is now done with complete precaution and in a hygienic manner as recommended by various health organizations.

MAINTAINING HYGIENE WHILE INSTALLING RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PANEL:

The Initial Stage:

For installing solar panels on the roof of your home, the first step would be to conduct a complete survey of the roof. Contactless site visits are made to conduct surveys of residential solar systems. At HomeScape, digital meters are used to measure the dimensions of the rooftop instead of measuring tapes, making it a contactless site visit.

installing solar panels on the roof

The Second Stage:

In the second stage, the residential solar system is designed remotely and the products are delivered to the site of the residential solar system installation. All the products are sanitized, safely packed and sent to the location. Till this stage, there is no physical contact and interaction with customers. HomeScape uses its own dedicated truck for delivering the items and ensures high level of safety and hygiene during transportation.

delivery of equipments

Third Stage:

After the product delivery, the engineers and technicians assigned to the installation, visit the location. All employees of HomeScape are trained to maintain social distancing and hygiene.

installing solar panels on the roof

MAINTAINING HYGIENE DURING SOLAR INSTALLATION:

These are some guidelines that has to be followed while installing solar panels on the roof, during the installation process.

  1. The team members have to mandatorily wear N-95 masks, throughout the installation period.
  2. The members should wear gloves and commit to all the necessary protective gears for the installation.
  3. The members should carry sanitizers and sanitize their hands frequently avoiding unnecessary interaction with the customers.
  4. The equipment used in the installation process should be sanitized regularly.
  5. All the members should go through medical tests to carry out their work.
  6. Any member who is sick should not continue his /her work installing the residential solar system. They should home quarantine for at least 14 days to ensure safety of other crew members.
  7. The crew members should avoid unnecessary conversations with other crew members.
  8. The members of the team should maintain 6ft distance from each other.
  9. The members should  bring his/her own belongings (bottles, lunchbox) if needed and avoid borrowing things from other team members.
  10. The employees should follow the basic health hygiene, as advised by the W.H.O and other Federal Health Organizations.

AFTER INSTALLATION OF RESIDENTIAL SOLAR SYSTEMS:

After installing the solar panels, the residential solar system is connected to the grid .Details of generation of energy and the import and export are monitored on HomeScape Monitoring app. The documentation process regarding the liaisoning with the DISCOMS is done completely online eliminating the fear of virus through the physical documents.

homescape monitoring app
The company encourages Work-From-Home and only the necessary team members are allowed to work offline. However, there are certain situations that require human intervention while installing solar panels on the roof. Accordingly, the engineers and technicians are trained well to take precautionary measures. The customer has no chances of getting affected by the virus. The need of the hour is to follow the guidelines laid down by the government to ensure safety and protection. With all the operations resuming gradually, it is very important that we abide to the guidelines, stay in our own bubble and help in reducing the intensity of the situation.

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Improve Home Aesthetics using Solar Panels at Home

10 November 2020

10 min read | By admin

homescape atrium solar pergola

Having solar panels in the house says a lot about the lifestyle of the residents. It indicates that they are not only conscious of the environment but also about their wallets. Solar panels are now one of the most aesthetical and environmentally friendly solutions for every sustainable home.  At the same time, the current climate crisis has made us realized the importance of renewable sources of energy. Solar technology has proven to be the best option both in terms of economic & commercial viability. Solar energy is an environmentally viable option, it uses naturally occurring renewable resources like sunlight, unlike conventional energy-generating resources that use coal. They are entirely self-dependent devices. It is also pocket-friendly for a household to generate solar energy and if the generation exceeds consumption, you can give back to the electrical grid (in case of a net-metered connection) and earn credits, which can be used/ redeemed in subsequent months.  Unfortunately, many people find solar panels bulky and less appealing for a house. But with the advent of technology, this is changing. The innovations in designs have brought up a range of aesthetically beautiful solar panels. This has increased the demand for these aesthetic solar plants. 

Here are some of the ways with which you can aesthetically improve your open spaces of your home using solar panels: – 

1. Unused roofs/ Flat roofs

 Roofs play an important role in Indian households, but many times they are often left unused and unoccupied. With a growing space crunch in the city life, there is a need to utilize every part of our homes into usable spaces. Why only dry clothes on roofs when you can install solar panels and instead generate green electricity to power your home.  Terra is a conventional Homescape standard rooftop solar power system that is about 3 feet high. It can be installed over roof objects like water tanks, AC vents, etc. This way rooftop solar panels at home can make your unutilized roof space into a space of worth which is also powering your home.

For people who want more than solar, if they want to transform their open spaces into terrace gardens, sit-outs, etc.  they can go for Atrium – The Flagship Solar pergola.  Atrium is a pergola styled solar plant by HomeScape. This elegantly designed solar power system can run the entire home on green energy. With a beautiful wooden finish exterior, steel-reinforced for strength and durability, this solar pergola acts as a perfect solution for people looking to beautify their homes with solar. The structure made to last for 25 years, can also withstand harsh weather conditions.   

2. Parking Spaces/ Canopies

We often spend a hefty amount on covered parking areas or benched areas and driveways. These dormant spaces can be turned into monetizing units by adopting Aerial by HomeScape. It is an elevated canopy style rooftop solar power system that is about 9 feet high. It is a powder-coated and corrosion-resistant structure that gives it a long life. This makes our dormant spaces usable throughout the day.

3. Porches/ Outdoor seating/ Backyards

These spaces are linked to the indoor spaces nearby. In summers, these spaces can be used as active spaces to hang out throughout the day. But in areas where the sun is harsh, using them throughout is not a feasible option. In such scenarios, one opts for a Gazebo or some form of an enclosure.   These enclosures are dormant elements that add only aesthetics to your outdoors. On the contrary, the Atrium by Homescape can be an ideal option to make these enclosures both aesthetical and functional in a sustainable manner. 

You can set up space as

Dining areas –  

  • For a dining space design, a sleek table along with required chairs or stools can solve the seating requirements. Care should be taken that these furniture elements are weather and termite-proof like the Atrium Solar pergola by Homescape, as they would be semi-exposed.  
  • For making the space more usable during barbeques and family dinners, a deck with a separate zone for a barbeque or cooking purpose can give the space an appealing look. 
  • Adequate storage elements like low raised cupboards for storing kitchenware and cleaning products give more usability. 
  • For making the space more aesthetic, landscaping and, gardening can be done. The column reinforcements of the Atrium are distanced such that they give a floaty look to the design and make it aesthetically feasible to plants hanging pots and climbers all over it. This makes your home aesthetic as well as sustainable. 
  • For lighting purposes, pendant lights are an ideal option to illuminate the space during evenings. For the dining table, a chandelier can also be installed to give a proper hierarchy to the ceiling. Stairs or levels can be lined with LED strip lights to add a dynamic touch.

Recreational zone/ Leisure space –  

Many houses use their porches or outdoor areas for recreational purposes. The purpose could be for exercising or rejuvenation. 

  • For the recreational zone with a Solar Pergola, space can be designed as per the activity. Rooftop solar panels at home act as a hybrid of indoor+outdoor spaces.
  • For exercise, space can be kept with minimal furnishing and more green factors like plants. Plants on the ground & hanging pots on the pergola can give a calm feel to the space. 
  • For reading and rejuvenation, space can have more furnishings and seating spaces. Furniture needs to be such that it is comfortable to sit or lie down and read. For rejuvenation, sculptures and artworks can be an active part of the space decor.
  • Lighting plays an important role in recreational spaces, for reading spaces, downlights, and pendant lights can be used. For rejuvenation, mild shades of downlights can add a sense of calm and visibility.

Solar designs have now reached a new era where there is a balance between aesthetics and functionality. The customization of Solar energy through HomeScape has given us more options to explore and make our homes into beautiful eco-homes.

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10 Smart Energy Saving Tips For Your Home

06 August 2020

9 min read | By admin

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It’s no wonder that we would have heard of so many ways to reduce household energy usage by some simple steps like switching off the fan and lights whenever not in use or looking for the energy saver logo whenever purchasing new electronic appliances. There are many ways, ranging from small habitual changes in your routine to extensive home improvements that can considerably reduce the overall energy consumption of your home.

Top 10 Smart Energy Conserving Tips to Reduce Energy Consumption at Home

Listed below are 10 smart energy saving tips that range from the simplest to the most intensive ways:

  1. Everyday behavioral changes:

A simple step of switching off the tube lights and fans when not in use will help in energy consumption. Another important step is by trying to perform simple household tasks like washing the dishes manually instead of using the dishwasher, hanging the wet clothes to dry in the sun instead of the dryer, etc. which will limit the usage of energy-intensive appliances.  

  1. Replace your existing light bulbs with energy-efficient lights:

The recently developed compact fluorescent lights (CFL), halogen incandescent bulbs, and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) use less electricity as compared to the traditional incandescent light bulbs. The average energy consumption by the CFL and LEDs is 25 – 80% less as compared to the traditional lights which makes it a much wiser choice.  

  1. Purchase a solar power system for your home:

Before implementing solar energy for a home, it is recommended to assess the potential solar energy that can be generated at your place. The amount of solar energy generated depends upon how much sunlight is received and the size of the unit. While calculating the solar panel for a home price, you can check with the local and state authorities for any incentives or solar subsidy which can be applicable for home consumption. Many companies also offer free solar panels for home use which causes zero up-front cost and only pay for the electricity generated and used by you. In case, your home can generate excess energy than required then the installer will recommend that you go for a grid-tied system, for it allows you to sell excess electricity and get credit for the same.  

  1. Go for installation of energy-efficient windows:

Energy-efficient windows are getting extremely popular these days. If you are located in colder regions then gas-filled windows with ‘Low-E’ coatings will help reduce your heating expenses considerably. Additionally, installing interior or exterior storm windows will reduce heat loss by 10 to 20%. Storm windows are highly recommended in case your region experiences harsh weather conditions.  

  1. Go for home insulation:

Home insulation plays a vital role in reducing the home utility bills by lowering the heat from your house during summers and retaining heat during the winters. The level of heat resistance also known as R-value for the insulation will solely depend upon the place where you live. The R-value for buildings located in warmer regions is much lower as compared to the R-value of the building located in colder regions.

  1. Home weatherization:

Home weatherization or sealing of the air leaks of your home can reduce the heating and cooling expenses of your home considerably. Caulk can be used to seal the air leaks between non-moving objects like windows, and door frames. For major cracks between operational windows and moving objects like doors, weather stripping can be applied.  

  1. Upgradation of an HVAC system:

The HVAX system comprises of air conditioning, heating, and ventilation of your home. Upgrading to an energy star certified appliance will reduce the overall heating bill considerably. Similarly, switching to the energy star rating central air conditioning system will be approximately 8 – 10% energy efficient as compared to the conventional modes. Upgrading the ventilation system of the HVAC system will also improve energy efficiency. This can be done by properly sealing and insulating the ducts that distribute hot and cold air throughout the home.

  1. Smart power strips:

Smart power strips or advanced power strips eliminate the issue of phantom loads which is a major source of energy wastage. They are useful by automatically shutting off the supply of power to the electronics when they are not in use.  

  1. Installation of a programmable or smart thermostat:

You can choose to install a programmable or smart thermostat to eliminate energy wastage at home without actually upgrading your HVAC system. A programmable or smart thermostat automatically turns off or reduces the heating and cooling during the time when you are away or not using it. It also indicates when to change the air filters which also improves the efficiency of heating and cooling of the system.  

  1. Reduction in the overall water heating expenses:

Water heating is the major contributor to total energy consumption at home. To reduce water heating expenses, you can simply reduce the usage of hot water or insulate the water heater and also the first six feet of hot and cold-water pipes. Alternatively, you may also turn down the thermostat on your water heater. If considering the replacement of your water heater, then you can purchase an energy-efficient water heater to reduce the overall expenses.   Energy conservation is not only necessary but also beneficial for many other reasons. It helps you save money, enhance the property value, and also protect the environment! 

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