With so much uncertainty in the world, it makes sense for homeowners to try and save money wherever they can. So, in order to ensure you are getting the best deal on your energy provider, it makes sense to evaluate your current expenditure and the price of the other options available. Luckily, there are plenty of sites for you to compare electricity contract and plenty of options for more economical and environmentally friendly ways to supply your home with energy.
How often should I change energy suppliers?
As energy suppliers have different contracts and policies regarding changing providers, it is really down to the individual agreement you have worked out with your existing provider. However, it’s always a good idea to see what’s out there so having a quick browse online every month or two could help you save money. Also, keep in mind that if you approach your current provider sähköyhtiöt and explain the savings you could be making elsewhere they may decide to match the better offer rather than lose you as a customer.
Choosing solar energy – pros and cons?
A green energy source
Unlike other non-renewable forms of energy, solar energy is 100% renewable and we are never going to run out of sunshine. But, despite this, solar energy has also been found to cause some pollution too. The production, transportation and installation process required for solar panels have been found to produce some harmful greenhouse gases. However, experts agree that these emissions are far less than with other types of non-renewable energy.
Lower costs
If you are supplying some or all of the electricity you need through solar power, you are likely to notice the difference in your energy bill. However, the exact amount will depend on the system you are using. In addition to these savings, if you are making more than enough energy you can work out an agreement where you can sell your excess energy back to the grid. In addition, solar energy systems generally do not require much maintenance with cleaning as the only real upkeep you will need to handle. This can be done yourself, or you can pay a professional for around £25-£35. Your average reliable solar power system provider will give you a 20-25 years warranty, a testament to the fact that they last a long time and require little maintenance.
Unfortunately, despite these long-term savings, the setup cost of buying and installing a solar power system is pretty expensive. It is therefore likely that it will take a while to pay off your initial investment in the money you save. Luckily, the technology around solar power is continually improving and it is growing in popularity, which means the costs are likely to decrease too.
Diversity and efficiency
Solar power can be used in remote areas with no link with a mains power supply helping people purify drinking water or even power technology in space. It is also used for a variety of purposes, from generating electricity to heat. Solar energy is great for producing electricity in rural areas that can access the central energy grid. It is often used to distil water in regions without much access to clean drinking water and is even used in outer space to power satellites.
However, the efficiency and energy collection of solar power changes depending on the weather. Although, you will still generate energy during the rainy or cloudy days this will drastically decrease. The obvious option would be to store the solar energy you save on more sunny times of the year for the dreary winter months. But unfortunately, solar energy storage is still an expensive area. You can invest in some large batteries to store the energy, but they are expensive and will drive up that initial investment. It is for this reason that many households will still need to be connected to the grid for those times when there is less sunshine and they will need to go back to relying on mains power.
As you can see there are plenty of advantages to using solar power but, of course, for most people using it in their own homes it is the long-term savings and environmentally friendly approach that makes solar panels a preferred option. Although, solar energy is not without its problems, it is worth reiterating that
innovations in quantum physics, nanotechnology and other technologies have huge potential to improve the effectiveness of solar power, even doubling or triple the electricity they produce so we can expect great things in the years to come.
