Is it time to solar power your business?
Solar power, long favoured by the environmentalists, has finally moved to the mainstream and become a viable option for business owners.
From adding solar PV panels to your roof or outdoor space, introducing electric vehicle charging points, using a bio mass boiler or air source heat pump… there are now opportunities for businesses of all types and sizes.
Of course the ‘rewards’ of using solar power vary depending upon your business, but whether it is enhancing your green credentials or reducing your overheads, solar power is something every business should be considering.
We’ll give you the rundown, and go through a few of the benefits.
What is Solar Power and how does it work?
Many of you probably already know as it has been around for a while now – it’s not on everyone’s radar, however.
For those who don’t know, let’s go into it a little specifically:
The sun gives us more than just a suntan and a good mood. The energy from it can actually power entire properties and the certain mechanisms if harnessed properly.
Solar panels are used to harness this kind of energy. When the sun is beaming down on a panel, the photons on it break electrons free from their atoms – this creates a flow of electricity.
Without going into too much detail, the sun’s light and rays allow energy to be created to the same standard as other energy sources we have at our disposal.
Many companies use battery storage technology in order to keep the solar energy for a later date.
The sun isn’t always out, so things need to keep running during the darker times.
How do they benefit the environment specifically?
We all know that going green is better for the planet – you will have heard about it for years now. Not everyone knows exactly how it improves things, however.
It’s good to know about it because you might want to take further steps as a business and as an individual. If you haven’t the faintest clue about the specifics, then you might be hesitant in joining a very noble cause.
Firstly, no fossil fuels are being burned in order to create the energy. The simple action of the sun hitting the solar PV panels is enough to make lights turn on and machines power up. With that, there are no carbon emissions which deal damage to the earth and add to the greenhouse effect.
With other, more environmentally unfriendly methods, the process of powering up properties and machines has been known to cause people health problems.
A lot of short-term and long-term issues have affected the lives of individuals over the years. If you’re a business person with employees needs at heart, you’ll be happy that the solar panels will be a lot safer for you and your staff members.
Solar power is a renewable source of energy – it won’t be running out for a while! As long as the sun is around, solar energy will be right with it. As this source is borderline infinite, that means the strain on the finite resources of this world will be reduced.
The sun will be around forever, but so will the panels themselves. The solar PV panels are built to last, and they will not need to be replaced or worked on all that much. Maintenance and replacements can cause environmentally unfriendly waste.
Solar energy requires no water. As we’ve established; it’s exclusively powered by the sun’s rays. Many other energy sources require a lot of water to cool generators, transporting fuel, and many other jobs. You don’t want your business contributing to a potential drought in your area, obviously.
How would things look financially?
Your business would take a bit of a hit financially during the initial stage of purchasing solar PV panels – they can be pretty expensive.
You’ll be a lot better off in the long-term, however, as they’re much cheaper to run.
They are also lower maintenance, as we said before, so you won’t be paying for constant fixings. You’ll also be saving money on the electrical grid by opting for solar power.
What can solar power do for a company’s reputation?
Using solar power will only really benefit the reputation of a business. No matter how big or small a company, they’ll be viewed as on the correct team, morally.
Sure, there may be a few bumps along the way during the breaking in period, resulting in a little less productivity, but it’s a successful move in the long term in terms of how a firm is perceived.
Will it make everything more convenient for myself and the staff?
Of course, not only is it a marvellous method of generating power, but you and everyone around you will appreciate them, too.
Collectively, you’ll be more encouraged to go green and use even more environmentally friendly sources like biomass boilers and air source heat pumps.
Solar panels can team up with these and produce a much greener workplace for all.
Solar panels are here to stay, and they’re only going to become more advanced. More and more technology will be added to them, meaning you won’t have to remove and replace for a long while.
Speaking of the future, you may be inclined to purchase and use electric car charging points that use solar panels in your car parks. That would be much appreciated by employees, customers, and clients alike.
Staff members would also become a little more educated about how to be environmentally friendly, which will only be a positive going forward.
What kinds of businesses would solar power benefit?
Well, solar power positively affects a lot of different verticals positively. Pretty much every area of the professional world would be happy to have solar-powered sources installed. Offices would have a fully-functioning workplace that is run by nothing other than the sunshine.
The panels would make zero noise, meaning the staff can get on with limited distractions. Places like retail stores would benefit for the same reasons – they would get a little boost in terms of their curb appeal too, however. Potential customers would see the panels and be impressed – the first impressions would be enhanced.
Manufacturing companies and the factories they operate in would be boosted by solar energy. Some factories rely on environmentally unfriendly means to create their products, so solar energy would reduce their negative input some.
Agricultural businesses would also benefit. They need to keep their livestock warm somehow, and solar power could be a great way of doing so. Placing panels on the top of barns has become a very common practice. Solar heat collectors are also used to dry crops.
Are there any drawbacks to look out for?
Overall, solar energy is a great method of powering up your business. We’ve gathered that it’s morally correct and that there are a heap of benefits that come with it. But, as with pretty much everything in this life, there will be a few cons to mull over. You need to take an objective view with most aspects of life, and decide what’s right based on your current situation.
Firstly, we talked about the initial cost a little earlier. For the most part, this won’t be a huge problem, and businesses will likely be able to afford such an investment if they’ve considered it heavily enough.
Not every business will be able to, however, and that initial cost may be enough to put them off for the time being. Another negative for some small businesses is the lack of space they might have around them. Solar panels require a fairly large surface area; if a company is operating out of a small workplace, then they won’t be able to fit them in.
When the sun goes in, solar panels become obsolete. If the weather is constantly poor, then that’s not going to be great for those that rely heavily on solar energy. If a business has no battery technology that stores the power, then it can be a bit of a problem.
Finally, the manufacturing process still needs a little work. In the long-term, solar panels are fabulous, and they do a lot in terms of the greater good. The production is slightly environmentally unfriendly, however.
How to introduce solar power to your business
LIKE Electrical are an experienced team of electrical contractors who work on a variety of solar projects for businesses in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
We are able to advise, supply and install everything you need including:
- Solar PV panels to your roof or outdoor space
- Electric vehicle charging points
- Bio mass boilers
- Air source heat pumps
- Battery storage
- Solar system maintenance
Find out more about our Solar and Renewable Energy services.
