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Thinking of making your business green? Keen to know the benefits of going solar? Read on.
Why should my business go solar?
Solar power can be a great investment. It will help your business generate clean, green energy for decades, and ensure that you are not at the mercy of the power grid and its tendency to blackout. In addition to this, over the long term solar could actually help generate revenue for your business as well as providing positive PR.
Money matters
The biggest hurdle to most businesses getting solar panels is the cost, but fortunately that may be beginning to change. While electricity prices have consistently risen, the price of solar power has been dropping a lot over the last 18 months — so solar could be a way for you to insulate your business against further price hikes. It could also be possible to get solar with no initial capital outlay, as some companies offer a solar leasing or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
What is a PPA?
A Power Purchase Agreement is an energy supply agreement between you and your energy provider, in which they will provide your property with solar panels, usually with no initial outlay, and then agree to sell you the energy that they produce at a rate cheaper than you would pay for energy generated elsewhere. The energy producer in effect leases the space on your roof to generate power and then sells you the power produced. There are usually clauses attached, such as a minimum term contract which you must have the panels for and sometimes a minimum amount of power that you must buy each month. Check with your energy supplier or with a specialist energy broker for full details and a quote of PPAs that may be available to you.
The building
Obviously putting solar panels on your roof is going to have an impact on the value of your building, but a lot of people are unsure about whether they send the valuation up or down. This will vary depending on your property and location, but the answer is usually that they send the value up, making your property more valuable than it was before. In addition to the value of self generating power and the long life expectancy of solar panels, you could also improve your building’s National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) and your Green Star rating, both of which could improve the value of your commercial property.
A guide to energy ratings
NABERS is an Australian national energy rating system that measure the environmental performance of commercial buildings, tenancies and homes. They take into account energy efficiency, water usage, waste management and indoor environment to determine the overall quality of a building and its impact on the environment. They have a simple star rating, with six stars for the best and one star for those that require the most improvement.
Green Star rating is a similar certification that is dished out by the Green Building Council of Australia. It measures new and old building and gives them a rating from one star to six stars depending on their energy efficiency and overall environmental impact.
Social and PR perspective
Aside from benefiting your building’s value, having solar installed may also help you to improve your social presence. Climate change is the big story in the world at the moment, perhaps the biggest, and companies are beginning to use their positive news on going green to advance their brand and attract new customers.
I’m interested. Which company should I go with?
There are a whole host of companies that provide a quality solar service, and we’ve reviewed many of them on our energy pages. It’s a good idea to have a look through our guides to see what solar service might benefit you the most. And if you get lost in the jargon or if you just want the advice of an expert, then contact a specialist energy broker on the form provided. They’ll discuss your options with you and make sure you find the solar system that suits your needs.
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