Solar Panel Guide Discussion

John_Pierpoint

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

No argument the Zoopla graph for house prices in Butt Hill Manchester M25 more or less exactly matches your electricity consumption graph.
There we are proof positive that installing solar panels on the slightly desirable detached corner bungalow, has devalued every other detached & semi detached building in the rest of the road by between £50K and £75K.
OMG with house prices down from £425K to £350K, everyone in the street must be saying "we would have saved a fortune by living in a terraced house in Bradford".
If it were not for the BBC moving to Salford, the whole street could be in negative equity. Time to march on the town hall.:eek:

John.

OK I know that the base line of the above graph is months and the Zoopla one years, but why let the facts spoil a good story.

All that grey concrete paving in the front garden is probably in non compliance with current building regulations - just think of all the run-off from hard suburban landscaping causing flash flooding for the people at the foot of the hill?
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/property-history/7-butt-hill-road/prestwich/manchester/m25-9nj/1653013
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/property-history/2-butt-hill-road/prestwich/manchester/m25-9nj/7707322

When ever a house sells in a neighbourhood, you are never quite sure how "suitable" the incomers might be.
Last sale: £375,000 Sale date: 20th Jul 2006

orrery

newbie8 wrote: »

PArents recently installed Solar Panels.....

The main consumption meter going backwards is a common issue and will be problematic when the electric company find out. They'll want to 'estimate' the real consumption. They may be best advised to tell them quickly so it can be swapped for a modern one that will stop when reverse current is flowing.

The big white box is the inverter and, yes, it will get warm when generation is high and you may hear a fan running inside.

Switches: I'd guess that the red disconnects the mains and the black disconnects the DC from the panels. Either there is only one string of panels (I have two strings of panels and hence 2 black switches) or the black switch is in some way a 'dual' switch to disconnect both strings (?).

EricMears

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

All that grey concrete paving in the front garden is probably in non compliance with current building regulations - just think of all the run-off from hard suburban landscaping causing flash flooding for the people at the foot of the hill?

There's no requirement to comply with existing building regulations. The house has to comply with whatever regs were in force at the time construction started. Or of course any modifications would need to be made in line with any (new) regs that have come along since.

John_Pierpoint

There is a consultation out at the moment, it is intended to improve the "green" credentials of buildings. I think the closing date is the end of this month?

"Green" credentials now will include conservation of water and prevention of flooding.

There have been two attempts in the past to get "consequential improvement" forced onto property owners, the moment they have to ask for clearance to make an improvement to their property [I think this has to be structural not just replacing a window or a boiler] Correction it could be as little as boiler or window but internal redecoration would not trigger the "consequential improvement"
Previously this has been a step too far politically, but as we get nearer to the major milestone of 20% by 2020 and there is less money about for grants, "stick" is likely to replace "carrot" when the new regulations are published later this year.

So if you are contemplating building works get your permissions OK'd before the autumn or you might well be forced to borrow "green deal" money at 7% to do now, what you were intending to leave until your 12 year old left university?

beansy

Subscribing to this thread to try to learn more about this topic.

Thank you.

busser

Watch out for a crowd from Stockport called Solar 397. I sent off after much discussion with this company for their free system, the only cost was for a survey of the roof for £397 by a company they allegedly use called SPL who subsequently were very hard to find as well. The guarantee was that if the roof was not suitable then the fee was fully refundable, I was assured of this several times over the phone in calls which were taped. I was given a date for the survey to be carried out but nobody turned up and after much toing and froing was told the surveyor was running late and another date would be set. As it turns out that was not forthcoming so they took my information about my roof from me and sent it off as gospel to the fitting company. As it turns out the company who do the actual fitting said the roof was not suitable so I asked for my fee back and have been blocked with every possible excuse under the sun from talking to the Manager or indeed anybody of a senior position within the company, seems everytime I phone they are in a meeting! Result is now that Cheshire Trading Standards are involved and my Soliocitor is or will be issuing a writ shortly.AGAIN BE WARNED—– NAME OF THIS COMPANY IS SOLAR 397 IN STOCKPORT. BEWARE OF THESE FRAUDSTERS. Address of these people are ; Think Green Earth, 20, Hollins Lane, Stockport, SK6 6AW. BE WARNED THEY ARE NOT NICE PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH!!!!!!!

LittleVermin

busser wrote: »

Watch out for a crowd from Stockport called Solar 397. I sent off after much discussion with this company for their free system, the only cost was for a survey of the roof for £397 by a company they allegedly use called SPL who subsequently were very hard to find as well. The guarantee was that if the roof was not suitable then the fee was fully refundable,<snip>

the roof was not suitable so I asked for my fee back and have been blocked <snip>

Result is now that Cheshire Trading Standards are involved and my Soliocitor is or will be issuing a writ shortly.AGAIN BE WARNED—– NAME OF THIS COMPANY IS SOLAR 397 IN STOCKPORT. BEWARE OF THESE FRAUDSTERS. Address of these people are ; Think Green Earth, 20, Hollins Lane, Stockport, SK6 6AW. <snip>

The MD of Think Green Earth is a Paul Barrington Metcalfe (Paul Metcalfe) with quite a few directorships - see http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/909171089

Solar 397 is probably a trading name.

More about this deal on their website at http://thinkgreenearth.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=17&product_id=51 And they have a Facebook site (here) with photo of a solar panel - which a "Suzanne Metcalfe" of Wilmslow in Cheshire has 'liked'. (The company's registered address - and the director's, i.e. Paul Metcalfe's - seems to be the address you gave - near Stockport, in Cheshire). Basic official info on Companies House website here.

People have had similar problems - no refunds, no panels - with another "free solar" outfit called Energy Saving Group (see this thread) which went bust late last year but the directors (James Michael Manley and Steven Dickson aka Steve Dickson) had already started Energy Reduction UK (website here). Lots of involvement here with Trading Standards, Watch Dog, Rip Off Britain, local radio and papers. "Free solar", also called "rent-a-roof", is a good deal for the renters, by all accounts, as they pocket the FITs.
..

ronlizpatsimon

Thanks for warning us "busser". Previously I had heard that "Think-Green-Earth" was a good company. Have you tried chasing them, rather than "Solar 397"?


22.5 kw made yesterday. Can now use the generation to heat the water tank (3 kw heater) for the best 2 hours of the day. Saves Gas!

busser

Same company I'm afraid run by the same warped guy ie; Paul Barrington Metcalfe. Have had it confirmed by Cheshire Trading Standards and the ''Watchdog ''crew. Looking forward to the fight.

johnpr98

Hi

Hopefully you've received a PM from me, if not I'll resend it

One of two more in the same situation