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What is CREW Solar?
Big_Mac_TMMM
Posts: 48 Forumite
in Energy
I saw a link to CREW Solar posted on Facebook. They operate in Wandsworth and Merton and claim to get residents "big discounts on getting solar panels installed".
The page reads as if it is some sort of consumer support group, and they are claiming some sort of affiliation with Community Energy England and Friends of the Earth, but I can't see any sort of evidence that they are a charity, so I wonder if they are a commercial organisation talking nice words.
I skimmed though their FAQ PDF and found this:
That's just bonkers, because almost no residental properties in Wandsworth and Merton have an accessible route to their roof. And slate roofs are standard in the housing build in Wandsworth and Merton. And even if you don't need scaffolding, to get onto the roof of your house, you are going to have a flat roof, and they are going to add on £150-£300. So this supposedly "community scheme" seems to be hiding £400-£700 of costs in the small print. That's not a small sum of money.
If people want to go ahead with the scheme, they are referred onto an email address for another organisation called Social Power. They ask people to say where they were referred from "this will allow to attribute the community fund accordingly" (SIC). However, I'm wondering if CREW Solar are actually subsidising solar panel installation in Wandsworth or Merton, or if this is some sort of advertising gimmick, where they are pulling people into a doorway page that feeds Social Power sales and getting paid a commission on sales.
Has anyone had any dealings with CREW Solar? How do their prices compare to fitting solar panels without going through Social Power? How big are the "big discounts" they are claiming?
Is it possible to get solar panels from Social Power without going through CREW Solar? If so, does that lower or raise the prices charged?
The page reads as if it is some sort of consumer support group, and they are claiming some sort of affiliation with Community Energy England and Friends of the Earth, but I can't see any sort of evidence that they are a charity, so I wonder if they are a commercial organisation talking nice words.
I skimmed though their FAQ PDF and found this:
CREW_Solar wrote:These prices are subject to site survey and are based on there being no need for third party roof access (scaffolding), pan-tiled roof, and a accessible route from the PV modules to your fuseboard. These quotes are for pitched roof systems only and include VAT.
If scaffold is required prices could increase by a further £400. Slate roofs will cost £100-£200 more than a standard tile. If you have a flat roof you can expect to pay an extra £150-£300 for the framing kits.
That's just bonkers, because almost no residental properties in Wandsworth and Merton have an accessible route to their roof. And slate roofs are standard in the housing build in Wandsworth and Merton. And even if you don't need scaffolding, to get onto the roof of your house, you are going to have a flat roof, and they are going to add on £150-£300. So this supposedly "community scheme" seems to be hiding £400-£700 of costs in the small print. That's not a small sum of money.
If people want to go ahead with the scheme, they are referred onto an email address for another organisation called Social Power. They ask people to say where they were referred from "this will allow to attribute the community fund accordingly" (SIC). However, I'm wondering if CREW Solar are actually subsidising solar panel installation in Wandsworth or Merton, or if this is some sort of advertising gimmick, where they are pulling people into a doorway page that feeds Social Power sales and getting paid a commission on sales.
Has anyone had any dealings with CREW Solar? How do their prices compare to fitting solar panels without going through Social Power? How big are the "big discounts" they are claiming?
Is it possible to get solar panels from Social Power without going through CREW Solar? If so, does that lower or raise the prices charged?
Longtime fan of MSE and the good advice given out here. :hello:
Mostly looking for free and cheap resources for tabletop RPGs.
Mostly looking for free and cheap resources for tabletop RPGs.
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Suggest that you post this in the "Green & Ethical" thread where Solar PV is discussed.0
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