How to know if a solar energy system is right for your home
14/03/2025
When you are thinking about installing a solar energy system, there is a quick checklist that you can use to determine if a system will suit your home. By installing a solar energy system, you will save money on your power bill, and power your home with renewable energy. Check your home against the points below to see whether solar would be a good fit.
The solar savers checklist – does solar make sense for my home?
- Your average power bill is $200 or more per month
- You own the home that you are looking to install a solar energy system on
- Your roof doesn’t have much shading from trees or other buildings, and gets good sun during the day
- Someone is at home during the day to use the energy that is being produced by the panels, or you can use timers to run appliances when the solar energy is being generated
If you answered yes to most of the questions above, then solar will likely be a great fit for your home.
There are some more points to consider as you start to investigate going solar.
What sized solar system do I need to power my home?
Each solar energy system comes with a kW sizing. The kW number refers to the amount of energy that it can produce at a peak period, for example, at midday when the sun is shining brightest. A kW is a unit of measurement for energy, one kW is equivalent to one unit of power. An easy way to think about how many panels your home may need is that a fridge requires two solar panels to power it, while a spa pool needs around 11 panels and a car needs around 10 panels.
Financing your solar system
Often we hear that kiwis would love to get solar but are put off by the cost of a system. There are now a number of options that can help with the initial outlay of a system. Banks offer green loans or sustainable loans that you are able to add on to your mortgage at low interest rates. For example, Westpac offer 0% interest up to $50,000 on a 5 year term, while ANZ offer 1% interest for up to $80,000 on a 3 year term. Check with your bank what is available to you. Likewise, some solar installers will be able to offer interest-free payment periods.
Talk to a solar installer
We have collated all the details of solar installers around the country in one place to make it easy for you to find an installer in your area. Click here to get in touch with your local installer to get a quote to see what solar could look like for your home.
