FAQs
Whether you’re a total newbie or a solar pro, we know there’ll be a question here with your name on it. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for, let us know at hello@glowb.uk – we’re happy to help!
What are you looking for?
General
What are the benefits of solar?
There are so many benefits when it comes to solar energy. Not only is it better for the planet because it means less dependency on fossil fuels, but solar can be a smart financial choice, too. Powering your home with solar means you have better control over your home energy source and have better protection against volatile price increases of grid power. Overall, choosing solar is a smarter and cleaner energy choice.
Is the cost of a solar install likely to fall?
Solar is becoming a more obvious choice for homeowners as new manufacturers of panels and installers have entered the market, pushing down the cost of panels significantly over recent years. That said, the cost has simply recalibrated to a better ‘normal’ and isn’t likely to continue to fall. In fact, by postponing a solar project, the risk is that the costs of installation and labour will continue to increase which would offset any further savings on panels.
Should I wait until there is another government scheme?
In April 2022, the government scrapped VAT on residential solar panels until 31st March 2027 (when purchased from a registered installer). Currently, the government has no plans to introduce further subsidies for residential solar, as solar now makes sense for most UK homes. It’s possible that VAT levied on panels could return in future. We may start to see the implementation of policies that require new builds to have solar panels pre-installed.
Are the batteries sustainable?
Batteries for solar systems are mostly lithium-ion and are commonly used in modern electronics like electric vehicles and other energy storage systems. Although lithium-ion has an environmental impact, recent advancements have made lithium-ion batteries much more energy efficient than they used to be. While there are still improvements to be made to the production and disposal of lithium-ion batteries, the environmental benefits (including the CO2 reduction) of going solar still outweigh the status quo of reliance on fossil fuels.
Do solar panels affect the value of my property?
In 2022, Solar Energy UK research found that a home solar installation can increase the sale price of an average home by £1,800. However, there are of course lots of factors in the mix including the location, condition, and age of the solar panels, as well as the overall housing market. In general, solar panels can increase the value of a property as an energy efficient home is more attractive than an energy inefficient one.
Commitment
If I book a free on-site survey, will I be pressured into an installation?
Booking a free on-site survey of your home is a great first step towards knowing if your home has potential for solar. But it absolutely doesn’t mean you’ll be subject to pressure from us to take it any further. We’ll use the information we gather from your survey to build the most accurate quote, energy savings calculation and design we can so you have the full picture of what solar could look like for your home. We pride ourselves on being trusted, transparent and helpful which means there is no sales pitch from us and no offers about to expire to ‘lock in’ the quote. Whether you’re at the very beginning of planning solar or envision it for your home much later down the line, an on-site survey is a great way for you to learn about how it would work and what your home is capable of when it comes to solar.
Can I change my mind?
Of course you can. We want you to feel 100% comfortable that solar is right for you so even if you’ve accepted your quote and booked your installation, there’s a cooling off period of 2 weeks where you can change your mind, for whatever reason. Along the way, you’ll be able to ask us any questions or hop on a call with your solar technician or can go over anything you’re unsure of. Take a look at our process – we’re pretty much here to help at every step of your solar journey.
How do I know you’re advising the right system?
Being truly values-based means that we use trust and transparency across our entire business. When it comes to your solar design and quote, the basis for both are the data points from the survey we conducted, our expert advice and years of experience on what system is best matched to your home and how you live. Because our teams are structured as consultants and not as sales agents, they’re only ever motivated to give the right advice rather than to ‘get the sale’. In fact, because we never subcontract out any part of our service to you, we know that whoever you’re dealing with is always doing their best to represent our values of trust, transparency and helpfulness. For your peace of mind, we’re accredited and follow multiple guidelines to recommend and install a system suitable for your home to the highest standard.
Roof
I have a slate roof - is that a problem?
Not for us! Solar panels can be installed on a slate roof but there are a few things to keep in mind. The age and condition of your slate roof needs to be assessed (which is why we recommend an on-site survey), the type of slate used in your roofing needs to be considered as well as the the orientation and the pitch of your roof because the solar panels need to be installed in a way that won’t damage the slate tiles to any kind of water leaks.
What if my roof needs replacing?
A solid, intact roof is necessary for the proper installation and longevity of your solar panels. One of the most important things we check during your on-site survey is the integrity of your roof. If we’re not sure, we might call upon a structural surveyor (we’ll handle the organisation) to give us a concrete view on the suitability of the roof. Because we want to be trusted and transparent to you at all times, we may advise you to postpone your plans for solar and think about working with a roofing contractor to repair or replace your roof first.
What your neighbours** are saying about us
**ok fine, they may not live on your road, but they’re useful testimonials regardless!
“Glowb have been great and we are delighted with the finished product. The whole team (all the trades people) have been super helpful and friendly. They have also built a plan and design to suit our house which most solar companies won’t do. We are delighted with the end product”.
Jeremy, London
“An amazing solar installation company. We were absolutely delighted by our whole experience with Glowb. We had received a number of other quotations from other suppliers but Glowb stood out. We are now producing an enormous amount of energy and pretty much self-sufficient most of the time. The whole system seems to be working even better than we had hoped. We would highly recommend anybody considering a solar installation to contact Glowb”.
Clive, Staffordshire
“Glowb designed a solution for our home and usage that seemed more carefully thought out than other companies we got quotes from. The team were friendly and courteous and kept us in the loop, and we always felt that the guys on-site and those back at base were all determined to deliver the best outcome. It wasn’t the simplest installation, but everybody’s attitude, professionalism and expertise made it as stress-free for us as it could possibly have been”.
Joel, Bedfordshire
“Glowb have been great and we are delighted with the finished product. The whole team (all the trades people) have been super helpful and friendly. They have also built a plan and design to suit our house which most solar companies won’t do. We are delighted with the end product”.
“An amazing solar installation company. We were absolutely delighted by our whole experience with Glowb. We had received a number of other quotations from other suppliers but Glowb stood out. We are now producing an enormous amount of energy and pretty much self-sufficient most of the time. The whole system seems to be working even better than we had hoped. We would highly recommend anybody considering a solar installation to contact Glowb”.
“Glowb designed a solution for our home and usage that seemed more carefully thought out than other companies we got quotes from. The team were friendly and courteous and kept us in the loop, and we always felt that the guys on-site and those back at base were all determined to deliver the best outcome. It wasn’t the simplest installation, but everybody’s attitude, professionalism and expertise made it as stress-free for us as it could possibly have been”.
Jeremy, London
Clive, Staffordshire
Joel, Bedfordshire
