Western Australians who own a solar power system now have another reason to smile with the introduction of the net feed-in tariff which commenced yesterday.

The feed-in tariff will give system owners 40 cents for every unit of electricity that is exported on a net basis, and when combined with the Renewable Energy Buyback scheme, currently at 7 cents, owners get a total of 47 cents.

In a net scheme like WA’s, the home first uses the power that is generated from the solar panels on the roof. This is used to power TVs, fridges, any appliance that requires electricity to operate. If there is any left over, the system exports this to the electricity grid to be used by someone else. And the feed-in tariff pays you for this electricity exported on a net basis.

The good thing about a net feed-in tariff is that it encourages energy efficiency. The less power the home uses the more it exports. This means more money from the feed-in tariff and smaller, or in some cases a zero dollar electricity bill.

Feed-in Tariff Summary:

Model: Net (information on Net feed-in tariffs can be found here)
Tariff Rate: $0.40 + Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme tariff $0.07 = $0.47/kWh
Length: customers to receive payments for 10 years
Eligible Systems: Up to 5kW for Synergy grid, up to 10kW/phase for Horizon Grid (30kW for 3 phase grid connection)
Start date: 1 August 2010
End date: 20 years from commencement

For more information on the feed-in tariff visit the WA Office of Energy’s website.

Hi Everyone

I would just like to start by congratulating everyone who is part of the SWITCH OFF competition for 2010.

Congratulations to the 8 schools that have successfully reduced their energy consumption in the first week of the competition.

Some useful tips we received from schools last year were:

1. Move all food and cold items to one fridge/freezer on weekends to save space and switch the others off the save energy.

2. Form an energy patrol squad – a group of students who will go to all classrooms in the after noon and at break times to ensure all right and non essential appliances are switched off.

Other great ideas include asking students to think of their own energy saving ideas that they could take home to share with their parents or do an energy saving quiz with questions such as ‘which game console uses the least energy – Nintendo wii, X box or play station? Answer: Nintendo wii.

If your school has any hints or tips they would like to share please leave a comment.

The Kids Saving Energy website has great energy saving tips and games

There are lots of children out there helping to look after our environment by reducing the amount of energy they use. Now you can join in by visiting some of  the great web sites which provide fun and interactive ways for kids to save energy.

One of our favourites is Kids Saving Energy. This is a great site with some fun energy related games, great tips and information on renewable energy.

Another great site is Energy Star Kids. Check both sites out and let us know what you think!

If you know of any cool kids environmental sites we would love to hear about them.

With the competition starting this Wednesday here are some common tips for kids to remember when saving energy:

• Turn off lights when you leave the room
• Turn off the radios and TVs and DVD player when you are finished
• Turn off video games at the switch
• Put on a jumper before you put on the heater
• Unplug phone and other charges at the wall
• Keep the fridge door closed
• Ask your parents or teachers to change to energy efficient light globes

These are all simple things that you can all do to help. Each small contribution can go a long way to helping our environment and helping to save your parents and school money.

If you have any more tips you want to share please leave a comment.

Remember to SWITCH OFF!

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With a wide range of solar panel technologies on the market, many people are confused with what is the best panel for their home.

Solar Shop Australia supplies a number of premium panel technologies to cater for the wide variety of situations customers have. This enables them to develop the best solution for the each individual home and ensure that the customer is maximising their investment in solar power.

So what is the best panel? There is not a simple answer for this, as it depends on a variety factors.

The main consideration for many consumers is what the total power production of the system will be. To compare the power production of different technologies people should visit the Desert Knowledge Australia, Solar Centre. This site compares apples with apples and shows which technology is the most efficient when it comes to power production. (Make sure you check the normalised output graph for true comparison).

Generally speaking the Thin Film Amorphous Silicon panels produce more power per kilowatt installed than other technology types. However, sometimes roof space limits the number of panels that can be installed. To maximise the roof space a hybrid (combination of crystalline and thin-film amorphous silicon) panel or crystalline technologies may be the best option.

When purchasing a solar power system, the panel technology used is important to ensure that you receive the best value for money for the specific situation. With 25 year guarantees on most panels you need to trust the brand of panel installed and know the company will be around to fix any problems should they arise.

So ask about the panel technology and compare the differences when you are installing a system. It could mean you produce a lot more solar power and save more money in the long run.

With registrations for the 2010 Switch Off competition closing today, it is time to announce the schools which will be participating in the competition this year.

54 schools are competing to see who can be crowned the biggest energy loser for 2010. The winner will receive a 1.5kw solar system donated by Solar Shop Australia.

The schools switching off for 2010 are:

Good luck to all of our schools! You can find energy tips to help your school save here.

Enjoy your holidays and get ready to start saving in Term 3!

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The creators of Switch Off, Jessica Gill and Laura Ryan, have both been named as finalists in the 2010 Youth Awards, for the Activate! Department of Environment and Conservation Award.

The awards are being held next Friday 16 July and we wish both of the girls the best of luck in the awards!

Jess and Laura are not new to winning awards in the environment space. Last year they won the Junior Green Hero category in the news.com.au for creating Switch Off. This was a national competition and they should be extremely proud of this achievement.

The girls are excellent examples and role models for how youth can inspire youth to save the environment and be proactive in the community when they really believe in something.

We want to know if you know any inspirational youth in WA who are doing great things in the community? We would love to hear their stories. Post them here by clicking on comments.

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You can now find the Switch Off blog and other local Perth blogs listed at Loadedweb.com

While both solar power and solar hot water systems use the sun to produce electricity and hot water respectively, the sun is utilised in two very distinct ways
 
As discussed in a previous blog, solar power uses the sun’s light and, through a process known as the photoelectric effect, creates direct current (DC) power. As Australian households use alternating current (AC) to power appliances, lights and so forth, the solar power system includes an inverter to convert the DC power into useable AC power. The sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day, so these systems are connected to the grid which enables the home to draw on the power from the grid at night, but also send excess solar generated electricity into the grid for other homes to use.
 
In contrast, solar hot water systems use the thermal properties (the heat) of the sun to heat water that is used in the home. As the sun is not always shining, or not hot enough to efficiently heat the water needed, these systems are often boosted by either electricity and/or gas to heat water or to keep the water at the desired temperature of the household.
 
Both are great for energy conservation and for the environment as they use our most abundant natural resource, the sun. They are also complimentary systems which means that your school, home or workplace can use both at the same time.

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There’s lots of ways you can save energy and money in the classroom and at home. By making small changes to your daily routine you can reduce your energy bills and do your bit for the environment.

It is as simple as switching off lights when you leave the classroom, putting on a jumper before you switch on the heating, and turning computers off when they are not in use. Every little action counts!

If you are looking for a great idea to save money on your energy bills, in the classroom and at home, you can find plenty at www.letssaveenergy.com.au Here you can read how people in Western Australia are saving energy in their homes and in the community.

You can also submit your own tips on how you can save energy in the community or in your own home.

Add a great tip of your own and you’ll be in the running to win $1000 off your electricity bill*.

The“Most Popular Tips” winners will be based on total number of votes so make sure to share your tips with friends and family to increase your chances. There are also $100 Coles Myer Gift Cards to be won for the “Best Weekly Tip” which gets the most votes.

And, make sure you check out the “useful tools and tips” section which has some useful online apps to help you with ideas on how to save.

For competition updates and more energy saving ideas follow Switch Off on Facebook.

Image provided by Solar Shop Australia

Energy efficiency is a great way for all of us to reduce the amount of electricity we use. However, we will always require some electricity so we can use all the appliances in our schools and homes. One of the ways we can provide electricity is through solar power; but how does it work?
 
When the sun’s light hits the solar panel on the roof it creates the direct current (DC) electricity through a process called the photoelectric effect.  In Australia we use alternating current (AC) electricity to power our appliances. Therefore the solar power system which changes the electricity into AC through what is known as an inverter so it can then power appliances, lights and computers.
 
In cases where a solar power system is creating more electricity than is needed by the home or school it is exported to the grid for other homes or schools to use.

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