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Solar hot water systems are pretty great. Not only can they slash your electricity costs by a significant margin, but they add value to your property and contribute to a greener planet – and that’s a good feeling. But comparing solar hot water systems, and choosing from the countless brands and products available can be tricky. Before Solargain became one of the largest suppliers of solar panels in Australia, we were exclusively a hot water company. Our roots stretch back to 1995 as a one-man plumbing business which, over the years, has grown rapidly thanks to quality products and workmanship

It’s an age-old question that impacts many buying decisions – should I fork out for premium quality or settle for the cheaper option? When it comes to solar panels although they all look similar, they are not created equally – therefore we recommend doing your research. Pay special attention not only to the price, but more importantly to the quality of the solar panels. Also, research the manufacturer and provider because a 25 year warranty is only as strong as the company backing it. Here are 6 things to consider when choosing your solar panels. The Three Tiers of Quality There are three

Over the last 20 years Solargain has grown from a humble one-man-band to become one of the largest solar power providers in the country. Australia has been incredibly good to us – not only providing a sunny climate, but over 50,000 happy customers along the way. Considering Australia’s high number of average ‘sunshine hours’ during the day, it’s hardly a surprise. Our home-town of Perth for example is the sunniest city in the country – averaging an incredible 11 hours of sunlight during the summer months of January and December (which is great for solar panels!) Over the years we’ve seen

Whatever name you use, the same meaning applies to these revolutionary batteries that are set to feature in millions of Australian homes over the next few years. Put simply, solar batteries help you get the most out of your solar panels. They allow you to store electricity for later use during the evening or during blackouts and in some cases, provide the potential to go off-grid. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves! Here’s a breakdown of all you need to know about home solar batteries: What Are They? The generation of home solar batteries we’re talking about use the latest lithium-ion

We don’t know about you, but 2008 doesn’t seem like that long ago to us. Yet in the context of solar power, that short span of time from when solar panels first started making their way into Australia, to now, represents a huge shift in affordability and tech. It’s hard to think that ten years ago there wasn’t really a solar PV panel in sight (especially when you look around Australia’s suburbs today). Back in 2008 when they first started to become available to homeowners, you’d pay around $3,000 for a 1 kW system (1 kW inverter) – and that was after an $8,000 government rebate and another $1

January 26 is the day when we get to celebrate what makes Australia great. Our country’s national holiday marks the arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at New Holland (Australia before it was so named) all the way back in 1788. ‘Australia Day’ wasn’t recognised until many years later, with records of celebrations taking place in 1808. It took more than another 100 years in 1935 until all Australian states and territories used the term and astonishingly, it was not until 1994 that Jan 26 was universally accepted as a public holiday by all states and territories. As a wholly Australian

We all know the weather is changing. Extreme conditions – from blistering heat and wild winds, to freezing cold and flooding seems to be occurring more than ever. You know that global warming has a lot to do with it, and though you care, you might also feel a little frustrated or powerless about making a change. What can one person do to help save the planet? Actually, quite a lot... We’ve compiled a list of pollution-punching, emission-crunching techniques you can start doing today to help ensure we’ve still got a planet to call home, tomorrow. 1. Support Green Businesses and Products You

Here’s an interesting fact: If you’d installed a Solargain system in January this year, you could have saved over $1500 in electricity bills by now * – just 11 months! The city you live in, weather conditions and your energy retailer agreement all affect this number – but the point is there are clear benefits of switching to solar, particularly over a lifetime. An average Solargain system that’s regularly maintained can easily last over 15 years; with the panels expected to endure for 20+. However, working out annual savings is not as simple as multiplying $1500 by 20. Lifetime savings from

The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris in November is a big deal. The conference may very well set the course for the reversal of our planet’s current climate problems, or worryingly, it could lead to our world’s continued decline. Starting on November 30 and ending December 11, the Conference will attract high-level representatives from more than 190 nations in hopes that a new global agreement on climate change, including targets to reduce greenhouse gases, will be reached. Why is Paris especially important? Nations coming together to discuss environmental

Contributing less to pollution and more to sustainability are great reasons to buy a solar energy system. And let’s face it, seeing a return on your investment is a pretty nice incentive too. But how quickly can solar panels pay themselves off and how do you work it out? Let’s find out. To calculate your return on investment, there’s four main things your need to know: The cost of energy How much energy your prospective solar power system produces The cost of your system How much solar energy you produce will be consumed by your home – or more specifically, how much you will be sending to the

Australia’s energy sector is undergoing a revolution. For too long, fossil fuels have been the heavy hitters of energy production. Thankfully (and not a second too soon), team renewables has entered the fray with solar power as a key weapon. Importantly, the revolution has been consumer-driven. And with technology very much in tune with the energy-saving desires of the people, solar power is flourishing in Australia, even despite the recent tumultuousness caused by Tony Abbott slashing the Renewable Energy Target. Most homeowners today have the power of choice – that is, the choice of where

Solar Batteries May Allow Households To Reap Profits from Surplus Energy The feed-in tariff from excess power generated by solar panels is one of the great incentives for potential solar energy customers. While solar panel owners are rightly rewarded for the extra energy they send back to the grid, they have little to no control in determining the price of that energy, nor when they decide to share it. Imagine if you, as a solar owner, were able to pull all the strings – to store surplus solar energy in your own device and to sell it at a profit when demand is high. Your home would be a