TelBoy

For the sake of a new thread, i enjoyed last night's programme


Didn't understand why the first woman gained so much interest in a presents online site


And the guy flogging Sit And Slim, oh my goodness


And the chap at the end with the solar panels, sorry but did i hear it right, about £15k per installation? Can't you get it a LOT cheaper than that if you "give away" any excess electricity you create? Not an industry i know anything about but £15k for solar power that will take about 10 years to pay for itself? Seems a lot of money to me.


And then the new dragon. Hmm, obviously astute, but a woman scared of ageing if ever i saw one

Chip

Tel,

Looked into the solar thing myself and it is quite a good deal. Quote I had was £15k installation which would generate a return of around £1600 or just over 10% which is index linked as well for 25 years. So, about 8 years payback time which is not bad I don't think.

As for the new "dragon", it looks as if she smokes about 40 a day.

Chip

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

is that a wig?

richs2891

The new dragon, - the publicity photo at the start makes me shudder, but she did look (slightly) better on the show, the shoulder pads did made me smile though, very 80's. Made her money in the trucking industry, kind of shows IMO.

Richard

TelBoy

Exactly what i wondered



Chip, i want solar power, i'm very interested. But like the conservatory/windows industry, it just feels like it's a minefield and i wouldn't have a clue where to start. Maybe a dragon-backed scheme really would be a front-runner, dunno.

dpb

I thought it was a bloke in drag , put me right off watching it 1

^Qwerty^

If you shop around/haggle, a 4KW system should come in <=£10k. Looking myself at the moment, but as you say, it's a bit of a minefield.

I think what sells it to me is that if you've got £10k in the bank, you're getting bugger all interest, so you may as well buy something that is going to lower you monthly opex? No brainer, probably, but more homework required.

EddScott

This is the thing though. It only really works if you've got the money already not doing anything.

The tall dragon on the end is correct IMO, the take up for solar panels is being hugely over-estimated. Our MD is making big noises about this and using solar panel EIS schemes. http://www.foresightgroup.eu/

Yes you can take out a loan to fund it or further borrowing but you have to be pretty sure the borrowing will be covered by the payments from the government.

Theres also the issue of if you want to move - again only really works if you have no intention of moving, possibly ever again. Also, in its infancy, do solar panels increase the value of a home? Its a sales pitch, I think most people would be put off at this stage.

Chip

I'm lucky enough to have a few bob "hanging around" but really don't know if I can handle how the panels will look on the front of the house. My house faces due South as well so perfect position for solar. Need to look into it a little more I think.

Chip

Ant

*cough* our company does solar panels.

TelBoy

Well as you can see, Ant, you/the industry ain't marketing them very well; several people here on a "wait and see" or "need to know more" holding pattern. Sort it aaarrrt.

stilover

Buying them outright is not the only option though. U can rent your roof space to a company. You won't get the same returns, but you should still get free electricity.

I'm looking to buy a house, and installing Solar panels will be something I'll look at.

Daz34

And also, would it affect the sound of your hi-fi?

TelBoy

That's what i want to find out!

Jamz3k

Very good show, although sometimes the dragons are a bit over dramatic.

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

As a retirement option, then it kinda makes sense, does it not? In 20 years I will retire & if I have my heat/electric covered off my solar/wind/heat exchanger then I'll be saving whatever exhorbitant amount that will cost in the future. 20% rise in gas/elec prices by one supplier recently, which is £100-£150 and that might happen again next year & the year after &...

For future proofing (if you have a house you won't move from) then its a no-brainer imho. You may get it cheaper in the future possibly but who knows.

tony de wonderful

It's a dreadful show. Pompous, self-important ***** held up as ideal people.

TelBoy

Totally agree, Puff, i think it does make sense, in theory. But 20 years is a long time to plan for, and is any credit you accrue transferable to another property if you move for instance?

Seems like a mystery upgrade to me, and even though i'm easily confused, i bet it's that aspect which prevents many people from converting to renewable.

Ant

A lot of companies will do a free survey measure up what sort of array is needed then they can work out what return you get from your feed in tariff.

There's a thread on here with lots of info on it

DYK

They still have not changed the name to Sharks Den i see.

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

TelBoy

She looks positively ravishing there, trust me. Or if you don't....

Spoon

I've said it before on the previous solar panel thread. There is a bungalow in the neighbouring village that has the entire road facing side of its roof kitted out with these panels and it looks absolutely rank. No amount of return would get me changing my place to look like a greenhouse!

The planners insisted I used particular roof tiles on my workshop, when it was built, and I have no neighbours, nor can I be seen from any road. Then they allow solar panels to adorn roofs on the roadside!

Ant

she did a episode of secret millionaire not long back

Chip

Credit is not transferable to you if you move house but in theory the fact that you have the panels in situ should add value to the house and be a good selling point as well, as the proceeds from the FIT will go to the new owner.

Chip

r32

FIT' have been slashed, so its not worth doing now.

Hliary Devey looks and sounds like a bloke, as aggressive as one too................

Account deleted by request

A friend of mine knows the chap who had the massage chair exercising nonsense.

Apparently a deal was done with the dragons after the show, I will find out which ones but has definately happened.

Apparently he presents really badly (as we saw) but is a nice bloke and has already sold a lot of them.

Frankly it amazes me but there you are.

Chop

Chip

Only for large installations. For domestic they are held until March 2012 at 43p/kwh

Chip

chrisowe

Can't understand why none of them didn't invest in the device that stops splashback.

Gordo

I fear that the whole solar panel thing is the next scam in the making.

- people move on average every 6 years which makes a mess of the payback periods. -- there is no evidence that it'll add value to your house.
- no info yet on how long they last (before they need replacing) / refurb / maintenance costs
- they rely on feed-in tariffs which aren't sustainable (deliberate pun)
- the claims about the amount of energy they produce are fantasy
- there's better technology on the way (the current ones being sold aren't very good)

Next

Gordo