Yes, the fitting is relatively simple HOWEVER you will be working with live Electricity which can kill! AND you may not be able to claim your "Feed In Tariff". We will always recommend you use an MCS Accredited fitter.

The choice of which system to use is completely up to you. There are solar, hydro, wind etc systems available for creating Electricity or hot water. We like Solar PV because, once fitted, there are no moving parts and generally require no maintenance or repairs for a very long time.

Domestic Solar PV will be at its most efficient during the day, unfortunately we tend to have higher domestic usage when the sun is not shining. By connecting to the grid we can sell excess generation in the day and buy back at night.

I am not a fan. They are expensive and require maintenance and space. At current prices it is more economical to buy electricity when needed. However we monitor the price of electricity and batteries and will update when batteries become more economical.

The panels will degrade over time; we offer a guarantee that their efficiency will drop by no more that 10% over 10 years and 20% over 20 years (I am not sure how you would check this though as the only way to test them would be to remove them from the roof and test them in controlled conditions which may invalidate the guarantee anyway). The inverter and fixing mechanism come with a 5 year guarantee.

At every stage our computers will send you e-mails informing you of where you are and confirming the details we hold. You will also have a unique log in to our computers which will allow you to check all correspondence and documentation pertaining to your order.

No problem, we will return your money (less a 5% fee to cover charges) regardless of the reason. This is on top of the normal statutory regulations.

All our equipment comes with the manufactures' warranty. Within that period we will undertake any remedial works required free of charge.

Many councils allow solar PV systems to be erected without planning permission except listed building, conservation areas etc. I suggest a phone call to your local planning department. However, sometimes, the conservation officer has a greater knowledge of local planning requirements for solar pv without the need to make a costly application. We would recommend that you should should speak to them first.

You may also require Building Regulations. Often the planning department can advise you. Otherwise approach a local structural engineer for expert advice.

In order to keep costs down we do ask you to check Planning and Building Regulations yourself. Many houses do not need either permission and it would seem at odds with our ethos to share the costs across the board.
We will, for a fee, check this out but (as said elsewhere) it is probably quicker and easier for you to do it yourself.
If you have checked it yourself and are asked at a later date to remove the panels then, unfortunately, we will have to charge for removal and refitting.

We post the price on our website. It is the same price if you buy on-line or through a Use The Sun salesman. We are constantly monitoring our prices so that we can offer the best value for money and so increase the take up of Solar PV in the UK.

A 20% deposit is required. If the order is cancelled for any reason at any time, your deposit will be returned to you less a 5% finance charge.

We can accept payment by bank transfer or cheque.

We require a 20% deposit to complete the order this will finalise the order and you will be advised of a probable fitting date.

Balance
The balance of 80% is required before we install the system. This is to avoid the unnecessary costs of credit control and bad debts being split amongst our customers and therefore reduces costs for everyone.

If the balance is not received in time then your slot will be offered to the next customer in line and a new slot will be arranged for you.

We offer an Independent Warranty on all installations at no extra cost, the certificates are sent to the client when the deposit is paid. They guarantee your deposit and also our guarantee. So, in the unlikely event of us going out of business, your solar system will be fitted and kept working. For more details see http://www.iwa.biz

We will make good any damage. Some tiles are very brittle and break easily. We will endeavour to ensure that should a tile need replacing the new tiles will be put underneath the panels so differences in colour, shading, ageing etc will not be visible.

Domestic : The Energy Savings Trust are the people to speak to 0800 512012. There are grants available in different regions so try them first.

Business : The Carbon Trust have interest free loans available to businesses wishing to improve their energy efficiency. For more details of what is available in your area call 01865 885 837.

Currently it is proposed 43.3p per kW. A 1 kW system could produce 750kWh - 850kWh per year. This is for MCS accredited products fitted by an MCS accredited fitter (the feed in tariff may not be available for non MCS systems).

For systems fitted before 31st March 2011 the proposal is a 25 year contract (solar PV only) at 36.5p/kWh. For systems fitted after 1st April 2012 the proposed tariff reduces by 7% per annum. What we cannot guarantee is how much sunshine we will get each year.

NO. At the moment income from microgeneration is tax free. The return should be around 8%-10% per annum, so for a higher rate tax payer that is equivalent to 13%-16%.

The proposed Feed In tariff is 43.3p for systems less than 4kW; the tariff for between 4 and 10Kw is 37.8p. A panel measures approximately 158cm x 80cm and a 4kW system will require 18 panels or 30m2 of roof space (in 2 rows that is 9m wide and 3.16m high). For many homes, a 4kW system will use up a large proportion of the roof space. However we will quote for larger systems.

The panels make DC Electric (same as used in batteries) but our appliances run of AC (as supplied by the grid). The inverter swaps the current from AC to DC.

We only use top quality Fronius, SMA and Diehl inverters. All Inverters come with the necassary certification (G83) and a 5 year guarantee/

Controllers are only needed if batteries are fitted. They control the power to the battery to stop them overcharging. We prefer the "on-grid" system so a controller is not needed.

At the moment the best thinking is that if you want to connect to the grid and receive payments from the Electricity Suppliers then the equipment and the fitter must be MCS Accredited.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent scheme that certifies microgeneration products and installers in accordance with consistent standards. It is designed to evaluate microgeneration products and installers against robust criteria providing greater protection for consumers. www.microgenerationcertification.org/

Yes. All our Products and Installations are fully MCS Accredited.

A list of MCS accredited fitters can be found here.

There is a lot of flexibility as to where a panel is placed on the roof. For 1, 2 and 3kw systems the panels are 1.482m x 0 .992m, for the 4kw system they are 1.58m by 0.808m. They can be installed in rows. Below is an indication of how much space they will need.

Size	Panels	Square Metres	Example Roof Size
1kw	5 (230w)	8.5	7.5m long by 1m high (1 Row)
2kw	9 230w	15.3	7.5m long by 2m high (2 Rows)
2kw	9 (230w)	18	6m long by 3m high (3 Rows)
3kw	13 (230w)	22.1	7.5m long by 3m high (3 Rows)
4kw	16 (230w)	27.2	15m long by 2m high (2 Rows)
4kw	16 (230w)	29.2	10m long by 3m high (4 Rows)

The Inverter will be placed in your loft space as near to the panels as possible.
A cable will be run to the meter which will be between your current meter and your fuse box.

Use The Sun Ltd has its own accredited installation company, Use The Sun (Installation) Ltd. Should it not be feasible for them to fit your system we will instruct other full accredited and insured fitters to install on our behalf.

3 things :

1. Cost and size, the bigger the system the greater the electricity it will make the more it will save and earn you. But there must be room on your roof.

2. The Feed in Tariff is significantly more for systems less than 4kw.

3. The cost of connecting to the Grid. Inverters of 16amps or less need a G83/1 certificate and can be connected directly to the Grid (all our inverters have G83/1), bigger inverters need a G59/1 and may have to be tested by the Electricity supplier before connecting (a lot more expensive). The grid works on 230v. The total power is amps x volts. So to save time and money the biggest system should be 230 x 16 = 3680wats (3.68kw). Which is the biggest system we offer as standard.

Yes! Contact us with your roof size and we will advise you of the options and costs available.