With the majority of the population isolated at home at the moment, thinking about your energy consumption has become more important than ever before. To help you through this challenging time, we have included 7 simple tips below to help reduce your energy bills. Much of this information and more tips on saving energy are available on the QLD Government's website here.

1) Compare electricity retailers and ensure you're getting the best deal

Ensuring you're on the best possible plan is the quickest and easiest way to save money. Check your energy bill and if you read something like 'Standing Offer' or 'Standard Tariff', it usually means you are paying too much and not receiving a discount. For people working for home, it's also worth assessing if you can benefit from off-peak pricing whilst you're using more power during the middle of the day. To compare electricity providers, visit the government's Energy Made Easy website - www.energymadeeasy.gov.au.
 

2) Hot water & laundry 

• Ensure your electric hot water is on a controlled load (off-peak) tariff.
• Use cold water for laundry.
• Wash full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine.
• Avoid using the dryer where possible.
• If you're hot water system is getting old, it's likely that it is using a lot of energy and not producing enough hot water for your family whilst everyone is home 24/7. Consider installing a solar hot water system, which can save you up to 90% on your heating costs. 
   

3) Air Conditioning & Heating

• Use a fan instead of the air conditioner.
• Adjust your air conditioner up by 1 or 2 degrees.
• Close all the doors, windows, curtains and blinds in the room while using the air conditioner or heater.
   

4) Kitchen

• Choose more energy efficient appliances when shopping.
• Limit the time the fridge door is open (especially if you have children).
   

5) Lighting

• Turn off lights when nobody is in the room.
• Install fluorescent lightbulbs.
   

6) TV & Entertainment

• Switch off the TV and other entertainment appliances at the wall when nobody is using them.
   

7) Don't use standby settings - it still uses power

• Turn everything off at the wall, appliances use power even when not in use.
• Turn off phone chargers, tablet chargers and gaming consoles, as these also use standby power.
   

If you're serious about saving energy, we also offer a free energy audit tool. Simply click here to fill in a short form and we can identify how much you can save by installing solar power, solar hot water or an energy efficient air conditioner.

With winter well and truly set in and the temperatures dropping down to the single digits at night every day we are reminded of the importance of a reliable hot water system.

When we wake up in the morning and its freezing outside the last thing you want is to jump into the shower only to find that your Hot Water System has packed it in.

Knowing that your current Hot Water Heater is going to withstand the pressure through winter is a tricky one. Luckily there are some clear signs you can look out for which can indicate the possibility of a breakdown.

Below we have provided you with our 5 Clear Signs that it is time to replace your hot water system.

1.  Leaks

A leaking hot water system can become a significant problem very quickly. If you notice water puddling around your water heater, or it leaks when standing, it's a sign the inner tank has reached the end of its life. Slow drips and leaks quickly escalate, causing serious flooding if the entire tank breaks.

2. Age

Most water heaters last between 10 and 15 years. If yours is older or you aren't sure when it was last replaced, it may be nearing the end of its life. If your household has outgrown your hot water system resulting in it working overtime to keep up with the demand then this too can speed up its lifespan.

Most homes now have a dishwasher, washing machine, and multiple bathrooms which require hot water, this can take a toll on an ageing or too small water heater.

3. Discoloured Water

When you turn on the hot water, the clear water you are used to turns to a rusty colour that is anything but pleasing. This can occur if the sacrificial anode, which protects the tank from corrosion, has not been replaced routinely and the steel tank has begun to deteriorate.

Muddy or sandy water can be a sign of sediment build up in your tank. In some cases, you can drain the contents to remove sediment and bring your water heater back to normal.

4. Noisy

Noise is always an indicator. If you hear your water heater loud cracks and pops, for instance, it may be an indication that the interaction between the heating elements and the inside heater has mineral build up on them.

5. Repairs Keep Adding Up

Repairs keep adding up. When something keeps breaking, causing problems, or otherwise gives you trouble, it's a sign that more problems are sure to come. And when that happens, sometimes your best route is to replace it before serious damage impacts your life.

If you answered yes to any or all of the above then we would encourage you to take a look at our latest Winter Specials on our Solar Hot Water Systems and the benefits that Solar Powered Systems can have not only to your Hot Water but also to your energy bill each year.

To learn more about our range of Solar Hot Water Systems CLICK HERE

The solar DC power connection replaces the equivalent amount of AC power from the power grid and has the ability to cut your daytime energy costs for running to air conditioning or heating unit by up to ninety percent by utilizing the maximum amount of available solar power!

With summer fast approaching, keep the inside cool all day for next to nothing in energy costs and prevent heat build-up by keeping the area comfortable with heating or cooling available for up to 30 square metres.

Hybrid Universal 12U
Hybrid Universal 15U

The unit can be connected to a maximum of three 300W solar panels. This system is designed for hybrid operation with solar providing most of the energy that it needs during the daylight hours and will automatically switch to the grid power connection when there is insufficient sunlight, clouds or limited solar power available.

To increase effectiveness, our team also offer solar panel cleaning and maintenance with full written reporting to get your solar panels back to maximum efficiency. Read more about this ongoing service.

Contact us today for a quote or to discuss our interest free finance options tailored to your individual needs.

When North Brisbane's East Coast Electroplating came to us hoping to reduce reliance on the grid and shrink its hefty demand charges, we had just the solution - a 100Kw Photovoltaic Commercial Solar System. 

Local grid provider Energex approved the system based on a zero feed and we have estimated that the new system will provide East Coast Electroplating with power bill savings of $2,660 a month. 

Equipment used:

• Jinko 260P Optimised panels x 384
• Solar Edge Inverters x 3
• Sunlock Commercial framing
• HLP controls ZED
• Installation - 5 days

How Much?

With long life equipment, like solar, rental is the most common finance solution. The reason for this is the taxation department ruling that solar must be depreciated over 20 years. With solar rental our underwriters purchase the equipment and set a rental based on the ex-GST portion of the purchase price. As it is a rental 100% of your payments are tax deductible. While they must charge GST on rental payments, this is claimed back in your quarterly BAS statement making rental the lowest finance cost option. With rental the asset is owned by the finance company and does not appear on the balance sheet giving you more financial leverage to continue to purchase other assets to operate your business.This should put you in a cash-flow positive situation straight away - even without a feed-in tariff.

No Deposit Rental:

• 84 months: $1999 per month Exc Gst
  • One additional payment owns the system outright at the end
• 60 Months: $2524 per month Exc Gst
  • One additional payment owns the system outright at the end
• Establishment fee of $250

Quote is subject to credit criteria being met and approval with finance company. Figures are indicative and may change with different circumstances or installations. Please ask for our cash price if you prefer to do direct Capital Expense.

The system illustrated below is a premium range system. Please ask us for other options that are available.

The Process

Roof Aspect

Installation of Framing

Panels Going Up (tilt frames installed if required)

North Roof

South Roof (tilt framed)

Tilt Framed Array

Inverters & Zero FIT Protection Panel

The Final Product

The following solar update was provided by the Australian Solar Council on Monday 11th of May, 2015.

On Friday, the Abbott Government threw the solar industry back into turmoil by backing two yearly reviews of the Renewable Energy Target.

This is devastating.

The next RET Review will start in 7 months time!

After 3 RET reviews in 3 years, they want another review in 7 months!

That will devastate every solar business and every solar worker in Australia.

Household solar, commercial solar and big solar completely uncertain once again.

We must stop this from happening.

Please send an e-mail NOW to:

greg.hunt.mp@aph.gov.au [Environment Minister]
ian.macfarlane.mp@aph.gov.au [Industry Minister]
mark.butler.mp@aph.gov.au  [Opposition Environment spokesman]
gary.gray.mp@aph.gov.au [Opposition Industry spokesman]

Key Messages: We've had 3 RET Reviews in 3 years. We don't want any more. Another RET Review will destroy Australia's solar industry, hurting 5,000 small businesses and harming 18,000 solar workers.

You might want to remind Ian Macfarlane that he said this on 27 February "I've offered...a guarantee that this will be the last [RET] review before 2020".

This is deadly serious.

Make no mistake, if the Government proceeds with 2 yearly RET Reviews, the Australian Solar Council will campaign against the Government in the 20 most marginal seats across Australia.

Please send these e-mails NOW and contact your local Federal Member of Parliament.