What s On The Menu About Us Solar Questions The Benefits Ontario s Solar Program Cost Analysis Connect with us! 613-686-3129 reachus@maketheswitch.ca Environmental Impact Watt For Watt www.maketheswitch.ca
WHO WE ARE OUR MISSION IS TO BE THE WORLD LEAD IN UNLOCKING ABUNDANT CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE RISING BILLION WE PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH VALUABLE EDUCATION ON HOW TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WE PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH AFFORDABLE AND TURNKEY SOLAR SOLUTIONS TO SAVE MONEY AND LIVE GREENER
WHY WE DO IT WE BELIEVE THAT SOLAR IS THE SOLUTION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS AROUND THE GLOBE WATT FOR WATT PROVIDES SOLAR FOR COMMUNITIES IN ENERGY POVERTY IN CANADA AND ABROAD TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ACTION ON THE GLOBAL CRISIS
HOW WE DO IT EDUCATION WE EDUCATE CUSTOMERS SO THEY CAN LEARN EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOLAR ESTIMATE WE HAVE A FREE ONLINE CALCULATOR THAT DETERMINES YOUR SYSTEM SIZE AND COST SAVINGS CONSULTATION OUR SOLAR EXPERTS CAN OFFER YOU FREE CONSULTATIONS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE SWITCH SWITCH WHEN YOU DECIDE TO GO SOLAR, YOU SELECT AN INSTALLATION DATE AND OUR TEAM CAN INSTALL YOUR SYSTEM IN 1 DAY
WHAT WE PROVIDE SOLAR SYSTEMS BATTERIES ENERGY MONITORING CUSTOM BUILT SOLAR SYSTEMS TO MEET YOUR ENERGY NEEDS. WE OFFER ALL TYPES OF SOLAR OPTIONS FOR SMALL AND LARGE SCALE PROJECTS BATTERY STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR OFF GRID OPTIONS AND ENERGY STORAGE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEMS TO TRACK ALL ENERGY USE IN A HOME/BUILDING, TO CONSERVE ENERGY, LIVE GREENER, AND SAVE MONEY
Let s Get Started! First up on today s Solar Guide: We answer the most frequently asked questions about solar energy. If you have any more questions please reach out to our team at reachus@maketheswitch.ca and we will be happy to answer!
Solar Questions What Will Increase Payback Periods? Is Solar Worth it? Is solar worth it? The short answer is 'yes' and the slightly longer answer is 'of course it is - absolutely!'. Whether you are a home or a business owner, Making The Switch is worth it as a long-term solution to ever increasing energy costs. At Switch Energy we customize each solar system to meet the unique energy needs of every home or business owner. Under the Provincial solar incentive Net Metering you can cut back on your Hydro costs by up to 85%. Your solar system will pay for Increased shading due to trees or tall buildings Low monthly Hydro costs (less to offset and less to save) The less money you put down when you finance your solar system, the longer the payback period will be If you have a North facing roof, your system will need to be much bigger to compensate for the lack of sunlight If you purchase Black on Black panels or Solar Shingles, your payback period will increase as these options are more expensive itself after 7-15 years. With solar, you will stop renting and start owning your energy. While these factors will increase payback periods, if you plan on owning your property for more than 15 years your solar investment can be paid off.
Solar Questions How Does Solar Work? We all know that solar panels gather energy from the sun but how exactly do they work? In nutshell, when ultraviolet rays from the sun hit a solar cell, those particles of light knock electrons free from atoms which generates a flow of electricity. This electricity is either used by a source, stored in a battery, or distributed throughout an electrical grid. To summarize; the light particles from the sun that hit the earth are so powerful that they can knock electrons from an atomic structure and solar panels are able to harness that energy Watch to learn more from the sun. TedEd shows us how solar panels work and why renewable energy is so important to a more modern energy structure.
Solar Questions Will Solar Panels Damage My Roof? Simply put, solar panels will not damage your roof! Our installation teams have more than a decade of experience with an excellent track record. By Making The Switch you will actually extend the lifespan of your roof because the panels will protect your shingles from damaging elements like the sun, rain, and snow. Having a solar system can increase the lifespan of your roof by up to 20 years. Need to re-shingle your roof? No problem - it takes less than a day for us to remove and store your solar system, and even less time to reinstall it once your roof is re-shingled. Here: a Black on Black Solar System shielding this cottage roof from the natural elements like the sun, rain, and snow. Source: https://securefutures.solar/can-solar-panels-damage-your-roof/
Solar Questions What Happens In The Winter? It s Snow Problem Natural Cooling The winter time can actually be very beneficial for your panels as the cold and the snow act as a natural cooling system for the wiring. FUN FACT: Because snow is just frozen water, on a sunny day your panels will gather more energy as light particles refract off the snow. Snow and ice will temporarily accumulate on your panels, but will quickly melt off on a sunny day. You can also buy solar roof scrapers from your local hardware store that extend up to 10 metres to brush off any snow that is sticking to your panels. UV Rays As mentioned above, snow and ice will quickly melt on a sunny day, but what about if it s -40 degrees Celsius? As mentioned above, brush tools and the angle of the panels will help remove the snow, it s also removed thanks to the sun s UV rays which warm up the panels and melt the snow. Source: https://news.energysage.com/solar-panels-in-winter-weather-snow-affect-power-production Shorter Days It s no secret that there is less sunlight in the winter than there is in the summer. So, your panels will not gather enough energy to meet your needs. However, under the Net Metering program in Ontario, you can still offset your Hydro costs in the winter by using your stored Grid Credits.
Solar Questions How Much Will It Cost Me? The cost of your customizable solar system will depend on your roof size and energy demands. Making The Switch to solar isn't an expense; it's an investment that will save you thousands of dollars and help the environment. The median price for a solar system is between $25,000 - $32,000. When we teach you about about Net Metering, you will learn how the payback period can be 7-15 years on your system. With energy costs expected to increase dramatically over the next 10 years, the time to go solar is now. This chart shows the huge decrease in the cost of solar over the decades. Proving that now is the best time to go solar. Source: https://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/04/solar-panel-cost-trends-10-charts/
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY?
What Are The Benefits? Own Your Energy Solar Saves You Money Renewable Energy When you switch to solar, you will no longer need to rely on your utility company as you will be owning your energy instead of renting it. By taking advantage of the Net Metering program in Ontario, you will save thousands of dollars every year by reducing your Hydro costs. The sun won t run out of fuel for about 4 billion years, so you have a guaranteed energy source for quite some time.
What Are The Benefits? Batteries EV Solar is the best way to charge a home battery. During blackouts or power outages the battery will be fully charged by your solar system. If you own an electric vehicle you know it can be tough to find charging stations. With solar, you can turn your home into your personal electric vehicle charging station. Green Solar is a more sustainable energy source and has less of an impact on the environment than traditional energy options. Off Grid If you live on a large property then relying on Hydro can be difficult. With solar and batteries you can easily go off grid. Smart Home By switching to solar you can turn your dumb home into a smart home by taking control of your energy.
What Are The Benefits? Solar Increase The Value Of Your Home Net-Zero Homes New Brunswick Home Arguably the best benefit of solar is that even an inexpensive system will increase the value of your home by more than what the system costs. On the right are the summaries of four solar case studies which conclude that a solar investment will New homebuyers are expected to spend at least $35,000 more for a net-zero home that is powered by solar Ohm Home Green home in New Brunswick sold for more than $100,000 above average market price in the local area What People Think increase the value of your home. These studies were conducted across Canada and the rest of the world. The Ohm Home study concluded that homes with solar on them sell at high premiums all over the United States An international study conducted by IBM concluded that consumers will pay more for a solar home
Net Metering Ontario s Solar Program The solar program available to solar customers in Ontario is called Net Metering. This program is being used all over the world. Net Metering allows you to offset a large percentage of your yearly Hydro costs, resulting in you saving thousands of dollars every year. The program utilizes 4 factors to benefit the home or business owner and the utility company. While this is currently the only solar program in Ontario we will make sure to update you if anything changes. Learn more about Net Metering on the next slide. Net Metering
Net Metering In A Nutshell Source: https://www.hydroone.com/business-services/generators/net-metering
Net Metering Low Maintenance No Time of Use Restrictions There is little to no maintenance needed after the When you switch to solar and utilize Net Metering, installation of your solar system. Since you won t you will no longer be subjected to time of use need a battery with Net Metering the program restrictions, you most likely know these as Off-Peak eliminates having to replace or maintain any and On-Peak hours. The rate stays the same no physical parts other than the panels themselves. matter what time of day it is. When you Make The That being said, the solar panels are also Switch, you will no longer need to wait until 7 P.M. to extremely wash dishes or do laundry, no more need for a durable and require little to no maintenance. Our solar panels also come with long laundry schedule if you live in a big household! This warranties of up to 25 years, making them a rule on it s own will bring down your Hydro costs worry-free investment. even if energy production is low. Source: https://hydroottawa.com/accounts-and-billing/generation/net-metering
Cost Benefit Analysis Is Solar Right For You? So is solar right for you? Take a look at Tables 1 and 2 on the Choosing to Make The Switch to solar is undoubtedly a significant financial investment for you as a homeowner. Before fully committing to Making The Switch you want to be certain that going solar makes financial sense for you and is, most importantly, cost effective. next page. We have compiled real data of some of our clients with higher Hydro bills (Table 1) and our clients with lower Hydro bills (Table 2) for comparison. Each table shows the average monthly energy consumption of each household in kilowatt hours, the yearly costs of their electricity bills without installed solar, yearly costs of their electricity bills with installed solar, annual savings with solar and cumulative savings with solar after 40 years (the average lifespan of a solar system).
Cost Benefit Analysis Table 1 Higher Hydro Bills As we can see in Table 1, annual savings for those with higher energy consumption levels and higher Hydro bills save more annually with solar than those who consume less energy and have lower Hydro bills.
Cost Benefit Analysis Customer Avg. Monthly Consumption Annual Cost Without Solar Annual Cost With Solar Annual Solar Savings Solar Savings in 40 Years Reduction of Hydro bill in Percentage Chris 1852 KWH $3,159 $2,321 $837 $33,508 26.5% John 1000 KWH $1,954 $289 $1,664 $66,592 85.1% Mike 1170 KWH $2,216 $879 $1,337 $53,490 60.3% Mariusz 1352 KWH $2,496 $1,710 $786 $31,447 31.4% Mohammed 1227 KWH $2,101 $442 $1,659 $66,386 79.0%
Cost Benefit Analysis Table 2 Lower Hydro Bills That is not to say that those with lower Hydro bills do not save those in Table 2 are still saving hundreds of dollars each year and tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of their solar systems. Only those who consume less than 100 KWH of energy each month would not financially benefit from switching to solar energy. (See Appendix A.2 for full details)
Cost Benefit Analysis Customer Avg. Monthly Consumption Annual Cost Without Solar Annual Cost With Solar Annual Solar Savings Solar Savings in 40 Years Percentage reduction of Hydro bill Brian 306 KWH $768 $297 $470 $18,805 61.2% Carley 412 KWH $924 $290 $633 $25,350 68.5% Stephen 501 KWH $1,240 $525 $714 $28,564 57.6%
Cost Benefit Analysis The cost of Hydro is only expected to go up. In Ontario alone, the average cost of Hydro is expected to rise from $127 per month in 2017, to $193 per month in 2027, a 52 percent increase. With solar, you will offset expensive Hydro costs today, and will save even more as time goes by. Making The Switch to Solar today is just a preparation for what is to come in the future. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-bills-projections-cabinet-document-1.4110539
Environmental Impacts Clean Energy Reduced Emissions Climate Change Health and Wellness When you switch to solar, you will use a clean, renewable energy source that is much more environmentally friendly than alternatives like coal, oil, and gas. By utilizing solar energy you will hugely cut back on the amount of CO2 emissions put out into the atmosphere. An average solar system can prevent more than 7 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year. By reducing your carbon emissions you will aid in the fight against climate change. It s not an issue an individual can solve, but instead a collective will to change is needed. When you Make The Switch you will fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions with a clean energy source. This helps improve the health and wellness of people and the environment all over the world. Source: https://news.energysage.com/health-environmental-benefits-of-solar-energy/
WATT FOR WATT Switch Energy is leading Canadians and the world in adopting and affordable solar energy for the rising billion. The rising billion are the more than 1 billion people on Earth who do not and will not have reliable access to energy. Watt For Watt's mission is to provide affordable solar energy to communities in energy poverty. Watt For Watt is currently partnered with Demand Renewables, SolarCoin, Focus Forward For Indigenous Youth, and the University of Waterloo. A portion of every sale will fund renewable energy initiatives in developing nations and communities. By Making The Switch with Switch Energy, you directly contribute toward the Watt For Watt initiative and a more sustainable future.
THANKS FOR READING THE SWITCH SOLAR GUIDE! NEXT SOLAR STEPS
Next Steps Visit www.maketheswitch.ca and learn more about us and how to be more environmentally friendly If you are curious about how much you can save with solar, use our Solar Calculator to determine your cost savings If it makes sense for you, book a free consultation with one of our Solar Consultants to Make The Switch Want To Learn More? Learn even more about solar and the environment by checking out our blog Check out the solar systems we can offer you Get to know our team who can help you Make The Switch Read testimonials from our solar customers and business partners
REFERENCES Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) Natural Resources Canada. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/facts/energy-ghgs/20063 Impacts of climate change. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/impacts.html Air pollution cost Canadians $36B in 2015 due to premature death and illness CBC News. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/air-pollution-results-in-7-700-premature-deaths-in-canada-each-year-report-says-1.414079 4 How your hydro bill will rise over the next decade CBC News (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-bills-projections-cabinet-document-1.4110539 The Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/coal-and-other-fossil-fuels/hidden-cost-of-fossils#.w5kzd-hkhpy Johnston, M. Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/053015/pros-and-cons-solar-energy.asp