Clearview National May 2016 - Issue 174 | Page 49

FIT SHOW 2016 A NEW SUNRISE FOR SOLAR »»Clearview was invited to the official launch of the Solaris roof by Solaris Solar at The FIT Show. This is the latest venture from Andrew Glover, using his experience of home improvements and solar panels to offer an exciting new option for the solid roof conservatory market. Armed with a delicious and very apt Tequila Sunrise, Clearview found out more… On the stand, which used the Company’s sleek orange and black branding to great effect, Solaris Solar Managing Director, James Elston, explained how the whole thing came about. “This product is the result of our knowledge and experience of the conservatory and solar panels markets through our work with West Yorkshire Windows and Green Yorkshire Solar. “Electricity prices are set to increase by 10% a year and will soon double from where we are now. So it goes without saying that homeowners will be keen to reduce their rising bills where possible. In addition to this, the solid roof market is flying. The Solaris roof offers a product that answers both criteria, allowing the homeowner to save money by generating their own electricity through their solar panelled solid roof extension. “They stand to save up to 75% of their energy consumption. And although further cuts to Feed-in-Tariffs earlier this year and the downturn in government support have hit the solar market hard, the options for the homeowner to generate electricity and save money are more than still available. “The overall cost of panels has reduced whilst the quality and efficiency has improved. The cost of battery-storage units are reducing, making them far more affordable, meaning the homeowner is not just prohibited to using the free energy generate only when the sun is shining, but all round the clock. “The average energy consumption of the average homeowner is typically weighted more heavily in the mornings and evenings, often with little or no usage throughout the day. Without a home battery, excess solar energy from your solar system is usually sold to the power company and purchased back in the evening. Our battery storage solution stops this process between renewable energy supply and demand by making your home’s solar energy available to you when you need it. “With Feed-in-Tariff currently standing at 4.3p, a homeowner typically spending £10,000 over a year could be looking at something more in the region of £6,000 to £7,000, which offers a considerable saving, especially over time. And the product comes with a 20 year warranty.” It would be easy to assume that this product would be much more expensive then than its solid roof counterpart. But James is quick to dispel this. “Through R&D we have made the prices comparable to that of a standard solid roof. Available in standard sizes, gable fronted or lean to, as a flat pack option that easy to install, Solaris will provide all the sales support and training needed for installers to add this product to their portfolio.” For the installer then, the Solaris roof is an easy add-on product to their usual solid roof offering that promises added value to the homeowner long after the install is complete. “Of course, an electrician is required onsite for the install since the roof requires an inverter. But this is only a minor addition to the work already required for lighting and wiring. In fact, in early installs of the product, installers were actually saying that it is easier to complete that a tiled finish.” The Solaris roof offers a great opportunity for a salesperson to be able to offer a huge point of differentiation with the genuine promise of homeowners being able to generate their own electricity, making it possibly the only conservatory on the market that can pay for itself. www.solarisroof.co.uk MAY 2 0 1 6 4 9