A lot of people are making the move towards renewable and sustainable energy using solar power. And solar power has definitely evolved throughout the years because of technology advancements and still continues to do so.
In this week’s podcast episode I talk with Gareth Felton, founder and director of GreenElec. Our discussion revolves around how solar power has evolved and the technologies developed within the solar space. He also talks about how solar is constantly changing due to compliance and reassessments being conducted to give way for improvements. Other topics that we talk about include ways clients can get their ROI on their investment into solar, and the options clients have in the financial perspective, etc.
If you’re contemplating a shift to solar power then this is a podcast you have to listen to.
What’s Discussed in This Episode:
- A brief background of GreenElec
- Solar power technology and how it’s constantly changing [7:06]
- Addressing misconceptions regarding solar power [8:55]
- Compliance and reassessments aimed at making improvements [10:37]
- Main changes coming through in solar power [11:31]
- Biggest goals for panels [12:43]
- Efficient panels, shading, direct sunlight, UV [12:58]
- Solar harvesting and efficiency of self-consumption [13:48]
- Three ways to get ROI on your investment into solar [15:43]
- Benefits and downsides of batteries for those moving off grid [17:02]
- When is solar a good investment (residential & commercial setting) [21:00]
- How people are more educated and ready to make changes as they shift to solar [22:07]
- Solar panel installation [24:03]
- Significant changes that are going to happen or happening to solar power [27:16]
- Who is mostly affected by the evolving technology for energy [29:09]
- Development of other forms of renewable and sustainable energy [30:10]
- Handing over the monitoring system for solar power to clients [312:41]
- Obtaining data prior to recommending installation of solar panels [32:40]
- The importance of monitoring [33:53]
- Construction of homes that are energy efficient [36:20]
- Financial side of buying solar [38:49]
- Issues around consulting solar experts with regards to new buildings [40:18]
- Framework for liaising with architects and builders [41:45]
- Maintenance of solar panels [45:27]
- Options available in the financial perspective [47:32]
About Our Guest:
Gareth Felton is the Founder and Director of GreenElec. He is an electrician, a solar and battery designer and a rugby enthusiast.
In 2008, during the last year of his apprenticeship, Gareth decided that he wanted to offer more to the community than what other electrical companies were prepared to, and so he created GreenElec. He wanted to create a multidisciplinary electrical contracting company that empowers community members through education about how they can control the way they produce, use and store energy on a day to day basis. Further to this, Gareth visioned a company where customers can experience a centralised process of having their electrical, communications, home automation, solar energy, battery storage and home automation needs met.
Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength growing into a team of 13 staff who have achieved many of the goals Gareth has set for the company, including winning an award from the Master Electricians of Australia for Residential Project of the Year in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
He reflects on his greatest work-related achievement as his team. He believes that if he answers to their needs, looks after them and helps them progress through their career by learning every day, then he is doing a good job, and the return they deliver is endless.
Resources:
- Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)
- Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)
- Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)
- Visit the GreenElec website (https://www.greenelec.com.au/)
- Listen to ‘The Future of Energy’ podcast series
- Episode 188: The Future Of Our Energy Sources (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-1/)
- Episode 190: Solar power, fuelling communities (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-2/)
- Episode 192: The future of residential energy (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-3/)
Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Thank you for tuning in!
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