Caplor's New Blog

If you've stumbled on this blog you're actually in the wrong place - Caplor's Blog is now here

We're now just using this blog for the odd experiment so nothing useful is going to be posted here!

Caplor's Jamie Baldwin was interviewed on Sunshine Radio the other day - you can listen to a recording here.

The Which Report

The ‘Solar Electricity Investigation’ report in the July 2011 edition of Which? Magazine raises several valid points which should act as a rallying call for those installation companies within the industry.  It is imperative that if the industry is to avoid comparison with the dodgy selling practices of double glazing merchants, then installers need to ensure they are providing customers with the best possible advice and service. It’s in everyone’s long term interests to do so.
As an installation company providing solar PV and thermal systems, at Caplor Energy we all know that time is precious and many PV installers may be very busy.  But that’s no excuse for cutting corners.
Not informing customers that the average lifespan of an inverter is 17 years and therefore may fail within 25 years is inexcusable.  So is not taking account of shading – any installer worth their salt is well aware that there is software and training available that can give an accurate measure of the effect shading could have on a PV array.
All site surveys should be carried out by individuals with a strong technical understanding.  Surveyors more used to offering discounts than explaining the difference between a micro and string inverter will only stain the industry as a whole.
Using the obligatory Government calculation for expected generation and system payback is rather more understandable, given that it is a requirement to do so.  Most experienced installers know that the calculation is too simplistic. However, in our experience, the expected generation has actually tended to be an underestimate when compared to actual performance.
We would fully endorse the points raised by Which? I only wish they had carried out their market research on us – it would be a shame to think Caplor Energy and other professional companies may all be tarred with the same brush.

Show us your figures!

Caplor is keen to know just how much electricity its customers are generating. If you send us your figures every week - and let us publish them on our web site - then we'll enter you into a prize draw every month - a bottle of wine or a box of chocs - or something entirely different - could be yours!

You can see how the figures are adding up for our existing customers by clicking here.

It's Green - and it makes financial sense too!

Gareth Williams from Caplor talking about the financial advantages of PV

 

A perfect storm of stupid

Depressing (but useful) article in the on line Guardian a few days ago - it seems that America really does want to deny the reality of what's happening. Very well worth reading

Insulation Grants

The best way to save energy is to insulate - and there are grants available - find out more about them at Government-Grants.co.uk