It’s an understandable concern, especially for those living in Scotland; will solar panels still work even when it is cloudy outside?

The answer is yes, although there will certainly be a drop in efficiency, you will still be able to enjoy all the benefits of a solar PV system when it is overcast outside.

The extent of the output will depend on a number of factors including the height of the clouds in question and the angle of solar panel installation, but in general, a solar panel will operate somewhere in the region of 10-25% of their clear day capacity on a cloudy day.

So, now you know that solar panels still work when it is cloudy, but how is this possible?

Well, the fact is that solar panels do not require direct sunlight to produce electricity and instead can harness any form of light wave that reaches them.

What about rain?

When it rains, the efficiency of your solar panels will drop further than when it is simply overcast but will still produce some energy.

Furthermore, rain can actually help to prolong the lifespan of your panels and increase their productivity, clearing away any dirt or debris that has accumulated and may be preventing the system from running as efficiently as it could.

‘Edge of Cloud’ effect

Even though clouds will normally cause a decrease in the effectiveness of solar scotland panels, there can sometimes be an unexpected boost in efficiency every so often.

The ‘edge of cloud’ effect involves the sun peeking out from the side of a cloud and could actually result in a higher level of production than a clear day as both reflective and direct sunlight will be impacting upon your panels.

Could inclement weather do damage to your solar panels?

In the UK, it is inevitable that your home, and therefore solar panels, will be exposed to pretty much every single weather condition you can think of throughout the year.

For this reason, it is essential that your solar panels are made of durable, long-lasting materials that are designed specifically to cope with heat, rain, snow, and wind.

Take this into consideration when selecting your new solar panels and makes sure that you choose a company that offers a 20–25-year warranty to protect you in the event of an unexpected incident that damages your panels.

How to choose a solar panel

To maximise the efficiency of your solar panels during cloudy weather it is crucial to choose the right product.

Solar panels will more than pay for themselves over time through reduced energy bills and increased property value, but it is still a big investment to make.

Some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a solar panel includes:

Cost

The first thing to consider when choosing a solar panel is how much of an investment you are looking to make.

The cost of solar panels depends on the size of the unit, both in terms of physical size and capacity, the quality of materials used, the warranty period, and the brand.

Whilst it is important to make a financially sound decision, initial cost is not the only thing to consider, as opting for a cheaper option may leave you facing expensive repairs or replacements down the line.

Energy Efficiency

Solar panel efficiency is measured as a measure of how much of the light that is received is converted into electrical energy.

Obviously, the more efficient the system is the better, although the most productive solar panels will be much more expensive so finding the perfect balance is key.

 Quality

The quality of the materials used to build solar panels will play a major role in determining their durability and how much efficiency will reduce over time.

When you are choosing a solar panel provider, makes sure to check their credentials, online reviews, and history before making any commitment to get an idea of past customer’s experiences with the company.

Type

Many people don’t realise that there are actually several different types of solar panels on the market, each with their own benefits and limitations.

If your supplier happens to mention these rather odd sounding names, it is good to have a basic understanding of what each means.

Polycrystalline silicon based solar panels are currently the most popular choice in the UK for residential homes, with Monocrystalline silicon also offering a strong cost-effective option with good heat tolerance, and Amorphous silicon being possibly the least efficient due to the low amount of silicon used in production.

Contact us

Get in touch with Greener Energy today on 0335 77 66 999, to learn more about solar panel installation, or to schedule a survey of your home to determine the best location and type of panels for your home.

An annual boiler service is important to keep your boiler fully functional and prevent the emergence of any serious issues. Boilers which aren’t serviced annually are at serious risk of suffering from breakdowns and severe energy inefficiency. But when is it best to get your boiler serviced?

It’s probably any time that isn’t the Winter; not only is this the busiest time for heating engineers – it’s also more expensive as well. In this article we’ll go over the many benefits of getting your boiler serviced before winter.

Winter Boiler Service – Issues

Scheduling Problems

Winter is by far the busiest season for heating engineers. Winter sees a significant increase in breakdowns and boiler trouble – and because of the cold weather much of the time these problems must be addressed immediately. The cold weather also can cause damage to pipework (frozen pipes are a serious issue).

This means that while it’s entirely possible to schedule a boiler service during the winter you’re almost guaranteed not to be prioritised and are more than likely going to end up looking at a very awkward timeframe for securing a repair. This can be especially annoying around Christmas time, especially if it turns out your boiler has problems, and the work will need to take longer.

This can also be a serious problem if you have left your annual service to the last minute – as it can endanger the renewal of your warranty.

Increased Costs

 Heating engineers tend to charge the most during the winter – regardless of whether they’re part of a larger firm or are independent. This is largely because they are so busy during the winter, and so can make a significant amount of money during this time.  You can look at an increase in the cost compared to other times of the year (where heating engineers are more than likely to offer significant discounts for the cost of the service).

Benefits of Getting a Service before the Winter

Peace of Mind

Knowing that your boiler has been properly checked and any issues with it have been resolved well ahead of winter is a huge benefit for your peace of mind – removing the worry that you’ll be dealing with any surprise cold showers or other problems when the winter rolls in.

If you’re a landlord, it’s a legal requirement

As a landlord you have a legal requirement to ensure your boiler has been properly serviced annually, and by a gas safe registered engineer a well.

Ensuring your Warranty is maintained

A warranty is a key part of your boiler – providing you with peace of mind knowing that in the case of any faults or breakdowns, your boiler can either be repaired or replaced. However, many warranties necessitate that you annually service the boiler. Failure to keep the boiler annually serviced (and by a gas safe engineer) will result in the loss of the warranty. This is a serious problem, and something you must avoid.

Many problems with your boiler begin in the Summer

Because we don’t use our boilers as much during the summer, many problems go completely undetected until the winter – meaning you are facing problems when you need your boiler the most. Furthermore, the reduced use of the boiler can cause problems of its own – clogging up pipework and causing leaks. Not only are these serious issues – but if undetected they can prove to be very, very expensive. Therefore, it is good to have a service done during the summer, so you can prevent these issues from becoming a problem in the first place.

Scheduling is a lot easier

Heating engineers at CHS Glasgow have a significantly reduced workload outside of winter – especially during the summer. This means that it’s far easier to schedule an annual service during this period than during the winter, where the engineers are significantly busier.

Another point in the favour of summer servicing is that you aren’t as reliant on your boiler during the summer. This means there’s far less disruption if you need to have work done on your boiler.

Reducing the costs

Because they have a significantly reduced workload during the summer and outside of winter, heating engineers often provide discounts. These aren’t always significant (they’re often around £20 to £30 – it depends on who you are going with) – but in the long run they can help a lot. Furthermore, these discounts are often provided regardless of whether the engineers are independent or part of a larger firm. This makes paying for a service a lot more palatable.

Construction sites are vulnerable to a wide range of crimes. Theft, vandalism, and arson are estimated to cost the British construction industry over £800 million every year – not to mention pushing up insurance premiums, delaying work, and damaging staff morale. The size of construction sites and the large number of raw materials, fuel, and equipment in them makes them very appealing to thieves. Vandals and arsonists see construction sites as easy targets due to their large size. 

This means it is vital that you protect your construction site. One of the best choices is manned guarding services – security guards. In this article we’ll discuss the benefits you can reap by going with security guards to keep your property safe.

Deterring Theft and Vandalism

Theft and vandalism are very common on construction sites. Unprotected construction sites are huge environments with many potential access points, so if there is no one there to prevent entry, a dedicated criminal can very easily enter unopposed. The large amount of specialised equipment, raw materials, expensive tools, vehicles, and fuels on the site are more than likely going to attract attention from criminals eager to steal and resell them. The loses that can result from theft can be huge, delaying work and significantly increasing insurance premiums. Fuel theft can also damage expensive vehicles.

There is also a danger of vandals entering the property. Vandals can damage and destroy equipment as well as vehicles. Graffiti is another common problem, but a major issue is arson. Fires can result in serious damage that can be impossible to repair – significantly setting back the work on a project.

The best way to handle thieves and vandals are security guards. Manned guarding services mean a physical presence on the property – the one thing thieves and vandals have no interest in dealing with. Intruders know if they are caught by security that the chance of prosecution rises massively – so the presence of security guards is often enough alone to prevent a crime. If a crime does occur, the security guards can handle what could be a particularly difficult situation on your behalf.

Furthermore, if there are any other accidents that occur on the site the manned guarding services can alert the authorities.

Prevent Unauthorised Access

It’s not only thieves and vandals who pose a problem; unauthorised access by members of the public, ‘urban explorers’, and other individuals can cause serious problems. People frequently wander onto construction sites due to their open nature, and these people can injure themselves, or distract workers. Security guard services can ensure that unauthorised access is prevented – saving a worksite from a massive headache.

Reducing Liabilities

Hiring security guards on your construction site will significantly reduce liabilities.

If people end up injured or ill because of work on a construction site, the owner or manager may end up being considered responsible and required to pay for any damages. Because security guards monitoring the site can prevent these incidents from occurring, they can save managers and owners from significant liabilities costs.

Conflict Resolution

It isn’t uncommon for conflicts or disputes to occur between workers on a construction site; the demanding nature of the work and the complexities of a job can result in conflicts, and these can slow down work significantly. Security guards are trained in conflict resolution and management, so these problems can be shut down quickly, allowing work to resume in a smooth manner.

Stopping Emergencies and Mitigating Disaster

Construction sites are busy environments with a huge amount of heavy machinery, equipment, and the movement of raw material can easily result in injuries if people aren’t careful. This isn’t to mention the digging of trenches or ditches, which people (if not careful) can fall into – or the misuse of equipment. While workforces are trained to be alert, there is always the chance they will miss something and suffer an injury as a result.

Construction security guards are trained to spot risks and hazards early on – helping to prevent these accidents from occurring.

Ensuring the Site is Safe

Security guards are trained not just to keep a site safe, but also to ensure people on the site are also kept safe.

Manned guarding and security guard services are trained to identify safety hazards and prevent accidents before they happen. Not only is this an amazing boon for your workforce as it keeps them safe from potentially serious incidents, but it saves a project from serious interruptions.

Security guards are trained to provide first aid – which means in the case of any accidents, they can help people until proper assistance arrives. If someone is injured, they are also superb witnesses – which can keep site managers safe in the event of any lawsuits or litigation.

Being the victim of burglary is the worst nightmare of many and having effective home security in place should be the priority of any homeowner.

The monetary cost of being burgled is one thing, but the fear and emotional trauma a home invasion leaves in its wake are much more long-lasting.

Everyone should feel safe and secure in your home and a burglary is the one sure-fire way to ensure this is no longer the case.

Here are 6 of the most effective burglar-proofing strategies you can use to help make your home as secure as possible.

1. Install a timer

If you are driving down any street at night, a quick glance at the houses either side will give you a good idea of who is home and who isn’t.

For a burglar, this information will be used to pick a target that appears to be unoccupied and will give them the best chance of getting in and out without detection.

For this reason, maintaining the appearance of being at home, even when you have gone out, is a great home protection method.

The best way to do this is to install a timer in your home.

A timer is a cost-effective device that will turn your lights or other electronic devices on at a set time at night.

Premium versions allow for multiple cycles which can create a very convincing illusion, turning off the TV and the bedroom lights on at a certain time to create the image of someone heading to bed.

This may seem like too simple a method to actually be effective, but most burglars are opportunists who aren’t interested in doing days of surveillance and will simply choose the easiest looking target.

A timer helps to make sure this isn’t you.

2. Avoid hiding spare keys

That spare key you have stashed under a flowerpot or welcome mat is probably not as well hidden as you think.

Burglars will be more than aware of the common places people keep their spare key, so consider instead leaving a key with a trusted neighbour or close friend.

Another option is to install a hidden secure keypad lockbox on your property containing your spare key.

3. Reinforce Windows

Breaking a window in order to access the lock is a popular technique among thieves.

To make this more of a challenge consider either upgrading your existing windows to the latest reinforced double or triple glazing or applying some anti-penetration film to the glass.

This film adds a completely clear additional layer to your windows, making the glass shatter resistant and much harder to compromise using force.

4. Keep your garden well maintained

An overgrown garden, packed with tall overgrown bushes and trees offers burglars plenty of excellent hiding spots.

Actively landscaping your garden to deter thieves is an underrated but highly effective security measure as if a potential intruder cannot see a way to approach your property without being exposed to both residents and passers-by, they will likely just move on.

General security advice recommends keeping your hedges to a maximum of just two feet, especially between your property and the street.

You should also make sure that shrubbery does not obstruct your exterior lighting in any way, as this will create a shadowy and gloomy environment for criminals to thrive.

5. Check who is at the door

Distraction burglary is a common tactic used by thieves, with one person tasked with keeping residents occupied at the front door whilst the other sneaks into the house from the back or side.

Always check who is at the front door using a peephole, smart doorbell, or chain, and never open for a stranger without the appropriate identification.

Make sure to arrange specific times with services companies and for council visits to avoid confusion and remember the old adage “if in doubt keep them out”.

6. Invest in security systems

A security system is essential to maximising your home security and deterring criminals.

A property with CCTV installation Glasgow and a good burglar alarm system are a burglar’s nightmare, and it is highly unlikely that your property will be targeted by a criminal who is aware they are in place.

To ensure that your security system is most effective as a deterrent, ensure that you place the installing company’s signs in highly visible areas on your property, letting intruders know that they will trigger an alarm and be captured on CCTV if they attempt to proceed.

If for some reason, a burglar continues despite the obvious warning signs, your alarm will alert residents and neighbours to the incident, and CCTV footage can be used by the police to find and convict the perpetrator.