Solar Living - 2016 David Award Winners

Heat Pumps NOW Congratulates Solar Living

Heat Pumps NOW are big fans of The David Awards. They’re a great opportunity for small businesses around New Zealand to look back on and celebrate their achievements. It’s our pleasure to celebrate with fellow Christchurch business and David Award winner Solar Living! 
​
Solar Living won the Most Outstanding Triumph Over Adversity Category. Every small business faces challenges, though it’s fair to say some businesses face more challenges than most.

Solar Living Caring For The Community

“I first met Jason Tobin from Solar Living in the BNI group I’m a member of,” says Heat Pumps NOW’s Blair Ashdowne. “I didn’t know much about solar or renewable energy then, but Jason has really changed my mind.”

“Electricity prices are rising fairly steadily, which is concerning when thinking about how we’ll heat our homes in winter. Heat pumps are already an energy efficient option, but talking with Jason got me thinking about making electricity even cheaper,” says Blair.

“It’s cheaper to generate your own electricity than buy it from your power company” says Solar Living Director Jason Tobin. “That’s a fact.”
​
Over the past ten years the price of electricity has risen 84%, while most salaries and wages have struggled to keep up with the cost of inflation. Meanwhile the price of solar panels has dropped 80% since 2008, and 20% in 2012 alone. Great news, solar panels are continuing to fall in price every year!

What's The Challenge?

While cheaper solar energy is great news for people like you and me who want lower power bills and to do something good for the environment, it’s not being welcomed by electricity providers and lines companies.

“If you have solar panels on your roof and are generating your own electricity, then you’re not buying any from your power company. During summer, some Solar Living customers won’t get an electricity bill for a few months. In fact, their power company is paying them,” says Jason.

Because heat pumps are so energy efficient, they’re ideal partners for solar energy systems. Heat pumps don’t need as much electricity to run as a standard element or fan heater, so you don’t need a large solar system to keep one going.
​
“With a reasonably sized solar power system you could probably run an energy efficient heat pump on air conditioning in summer for free. There’s not as many sunshine hours in winter, but solar energy will definitely keep your costs down if you’re running your heat pump during the day,” says Jason Tobin.

Opposition from Lines & Electricity Companies

As you can imagine, electricity retailers and lines companies aren’t too happy about lower profits so they’re coming up with ways to try and stop people from installing solar.

“They’re publishing lots of studies saying solar energy isn’t that efficient. Around the country lines companies are introducing taxes on people who want to install solar on their homes. Because the government has mates in the oil and coal industries, they’re not interested in doing anything to promote solar. Meanwhile, the government is opening up new areas for oil and coal exploration and letting the coal burning Huntly Power Stations stay open,” says Jason.

“We’re meant to be clean, green New Zealand. 100% Pure. That’s not the case right now, so Solar Living is doing something about it.” 

The David Awards judges awarded Solar Living the Most Outstanding Triumph Over Adversity category because they’re promoting solar energy, tackling lies from large corporations, and doing everything they can to make Christchurch a greener place to live.

“While we’re rebuilding our city, we have a great opportunity to create a greener, and more energy efficient city,” says Solar Living Director Jason Tobin. “Currently, New Zealand is 80% powered by renewable energy, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t push for 100%!”

Congratulations Solar Living! Winning a David Award is awesome! We know, as Heat Pumps NOW won the Most Community Minded Business and Most Outstanding Fledgling Business Categories in 2015, and ended up walking away with the Supreme Award! We love what you’re doing to make Christchurch a better place and make electricity bills lower for the people in our community.

For more about Solar Living and the possibilities of solar power, contact Jason Tobin from Solar Living on 03 383 6200. Let him know you're a friend of Heat Pumps NOW!

Contact Solar Living!