Free solar panels in Lozells

• Jun. 3 by Andrew Nichol (4)

The residents of Lozells are currently learning to live a greener and more energy efficient lives. Residents of the Birmingham estate have just taken advantage of a scheme to have solar panels fitted to their homes free of charge. (http://www. birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-campaigns/go-green/go-green-news/2009/05/12/more-power-to-the-people-97319-23602998/)

Residents have been saving up to a third on their gas bills and saving up to half on their electricity bills with the new scheme.

Resident of Lozells Momota Rahman is living proof that going green works as she was one of the first to have her house fitted with these free solar panels back in March. “The best thing about all of this is saving money on my heating bills and because we have pre-payment metres we can see the savings straight away. “Before the panels were fitted we used to spend £3 a day on the gas metre and £2 each day on electric, and now it’s dropped to £2 on the gas metre and £1 a day on electricity. “This is so much better for me and for the family.”

Solar panels take energy from the sun and convert that using solar cells into energy that can be used in the house as electricity. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel)  Not only is this a cheaper way for residents to get electricity but it is also much more environmentally friendly. However, it is fine to have these solar panels fitted free of charge, but would people pay to have them fitted without proof as to how much money it would save them on their electricity bills.   

By Andrew Nichol