As we head into a time where we’re becoming more sustainable, a number of schools are looking towards solar powered canopies as a solution. However, apart from their environmental benefits, you might be wondering ‘how do solar panels save money?’
Here at A&S Landscape, we’ve got solar PV canopies that can help your school save money on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. In this blog, we’ll tell you all the reasons why a solar canopy can save money for your school, as well as showcase some of our favourite designs.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
What is a Solar Canopy?
A solar canopy is a structure that is designed to offer shelter while capturing UV rays to generate electricity. They usually consist of a series of solar panels mounted onto one of our school canopies, which can be designed to be used for anything from outdoor dining to outdoor learning.
Because of their ability to offer an effective way to generate clean and renewable energy, they can offer many benefits to your school, such as:
- Reduced energy costs – solar canopies can help to offset energy bills and can lead to huge cost savings – more on this down below!
- Educational opportunities – we love to encourage students to spend their time outdoors, and a solar canopy can be added to the curriculum to teach pupils about the importance of renewable energy.
- Multi-functional use – as well as helping you save money, a solar canopy can provide shade and shelter for outdoor activities, giving you more outdoor space to make use of.
Check out our blog: 3 Benefits of Solar Panels for Schools for more information!
How Can Solar Canopies Save Your School Money?
So, how do solar panels save money? Well, along with the advantages above, solar canopies offer a good return on investment through their cost-saving benefits on offer all year round. These include:
Reduction in Energy Costs
It’s no surprise that solar panels can save your school hundreds if not thousands of pounds in electricity costs annually, which will benefit your school by cutting back on one of your main expenses. The saving costs that solar panels offer are incredibly beneficial, whether you’re heating an old building or having a large building full of electrical devices.
Solar panels can also nearly always produce electricity, even on cloudy days! This means that even in the winter months, electricity can still be generated. You can put the money you save towards extra equipment or curriculum activities or invest it in your local community.
Insurance Benefits
Some insurance costs or even bursaries might be positively influenced by the use of solar panels onsite for schools. Being mindful of the environment is favourably looked at by many insurance companies, and cost savings might be offered as a reward for the commitment to positive change and a better future.
The UK government offers financial incentives, such as the Feed-in-Tariff, which pays you for the electricity your solar panels generate. This can significantly reduce the upfront cost of installation and provide long-term income.
Extra Covered Space
Solar panels not only provide additional solar capacity, they also provide useful covered space for pupils and staff to make use of. Whether you use it as a dining canopy to help your crowded school or a playground shelter, you can keep students safe and dry during even the colder months – and, your solar panels will still work!
Solar panels also have a long lifespan of around 25 years, meaning that you won’t have to worry about replacing them any time soon.
Our Range of Solar Canopies For Schools
Whether you’re after a solar canopy for your primary school or senior school, we’ve got an impressive canopy range that offers a sleek and subtle design, working well with our robust canopy frames to create the ultimate structure.
We’ve developed our well-loved Motiva™ canopy range, seamlessly integrating solar panels into our modern and sophisticated designs. Our solar canopy range offers:
- 24/7 energy generation
- Sustainable outdoor spaces
- The highest-quality structures
- Sleek and bespoke designs
- Reduced risk of damage
- Innovative self-cleaning roofs
- Energy efficiency
- Quick installation process
By incorporating PV panels into your canopy, you’ll get a substantial reduction in energy costs, all thanks to the incredible benefits of our solar technology!
Don’t forget to request your free proposal today.
Invest in a Solar Canopy With A&S Landscape!
Hopefully, this blog has answered your question: ‘how do solar panels save money?’ As discussed above, there are plenty of reasons you might want to invest in a solar canopy for your school, with cost benefits being at the forefront.
Here at A&S Landscape, we’re truly passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor canopies. With over 40 years of experience, you can trust us to make your project work.
For more information about solar for schools, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our team will be more than happy to get back to you! Or, give us a call on 01743 444 100.
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