Installing solar interest free for a warmer, healthier home As part of a raft of new sustainability initiatives, Westpac recently announced an expansion of their interest-free loans for making homes warmer.  Westpac NZ chief executive Catherine McGrath says the bank is focused on supporting customers who want to take positive action: “Climate change is a growing threat to our environment, communities and business. Cutting emissions reduces risk, helps protect the world we live in for future generations and also creates opportunities to do things in new ways.” “As well as supporting cu ..read more

PAK’nSAVE Avondale Saving Big on Power Taking the savings theme one step further, one of PAK’nSAVE’s Christchurch stores is now set to save big on energy consumption! Completed in July 2022 was a large solar installation for PAK’nSAVE Wainoni Road in Avondale which has the potential to generate up to 73,920KWh of power per annum. Specifications: 61.6kW grid-tied solar system Jinko 440w solar panels  2 x SMA Tripower 25kW grid-tied inverters More Information If you would like to know more about how your business could benefit from commercial solar, including our&nbs ..read more

Demand for Commercial Solar Strong & Growing As solar becomes increasingly popular across the globe, many businesses are investing in solar PV systems for their commercial properties. We’ve seen a growth in the commercial solar sector and have been fortunate enough to supply and install some of the South Island’s largest commercial solar projects. These solar projects include large retail and commercial warehouses, schools and retirement homes. Why choose solar for your business? Just like residential solar, commercial solar power systems save you money on your energy bill! Often comme ..read more

Image by Ian Hutchinson Solar on the Cliff Edge – Red Rock House Red Rock House is a beautifully designed home set on the cliff-top of the Scarborough Hills in Canterbury. The clients had sold their earthquake damaged home in Sumner Village and wanted to downsize to a home that was relaxed, captured the sea views and felt like a holiday home. Environmental considerations In addition, the clients had some environmental considerations for the design. It was to include solar electricity generation, rainwater collection, overhead louvres and an ultra-low emission log burner. In keeping with ..read more

Solar PV System Plays Important Role in Blum’s New Christchurch Showroom Global kitchen hardware manufacturer, Blum, has an ideal of ‘think globally, act locally’. The design of their new 3,150m2 showroom and warehouse in Christchurch shows just how committed they are to environmentally sustainable design. Working with architect Warren and Mahoney, Michael Hawkins, Managing Director of Blum, New Zealand, says the new Christchurch building meets their ambitions to create a “facility with the smallest environmental footprint possible”. CPS Solar are delighted to be involved in the new b ..read more

Solar PV System Cleaning & Maintenance Do you know that you can improve your solar system’s performance by as much as 10% with regular professional cleaning and maintenance? Our new Solar System Cleaning and Maintenance service includes solar panel cleaning and a full system check, from just $150. Solar Panel Cleaning Just a small build-up of dirt on your solar panels can reduce your system’s efficiency, which ultimately costs you money. Ash, pollution, leaves from trees, salt residue and even bird poo build up on your panels and will affect their performance! Not only will cleani ..read more

Another Solar School for Christchurch A grant from the Zayed Future Energy Prize, an international organisation that supports innovative solutions to create a sustainable energy future, has enabled Cashmere High School to install a 25kW solar PV system. After winning the tender earlier this year, CPS Solar installed the extensive system, including WST260 WINAICO solar panels and 5kw and 20kw 3 phase Fronius Symo inverters, during the July School holidays. This is the first part of a two part renewable energy project. The second part will a 2kW w ..read more

Substantial Solar Installation at Bluestone School, Timaru While the children of Bluestone School, Timaru are away enjoying school holidays, the CPS Solar crew have joined a team from Dimension Building and are hard at work installing at 30kW solar photovoltaic system at the school. The substantial solar installation means the school will generate a significant amount of the energy they consume. WINAICO Panels Installed As with all of our solar installations, we have chosen WINAICO solar panels. The panels have been installed on the roofs of two classrooms a ..read more

The Rise of Hybrid Solar and Lithium-ion Battery Storage The solar industry has been going through rapid change and has seen significant innovation over recent years.  As a result, solar power systems for home-owners and businesses have become cheaper and more efficient.  Possibly one of the biggest innovations has been in the area of lithium-ion battery storage, especially for use in hybrid solar energy systems. The move away from grid-tied solar With feed-in tariffs in New Zealand dropping significantly over the last couple of years, consumers are looking at ways to u ..read more