In Just 90 Minutes, You Will Have Everything You Need to Make the Smartest Money-Saving Solar Power Decision for Your Family

GUARANTEED or Your Money Back

Finally! A Solar Guide written by an engineer who knows how to slice out the techno-babble, politics, and environmental chaos…

…and get straight to the heart of the money-saving fundamentals of solar power…in a way that every Australian can understand.

WARNING: Before I tell you what’s in my book, I want to make something perfectly clear…No Expert, not even an 11-year veteran of the industry like me…can tell you whether solar is a good decision for you.

Only YOU can decide if it’s right for YOU.

You’re the only one that has all the information to make the right choice for you.

I, Finn Peacock, do NOT know if you should go solar.

(I don’t know your politics, your views on the environment, your take on the economy. All these play into any decision about solar…but I do NOT address those in my book).

But here’s what I do know.

If you read my book, you will know how to take the information about you, your house, your energy consumption, and your finances…and make the smartest money-saving decision for you. Guaranteed.

Because even though there are many reasons to go solar, the bottom line is “Will it save my family money?”

Guaranteed. If, after reading the book, you don’t think you have everything you need to make the smartest MONEY-SAVING solar decision for you and your family, just let me know and I’ll refund the price of the book. No questions asked!

I’m Finn Peacock – Chartered Electrical Engineer, Ex-CSIRO, founder of SolarQuotes.com.au, and author of the Good Solar Guide. I’ve been in the solar space for over 10 years, and have helped hundreds of thousands of Aussies on their solar journey.

How can I make such a bold promise?

Well, first, I’m proud to say that when it was released, it managed to hit the #1 bestseller on Amazon.com.au. So, I know people like this book!

But here are many other reasons I can confidently make this unique guarantee about my book

Why is The Good Solar Guide a better choice than all the other solar books clogging the virtual shelves?

• It’s about US not the U.S. It is focused on our Australian consumer, our Australian standards, our Australian climate and our Australian electricity market. Every other book I can find is aimed at either the US or the UK market. The Australian solar market has lots of unique aspects that require dedicated advice.

• It is not a glorified sales letter. Most of the books on solar that I’ve read (and I think I’ve read all of them) are thinly-veiled pitches for solar power…or a particular solar system. My book is just the facts. I’m not pitching any products or installers. I don’t make any money when you buy a solar system. In fact, I happily admit that solar is NOT for everyone!

• It’s written BY a qualified engineer FOR Nontechnical folks. I’ve spent 11 years in the industry. I know the technical minutia. I can go full-on geeky if I need to. But I don’t in this book! Even though I’m an engineer, I understand that you are probably not. You want all the complex electrical stuff translated into simple terms that make sense! I think I’ve done exactly that in this book. But I’ve also included tons links in case you DO want to plunge headfirst into geekdom.

• It’s all about how to save the MOST MONEY with solar. No politics, no environmental doom and gloom, no scurrying down rabbit holes. Just the facts you need to save money! I tell you all the secrets and “half-truths” about solar savings… and your energy bill…that most buyers do NOT understand, and most authors don’t tell you.

• It is up to date. My book covers the latest battery & solar panel technology, rebates and regulations, and I plan to update it annually.

• It’s a little bit funny. I wrote it in the humorous but scientifically grounded style that I have used to great praise from my blog readers. It is also based on my interaction with 1-in-30 homes in Australia through my website.

• It is a proven, step-by-step approach to getting tiny bills with an affordable solar power system.

If you don’t believe my book gives you everything you need to make the smartest solar decision for your family, I’ll refund every cent.

So, what’s in the book, Finn?

Glad you asked!

Step 1 – Essential Knowledge …Everything You Need to Know about Solar Power and Energy but Were Afraid to Ask

Here are all the building blocks you need to start building your smart solar power decision. Once you have these key concepts down cold, you’ll know more than 99% of Australian consumers…and 100% of the politicians!

• Why must Australians don’t understand the difference between solar “power” and solar “energy.” And why not knowing the difference can cost you big! I’ll show you why starting on page 10.

• How to avoid buying a system that’s completely the wrong size for you…this is way more than you’d expect…but easy to avoid if you understand one key concept. Page 18

• ONE question to ask a solar sales person to see if they’re a crook! Page 18

• The biggest misunderstanding I’ve encountered…tariffs vs. rebates…and how to consider them wisely before you purchase. Page 19

• The 3 types of solar system …on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid…compared and contrasted. Page 23-32

• Why generating your own electricity needs a whole new mindset. Page 27

• Surprise! Why your electric meter doesn’t know what is happening with your home’s electricity. And why YOU must know before you purchase a system. Page 27

• 4 reasons why you may want to choose an off-grid system (3 of which do NOT require you to be crazy). Page 30

• If THIS is your main motivation for going solar, then don’t buy batteries for your system yet. I tell you why on page 33

• Why the dream of “watching your meter run backward” is a myth…and illegal! Page 33

• Why you shouldn’t get your knickers in a twist about ‘unfair’ feed-in tariffs. Page 37

• The #1 thing that will lower your bills and help you payback your solar investment fast…and why most people do NOT understand this. Page 39

• Exposed! How the electricity retailers hide the true value of solar when they send you your bills. Don’t let them fool you too. Page 39

• How to know if your installer is using solid analytics or just making wild-ass guesses. Yes, they do this! See how they do it on page 49

• The main principle to bear in mind when buying solar. This could save you thousands. Page 50

• 4 claims and promises that shonky installers make to keep their marketing costs low…and tease you into their web. Page 51

• 4 quick ways to tell if you’re dealing with a cowboy installer. Page 52

• 3 legitimate reasons you may pay more than the standard price for your solar system. If these 3 do NOT apply to you, beware of paying too much! Page 53

• A good clue that your installer could be breaking Australian Consumer Law. Page 53

• The 4 or 5 main warranties that come with every solar system…and what you need to know to protect your investment. Page 55

• The one concept you need to know to avoid getting bogged down in “battery blather!” Page 56

Step 2 – Measuring Your Energy Use…to Avoid Buying a System that is Wrong for You and Your Family

Would you buy a pair of shoes without knowing your shoe size? Of course not! But many Australians start pricing systems before they know exactly what they need. And wind up with the WRONG system. And wrong systems are expensive systems.

In this chapter I give you a simple step-by-step system for calculating your exact solar needs…

• The lazy and impatient person’s way to calculate the most important number for your solar purchasing decision (no, it’s not the price of panels). Page 60

• 4 things I’ve discovered that most Australians do NOT know about their own electricity. Jump to the head of the class by reading page 63.

• My step by step method for accurately predicting what your bills will be after you install solar…don’t take your installer’s word for it! Page 50-73

• How to read your meter to calculate your energy consumption and predict your post-solar bills. Page 68-75

Step 3 – Heating Your Water – your water is 20-30% of your energy cost. Get this wrong and you’ll wind up with the wrong system. And waste money. Here’s all you need to know about how to calculate this crucial solar-decision variable.

• Why your water determines how many panels you need. Page 79

• Why you should “go big” with extra panels. Page 91

• Why you should seriously consider replacing your LPG-fueled hot water with diverted PV solar hot water. Page 93

Step 4 – Show Me The Money! Now we’re down to the bottom line. Here’s where we calculate your tiny bills!

• Why…no matter where you are in Australia and no matter how small your daytime consumption…a 6.6 kW system will almost certainly will give you a better return than a smaller system. Page 97

• The one financing option that, in my experience, should always be avoided. Page 100

• The 3 ways to pay for your solar system…the 3 costs of running your system…and the 2 paybacks you’ll get…all explained in simple terms on pages 100-101

• Why looking only at the “simple payback” from solar will lead you to make a foolish financial decision…get all the payback facts on page 107.

Step 5 – Choosing Your Hardware There are heaps of brands of solar panels and inverters available in Australia – many of them cheap and nasty. In this section, I’ll show you the two dozen or so that you should consider if you want a safe, reliable and well-supported system on your roof.

• Why the efficiency or your inverter is usually much more important than the efficiency of your panels…most people don’t get this and pay too much. Page 121

• This sounds nuts but it’s true: Why less efficient solar panels give you the same amount of energy as more efficient solar panels. Page 122

• The battery promise made by many shonky installers. If you hear this, run away. Page 131

• Why buying these panels could cost you 25 years of heartache and wallet ache. Page 135

• The almost foolproof way to avoid a crap solar panel. Page 136

• If your installer can’t provide one of THESE brands, you’re venturing into the unknown. Page 137

• The solar purchasing mindset that blows me away. How to avoid losing thousands by trying to save hundreds. Page 140

• Why salespeople love to wax lyrical about solar panel efficiency… and why you can often ignore them. Page 141

• The ONLY reason to pay more of a higher-efficiency system. Page 143

• What to do if salt mist, ammonia or hail are common in your area. Page 146

• The most likely component of your solar system to fail in the first 10 years…and what to do about it. Page 153

• What to ask for if you want “apocalypse-proof” backup. Page 153

Step 6 – Getting Quotes Now we venture into the minefield! How to find three reputable solar installers, what to look for in a solar quote, and how to pick the best quote for your situation.

• The 5 types of solar installer…who to avoid, and who will be most likely to deliver a system that makes you happy. Page 155-160

• 3 ways to find 3 reputable installers to give you quotes. Page 160-167

• What a good-quality, comprehensive quote should include. Pages 171-185

• 4 reasons why a “cheap” solar company could work for you. Page 158

Step 7 – After the Install. This section is loaded with post-install checklists! Small but important things that should be done to ensure your new solar system has a long and hassle-free life. I’ll also show you how to live with your new solar system so you can keep your bills as small as possible.

• What to do if your electricity retailer tries to put you on a ToU. Page 197

• A post-install checklist of small but important things you MUST do to ensure your system has a long and hassle-free life. Page 188-200

• How to check inverters, isolators, conduit, cables and monitoring systems to avoid costly failures. Page 188

• How to check panels, rails, racking legs, shade and everything on your roof to keep the system running smoothly. Page 188-189

• 14 items to keep in your documentation file to stay compliant with the Australian Standard for solar installation. Page 190

• How to shift your electric “load” to get the most out of your system. Page 191-193

• What to look for on your electric bill after installation. Page 194

• 3 reasons your grid consumption may not go down on your electric bill. Page 195

• Oops! Electricity retailers sometimes forget to credit you for solar! Here’s what to do when they forget. Page 196

• 9 common solar system malfunctions and how to avoid. Page 198

PLUS! You Get Links to Over 25 Calculators, Blogs, Checklist and Other Helpful Tools to Make Your Solar Decision Even Easier!

I believe my book contains everything you need to make the wisest solar choice for you and your family (guarantee).

But!

If you want even more…these links will satisfy the geekiest of solar geeks…

1. Why regular cleaning of solar panels is usually a waste of money.

2. A handy glossary of all the solar techno-babble explained in simple English.

3. The maximum solar rebate value for where you live

4. The current feed-in tariffs in your area

5. A tool to bring up a satellite photo of your roof and fit virtual solar panels to it.

6. How to decide what angle to mount your panels?

7. Up-to-date price ranges for good-quality solar!

8. How to determine who your local energy network is (different from your retailer…and important to know).

9. Why time-of-use tariffs are generally bad news

10. How a flat-plate collector works

11. How an evacuated-tube collector works, and when they can make sense.

12. How a heat pump works

13. Up-to-date price ranges for good-quality solar!

14. 7 scenarios where Australian Consumer Law can give you rights that you (and many solar companies) are probably unaware of:

15. An up-to-date list of each DNSP’s rules here (they change often).

16. An up-to-date list of ballpark pricing for good quality solar.

17. Why a panel array that is larger than the inverter is actually a really good design option

18. My inverter quality chart.

19. How to oversize your solar panels if you choose micro-inverters.

20. Where to get quotes from Smart Energy Council Master Installers.

21. Are you getting a good deal? My blog post showing you how to compare your local solar-friendly energy tariffs so you can check.

22. The insider secrets of solar financing.

23. My modified internal rate of return calculator for solar.

24. Pros and cons of micro-inverters and DC optimisers

Why You Should Buy this Book Now…Not Next Month.

I said above that my book is not political. It’s not. I said that my book does not dive into the divisive swamp that is climate change. It does not. I said that my book doesn’t go down tangents that have nothing to do with how solar can SAVE YOU MONEY. It does not

Why?

Because as confusing as all those issues are, our politicians can’t even seem to understand MONEY-SAVING issue.

Throw out all the politics and environmental issues…they don’t even know the MONEY part.

For example, I watched an episode of 60 Minutes on Channel 9 about Australia’s energy crisis.

In it, they interviewed our then-Federal Minister for Energy, Josh Frydenberg, who revealed that he has large electricity bills every quarter and they really put a dent in his household budget.

The presenter asked him if he had solar on his home.

He replied that he doesn’t because he thinks it’s expensive.

Apparently, the guy who makes the energy investment decisions for Australia is not aware that buying good solar on low-cost finance is almost always cheaper than paying electricity bills.

Don’t be like Josh.

Be smart.

Get my book and start saving your family money as soon as possible.