Editor’s Note: This is another weekly column in the Wanganui Chronicle.

“Don’t rush into solar, says Electricity Authority.” That was the headline on Radio New Zealand News a month ago.

“The Electricity Authority is warning that rapid investment in solar technology with back-up batteries could be an expensive mistake. It puts the potential wasted investment at $2.7 billion to $5 billion over the next 10 years, and said the real economics of solar technology should be understood before people made expensive purchases of solar cells for their roof tops.”

The Radio NZ story echoes a similar warning penned by our “oily rag” friends, Frank and Muriel Newman, in April: “Dark side of renting solar panels.”

Their warning focused on a company called solarcity and their programme called solarZero, “whereby homeowners can get solar panels installed on their roof at no upfront cost – as long as they make a 20-year commitment to pay a fixed monthly fee” that functions as a rental and servicing agreement.

The Newman’s ran the numbers and found that for a “normal” household the total payments over 20 years would be $26,400. My colleagues in the eco design field came up with similar numbers, and determined that the equivalent system could be purchased today for half that.

In effect, signing a contract for the solarZero programme would be similar to taking out a loan to pay for solar panels and paying it off over 20 years. In both cases, economically savvy and fiscally prudent people would decline, and instead invest in products and strategies with much better financial returns.

This was essentially the same conclusion reached by researchers at the University of Canterbury Electric Power Engineering Centre, which I wrote briefly about last week. Those researchers found that grid-tied solar electricity systems were financially viable only for households who could pay cash up front for the panels and who use lots of electricity during daylight hours. In other words, rich people who use heaps of power. That’s fine for them, but not aligned with the theory and practice of eco-thrifty renovation.

Over the course of 500 home consultations, I have never recommended installing photovoltaic panels as one of the top twenty (or more) suggestions that are proven to be cost effective for creating warm, dry, healthy, energy-efficient homes. In response to those who protest loudly, and insist PV is cost effective, I have said for years, “Show me the numbers.” No one has come forth, yet the protests remain. Hell hath no fury like an environmentalist scorned.

Last week I also shared research showing that household PV panels have a much greater carbon footprint than wind or geothermal power that I’m sure ruffled feathers among those still clinging to dogmatic beliefs. I have found it immensely amusing and ironic that I’ve been black-listed by local greens at the same time as being thanked and praised by Federated Farmers. Makes me wonder which group is more open-minded.

Please bear in mind that this column is written by someone who owned an off-grid home powered by PV for eight years, and who presently has a stack of panels ready to mount on the roof. But that’s another story.

In the mean time, here are some other suggestions for fun, easy and cost effective ways of using solar energy: Grow a vegetable garden. Make a solar cooker. Air your washing on the line outdoors.

Personally, I am immensely grateful for the sun, and the rain, and the soil, for contributing to a record crop of the World’s Best Garlic this year. Like the mighty All Blacks, this year’s crop of Allium sativum has truly outdone itself. Available at the River Market for the next four weeks only.

Peace, Estwing