Customer story: Tim
We caught up with Tim, a game designer from Guildford who’s saving over £400 a year with our solar subscription, Sunsave Plus. He discovered us via the Loop Energy app, and now he’s working from home “powered by modern nature".
![Photo of author Charlie Clissitt](https://images.prismic.io/sunsave-website/65686e8b531ac2845a2587ca_Charlie.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=96)
Written byCharlie Clissitt
![Circle including a smiling man in a white jumper, against a background of a house with black solar panels on its roof, blue sky in background](https://images.prismic.io/sunsave-website/ZmbUTpm069VX1l9__Customerstories-Tim.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress%3Fauto%3Dcompress%2Cformat&fit=max&w=2048)
How much are you saving with Sunsave Plus?
We’re saving about £400 each year, which is great. My main goal through Sunsave Plus was to cancel out my current energy bill, but now the system is actually paying for itself.
Why did you switch to solar?
It started with a conversation with my wife about making my house greener. We’re currently living in a new build, so it’s already quite green, but we wanted to push it further - and the most logical next step for us was solar panels.
How did you hear about Sunsave?
I heard about Sunsave through the Loop app. I downloaded it about a year ago, during the energy crisis, and there was a little icon that suggested trying solar, and I thought it looked interesting. Our garden is south-facing, so solar made sense.
Once I heard about Sunsave through the app, I read a lot about you, and everything I read made me feel comfortable with proceeding.
When I first started talking to the Sunsave sales team, it was very straightforward. They presented the Sunsave project to me, it was really well explained, I felt very comfortable, and so I chose to pursue.
What made you choose Sunsave?
If Sunsave Plus was not an option, I don’t think we would have switched to solar right now. Definitely in the coming years when we’ll be a bit more stable financially, but not at the moment.
Although we did have the cash to pay for solar, I wasn’t comfortable putting it on the table and getting rid of it.
It’s a win-win; I keep on paying the same amount per month, and the system is paying for itself.
How easy was it to get the information you wanted?
Going solar can be a bit tricky because there are so many different opinions from people who have already been through the experience, and I think it’s important to forge your own opinion. It might not make sense for some people, but it might make sense for you.
I did a lot of research, and in our case I felt like it was the right option.
How did you find the Sunsave sales process?
When I first started talking to the Sunsave sales team, it was very straightforward. After being on the waitlist for a week or two, I got contacted by someone, and then from there we had our first half-hour chat. They presented the Sunsave project to me, it was really well explained, I felt very comfortable, and so I chose to pursue.
What did you think of the Sunsave proposal?
The proposal was very clear. It had lots of graphs which told me how much I’m going to save through the years, how much it’s going to cost me - it was really well explained. It made me feel even more comfortable in my decision to go for Sunsave Plus.
How important was the Sunsave Guarantee in your decision?
The Sunsave Guarantee was a big factor for us. It means we’re not on our own, and we have backup if it’s needed. If I’d paid for this system upfront, we’d be on our own and have to call an electrician for repairs, things like that.
Right now, I feel much more comfortable.
How did you find the Sunsave installation process?
The installation process was really smooth. Between the scaffolding going up and coming down it was two weeks tops, and the main work happened in only two days. One day involved putting the solar panels up on the roof, and then the other day was other electrical work, including installing the battery and inverter, and explaining to me how the system works.
Did you need to get DNO approval?
We did need to get approval, but everything was handled by Sunsave, so I didn’t even have to worry about it.
How has your system performed so far?
Since the installation took place, I can’t stop watching the GivEnergy app that comes with the system. You can clearly see how much energy you’re sending to the grid, to your home, and to your battery. And it feels really rewarding, knowing that when I work from home, everything I’m doing is powered by nature.
How easy has it been to track your system’s performance?
The GivEnergy app is very clear. The main page is pretty much all you need. You can see how many kilowatt hours you’re generating, how much is going into the battery, and how much goes into the grid. You also have graphs that show your panels’ performance each week, and you’re able to compare days against each other.
You’d be surprised - even on a day when the sun is covered by clouds, you can still generate quite a lot of energy. The app makes you realise that you don’t need clear sunny weather for your solar panels to work.
From the very start, Sunsave was really good at sharing the right information, and I never felt pushed to do anything. On the contrary, it felt like they kept on telling me: if you feel like it’s not the right time or the right option for you, don’t feel forced to do anything.
How do you think the panels look on your roof?
The panels look really sleek. They’re black, which goes well with the dark tiles we have on the roof. It’s really nice, we’re happy with it.
What do your friends and family think about it?
I remember the day when I said to my workplace that I will be working from home because of my solar installation, my colleagues were really interested. Once I was back in the office they were asking me lots of questions about my experience.
Now I have a few colleagues that really want to go through the same experience with Sunsave, so I’ve sent a few people your way!
What was the best bit about your Sunsave experience?
From the very start, Sunsave was really good at sharing the right information, and I never felt pushed to do anything. On the contrary, it felt like they kept on telling me, ‘if you feel like it’s not the right time or the right option for you, don’t feel forced to do anything’.
And whenever I had concerns or questions, I was always able to reach out via email or phonecall, and there was always someone there to help and give me the right answer.
Would you recommend Sunsave?
I would 100% recommend Sunsave to anyone who isn’t comfortable with paying the upfront cost straight away. It also comes with great benefits like the Sunsave Guarantee, so if in about ten years’ time my battery performance drops below a certain level, Sunsave will replace it.
Do you have any tips for people thinking of switching to solar?
My main advice would be: don’t think too much about it. I mean, if you feel like it’s the right choice and the right time, just do it. If you choose Sunsave Plus, there’s nothing to pay upfront, you’ll have solar on your roof within a few weeks, you’ll see immediate savings on your energy bills, and your carbon footprint is reduced for minimal effort.
What do you think is the future of solar in the UK?
I definitely feel like solar in the UK (and the world in general) is the move forward. In terms of going green, it’s an easy step - especially through Sunsave Plus.
![Photo of author Charlie Clissitt](https://images.prismic.io/sunsave-website/65686e8b531ac2845a2587ca_Charlie.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=1080)
Written byCharlie Clissitt
Born in Yorkshire and now living in London, Charlie has been in the renewable energy industry since 2017, having worked as a writer and then editor of green technology advisor The Eco Experts. His work has focussed on educating UK homeowners about a wide range of residential power and heating solutions, including solar panels, storage batteries, heat pumps, infrared panels, and EV chargers.