In the wake of the bungled insulation scheme and continued confusion over the Federal Government's solar incentive programs, the energy industry faced a tumultuous start to 2010. But Craig Mallory, the recently appointed CEO of Beyond Building Energy is looking to put that behind him. "It's definitely an interesting time to be in this industry, and I fully appreciate that we face challenges ahead of us. However, we are determined to stick to our promise of making solar power affordable for all Australians" says Craig.

Current trends show Australians are increasingly willing to embrace clean, green and sustainable living but there is still a lot of confusion as to the best way to achieve this. "Installing solar energy packages is a great way to show your commitment to a greener future" says Craig, "and installing solar energy needn't cost the earth."

By leveraging their global network,  Beyond Building Energy (BBE) are able to keep costs down and pass on the savings to homes and business across Australia. "Solar technology has been around for decades, and in Australia the resource is so abundant. We're proud to be at the forefront of this growing industry, and even more pleased to be the ones working to make solar power a realistic option for all Australians" says Craig. With power prices predicted to surge in the next 12 months, solar power really could prove a smart investment.

The Easy Pay Option Package consists of a 1.5kW Solar Power System with a 2kW Inverter. All BBE solar panels are manufactured to meet all Australian Standards and are backed by a 30year power warranty. With a brand new operating showroom recently opened at Tweed Heads, the momentum is set to continue long into 2010. To discover what clean, green energy is available for your home visit the Beyond Building Energy showroom at Tweed, or contact BBE direct on 1300 152 871.

Research shows that you don't have to spend big money to make money with solar.By keeping initial outlay costs down, you'll find it even easier to break even or make money with solar.

The appeal of generating solar energy is twofold: it reduces household dependency on the national power grid, and gives homeowners the chance to make money by selling renewable energy back. But Australians, eager to capitalise on the money earning potential of solar energy generation risk paying for systems that may never generate the income promised. Solar power company Beyond Building Energy stress the importance of customers doing their research before investing in expensive solar infrastructure.

Penny York, a sales consultant at Beyond Building Energy's Tweed showroom, says customers have totally different ideas about what making money from solar power entails. "To some it means saving some money on their quarterly power bill, some want to go completely energy neutral, while others are more ambitious".  Penny recommends meeting with an experienced solar consultant to discuss solar energy requirements before getting started as it "really helps to get your head around what you want to achieve". Beyond Building Energy offer systems ranging from 1.5kW through to 10kW, and will create custom-designed and off-grid packages to suit individual requirements.

Greater competition, lower material costs, and advancements in the solar manufacturing process have helped to bring the price of solar power systems down in recent years. Craig Mallory, CEO of Beyond Building Energy, says you don't necessarily have to spend big money to make money with solar. The BBE Eco Home Starter package, starting at $2995 and consisting of a 1.5kW system with a 2kW inverter, is suitable for most families who want to reduce their electricity bills. Going energy neutral or making money from surplus solar generation will call for a more powerful system. BBE sales consultants recommend anything from BBE's 3kW Eco Power Pro system, to much larger custom built systems, but are quick to point out that property size, roof dimension and aspect (the direction the roof faces) all affect the maximum output capability of a solar energy system.

The more a solar power system costs, the more money the system will have to 'make-up' before it can break even. Beyond Building Energy leverage their global network to keep costs down, and pass on savings to homes and businesses across Australia. By choosing a quality, affordable solar power system homeowners can reduce the initial outlay cost, and see the benefits sooner. But, as most solar investment returns are calculated over a 20-30 year period, installing a system that will last the duration is crucial. Quality components, and comprehensive warranties should come as standard. Beyond Building Energy use the best quality, high efficiency Sunny Roo PV panels and offer one of the highest warranties available in the market.

Beyond Building Energy consultants can provide homeowners with the information they need to make the best decision about their new solar power system, and offer competitive prices and payment options. Contact a Beyond Building Energy Sales Consultant on 1300 152 871 or visit the Beyond Building Energy Showroom, Cnr Machinery & Minjungbal Drive, Tweed South, NSW.

Portions of this article ran in the The Sunday Telegraph's 'Make Money from Solar' supplement, 18/04/10