Engaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities

#27 - Solar Sense: Maximisng Your Energy Potential with Samuel Culhaci

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Solar power isn't just for sunny summer days—it's a year-round investment that transforms your roof into your personal power plant. Samuel Culhaci, a trusted expert from DNR Air Conditioning and Electrical, breaks down the surprising realities of solar energy that most salespeople won't tell you.

Did you know solar panels don't need direct sunlight to generate electricity? They work with photons in light, meaning even on cloudy days, you're still producing power. Sam clarifies that this is just one of many misconceptions as he shares his passion for helping homeowners make informed energy decisions.

The financial benefits are compelling: Residential solar systems typically pay themselves off in 3-7 years, with investment returns between 20-30%. For businesses that consume most of their energy during daylight hours, the payback period shrinks to just 2-5 years. Beyond the financial advantages, a typical home system offsets 7-8 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to planting 300 trees every year.

Battery technology has transformed the solar landscape, allowing homeowners to store excess daytime production for evening use. With NSW government rebates of $1,600-$2,500 available for battery installations, plus additional earnings from connecting to virtual power plants, the economy becomes even more attractive. During recent storms when some areas lost power for days, DNR customers with battery systems barely noticed the outage.

The most crucial factor in achieving these benefits is working with knowledgeable, reputable installers who understand your needs. As Sam emphasises, "Solar is not just a product—it's a power plant to secure your energy future." Cheap systems with poor installation underperform and pose serious safety risks. With 16 years of service to the Lake Macquarie community, DNR provides the expertise and ongoing support to ensure your investment delivers lasting value.

Ready to take control of your energy future? Visit dnraircon.com to learn how solar can work for your specific situation.

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Thank you for listening!

Leon Goltsman:

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Engaging Conversations. I'm your host, leon Goltsman, and today's a very special one. You know why? Because it's episode 27, and 27 happens to be my lucky number. But also, you never know, because after today it might just very well become your lucky number too. What better way to celebrate than talking about saving money, boosting efficiency and bringing year-round comfort to your home?

Leon Goltsman:

This episode is proudly supported by Niaz Cannoth and the team at Invest Intelligence, committed to ethical practices and empowering local and regional communities to grow stronger and more sustainable. Joining me today is Samuel Culhaci, a trusted expert in air conditioning and solar energy. With years of hands-on experience at DNR Air Conditioning and Electrical, sam brings not only deep technical knowledge, but also a genuine passion for helping families and businesses make smarter energy choices. Dni has proudly built a reputation over more than 16 years serving families and businesses across Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast, the greater Newcastle region and surrounding communities, delivering real service, genuine accountability and lasting peace of mind.

Leon Goltsman:

Just a quick note before we dive in. The insights shared today are based on Sam's professional experience. Always seek independent advice before making decisions, as neither Ecolibrium headquarters, myself nor our sponsors take responsibility for individual outcomes. With that out of the way, you're going to want to hear what's next, because Sam reveals why solar isn't just for hot, sunny days, how you could be saving money even in winter, and the costly mistakes people make when they rush into the wrong systems without the right advice. So, without further ado, let's get into it.

Samuel Culhaci:

Hi, my name is Samuel Kalachi. I'm an industry professional, primarily started with air conditioning but moved over to solar, especially locally. So helping our locals not only understand how solar can benefit them or help them in terms of their energy savings, we make sure they've got the right information so they can make the correct decision that's going to work best for them. So, yeah, I work with a local company here DNR Air Conditioning, electrical and we've been in the industry for 16 years now helping our locals. So, yeah, that's basically a short version of what I do here in Morissette.

Samuel Culhaci:

So it's located on Lake Macquarie, halfway between Gosford and Newcastle Most people would know that or the central coast in Newcastle. It's really a growing community here with lots of existing locals, but we're seeing a lot of families moving into the area, especially those coming out of Sydney, realising the the benefits of living in a place like Morissette, where we have all this local community and a natural lake and all the events that go along up in Newcastle as well, and close to the Hunter Valley, which is another great location, only half an hour away, and we're close to all the beaches at the central coast as well. So it's a really upcoming, great place to live with your families.

Leon Goltsman:

It's fair to say that if anyone understands air conditioners and solar, that's definitely got to be you well, yeah, certainly there's a lot of industry professionals out there, but yeah, I've primarily focused on solar.

Samuel Culhaci:

The last four to five years started off with, you know, wanting solar for my own property and it got so confusing with all the information and marketing out there and the more training I did on it and development and we realised that the community needed the right information, not just commercial marketers and TV ads that most people buy from. So, yeah, it's certainly been a growing advantage to me personally, understanding that and, coming from an electrical background electronics I grew up as a young boy with Dick Smith getting their little kits and I remember a time when we had a little FM bug you could buy. But yeah, that's got me started in the industry, understanding how electronics works and the fun of it and and the creativity of it, and I've applied all that learning to really understanding solar and how that can reduce our energy costs and it's, you know, giving a greener future for all of us and it's interesting to see how many people actually sell solar.

Leon Goltsman:

But when you sit them down or when you ask questions, what they say and what they actually know aren't always in sync.

Samuel Culhaci:

No, definitely not. There's a lot of marketing jargons out there and you'll see a lot of sales people just mention all these marketing terms or figures that the customer has no idea and can kind of confuse them and don't really understand what they but.

Leon Goltsman:

Solar is pretty simple well, many people see solar power as just an upfront cost, but in reality we know that it's a long-term investment that can provide financial savings over time.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, look, many people do see solar as an upfront cost, but really, as you mentioned, it is a long-term investment and it can make great investment returns.

Samuel Culhaci:

You know in between 20% to 30% from our homeowners that we see it, and it significantly reduces and eliminates their power bill in some cases, but also for business as well, it can totally offset their daytime energy costs. Payback periods depend on several factors, such as the system size, the energy usage, the government incentives and typically, residential systems pay for themselves within three to seven years, whereas commercial setups, because they consume more energy during the day, can pay back between two to five years. And here at dna air conditioning, electrical we help homeowners and businesses maximise their returns by designing the system that's really tailored to their specific need. The system has to be able to cope with the demands and when the energy is used, plus, with the government rebates and financial options that we have today. Ongoing solar has never been more accessible, and we also help homeowners find their the best energy provider, because plans vary so much, as you know. So, getting back, you know their feed-in tariffs at the best price and also what the energy costs are.

Leon Goltsman:

So, yeah, we, we help with all that so that kind of takes me to my next question. Aside from financial savings, many homeowners and businesses are drawn to solar because of its environmental benefits. How does integrating solar panels into properties contribute to sustainability?

Samuel Culhaci:

Well, there's a big saving for sustainability. It reduces the property's carbon footprint, for instance. So not burning that coal to get that energy. We get that free energy from the sun. And in Australia, like a typical 6.6 kilowatt residential solar system can offset between 7 to 8 tons of CO2 per year. So that's like planting 300 trees, for instance, annually. And for businesses the impact is even greater, cutting thousands of tons of emissions over the system's lifespan. And plus, solar reduces the strain on the power electricity grid, making energy production cleaner and more sustainable over that period.

Leon Goltsman:

So you did mention households and businesses can vary. What are the primary differences in designing solar energy systems for homes compared to commercial establishments?

Samuel Culhaci:

Well, the key difference here is the energy usage patterns so homes typically use more energy is the energy usage patterns. So homes typically use more energy in the mornings and evenings as the family's getting up and getting ready for school or work, and then when they return in the evenings that usage kind of peaks at that time, whereas businesses their peak is during the daytime. So that's why solar for business is such a great idea. But for homes we aim for a system that really maximizes self-consumption. So what that means is, if the solar system's producing you know five kilowatts during that time that they they use that. So whatever they use, that's directly from their system, free. They're not relying on the grid to come over and ensuring that the solar power is used more efficiently as possible.

Samuel Culhaci:

And batteries can also help store excess energy for their nighttime use. So where it's appropriate, we will design a system for the household if their most usage is in the evening time, so not to just send that power, free power, to the grid, but they can store it in their battery and use it at night time. And for businesses, the goal is to offset their peak daytime consumption and that reduces their the demand on their charges as well, and this means larger systems for businesses, but sometimes commercial scales of batteries are appropriate as well. So we look at that and so at. Here at DNR Air Conditioning Electrical, we design custom solutions to ensure both the homes and businesses get the best possible saving and efficiency from their solar system.

Leon Goltsman:

So that's why it's really important to have somebody designing who actually knows what they're talking about, rather than just getting on the internet, for example, or on social media that bombards you with ads it, for example, or on social media that bombards you with ads.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, exactly right, because you know there's not one size fits all. It's every household uses there is different, every family's different. So really understanding that first, and then giving them the product that's going to work for them that's so important and rather than just buying whatever is on on offer at the cheapest rate and, of course, um, when you, when you deal with a local business, you're helping local, local businesses and and your immediate community as well exactly and the benefit of that is and what we're finding in the industry.

Samuel Culhaci:

A lot of people will go for those offers but they don't have this ongoing support Because we're here locally, where you know if there is an issue, we normally know beforehand because we monitor those systems. But also our team is here to really to help as soon as possible. As soon as possible. So we're not travelling down to Sydney or somewhere else, we're just travelling to our locals and supporting that and keeping that close-knit community that we have here at Morrison Lake, Macquarie, is so important because you have that community feeling and you know that you're being looked after and cared for.

Leon Goltsman:

And, as you said, proximity is important. So on the way home, you can possibly even pop into a job that you've recently done or help someone along the way, which I suppose when you're buying online, you don't know where it's coming from and whether there are real people who actually can do something like that.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, exactly, and we see that all the time. And because we're not just doing solar, we look after air conditioning and electrical, so we often have the same customer. If they have an issue, we help them with that. So we've got a wide variety of things that we can help our customers with. And yeah, they feel like they're part of the DNR family and yeah, they feel like they're part of the DNR family and it's great.

Leon Goltsman:

It's great to have local businesses like DNR in the community doing so, because it's not just an overnight. Dnr has been around for.

Samuel Culhaci:

It's 16 years, so in April we're at our 16th year in operations and the same families that started it are still here working in the company. And, of course, we're a wide variety of electricians and technicians that continue to support the team and work together in helping the community.

Leon Goltsman:

And that's another reason why it's worthwhile going with a reputable company like DNR. You know that when you're dealing with a local company, they're not just going to serve you, take your money and run. They're going to be around for a very long time.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, exactly, and you know you can have all the warranties promised to you, but if that company is no longer around, well, there's no one to look after that. So yeah, we give between five to ten years depending on the products we sell and in our installation warranties, and also we help with the manufacturing warranties. Something goes wrong with the actual product. We help the customer process all of that to be able to have a repair or replacement done on those systems.

Leon Goltsman:

You certainly hold a big market share here in Lake Macquarie, so when your customers deal with you they know that it's a company that's going to be very well respected in the industry.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, that's correct, and that's again a very important thing for you know community to know that we're not just here for the short term, we're here to support them. We're not just here for the short term, we're here to support them. We're not just selling them a one-off product, we're giving them a system that's going to be ongoing and we're responsible for that as well. So, yeah, they can buy with confidence, knowing that we're going to be looking after their long-term needs.

Leon Goltsman:

We know that air conditioning and solar people think, oh look, I'm not going to get an air conditioner because summer's over, or they might turn around and say, well, hang on a sec. Do we really need solar because we're about to approach winter months?

Samuel Culhaci:

What would you say to that?

Samuel Culhaci:

So, yeah, look, with air conditioning, for instance, because they're reverse cycle, we find our customers are using it year round. It's always in use and during those times when you know it's not being used, that's a great time to have a service done on them, which we find we're doing a lot of that. Living in Australia, in New South wales, we have sun almost every day, and what people don't realize is that solar panels don't need direct sunlight only because it's, uh, what they call a photo voltaic system, so it relies on the photons in the light, so we can have a cloudy day like today, but your solar system is still producing power and and you can see that. So with our systems, you will have an app that you can actually see what it's producing and it's great. We find a lot of customers excited when they see it and saying, well, it's not sunny, but I'm look, I'm still producing quite a good amount of power. So, yeah, it's all year round. It's something that can be used and benefit our local customers 365 days a year.

Leon Goltsman:

Yeah, see, that's the sort of information that a lot of people were not aware of. You mentioned you touched on people, obviously moving up to Lake Macquarie from the city. So my question to you, sam, is how do urban and regional settings impact solar energy performance and design?

Samuel Culhaci:

Well, there's a big difference because, like in cities like Sydney, the rooftops are smaller and they get more shaded because of the condensed buildings, the nearby buildings. That really impacts the solar output. But in urban areas, especially in the new development places we're getting in here in Morissette, coorambong area, even in our region, we're seeing a lot more space on the roof, more affordable as well, and these roof spaces have fewer shade issues. So, you see, from the morning to the evening you get that full sunlight, which means a higher output for the solar and many also regional areas have grid limitations that restrict how much solar energy can be exported. But these regions that's where battery comes in to play and we're seeing that it's becoming more and more popular and it sounds complicated, but really solar and battery is not that complicated and we will really help you navigate through all those difficulties that you perceive and show you that it's quite simple and how it all works and the benefits that you get from the day of the install you know you're saving starts right away.

Leon Goltsman:

It is good to have somebody who at least knows what they're talking about. Less stress on the person who's making the decision.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, exactly To be informed correctly. We make decisions every day, don't we? But you make decisions on the knowledge that you have. So, unfortunately, these days there's a lot of misconceptions out there and you get a lot of information from people you don't know who they are. So, getting that right information, then you can decide well, what is the best thing for me? And that's how we do it. We will help you make those decisions, we give you those options and then you decide as a customer. We don't force to pressure somebody to buy something. We will make sure they have the right information for their needs and then they can decide which way they want to go.

Leon Goltsman:

And that's all part of making a sensible choice.

Samuel Culhaci:

That's right. Yeah, sensible choice, exactly the way you put it. And we we have to make sensible choices, but to do that you've got to have the right information.

Leon Goltsman:

And speaking of the right information, installing solar can be very exciting, but some people can make costly mistakes. What are the type of things they should be avoiding?

Samuel Culhaci:

what are the type of things they should be avoiding? Well, the most mistake people do is buying the cheapest system that they can find with low quality components. So either buying from the advertising they see on TV or from celebrities spruiking certain products and companies. But even worse than that is buying from someone that comes and knocks on your door, because you know all systems are not the same and, like I said, they have to be tailored. They have to really understand the way your energy needs are, and buying that way it may seem cheap at first, but we're finding that they often have to pay twice because that system is not adequate enough.

Samuel Culhaci:

It wasn't the right design for them. It was a poor installation from a company that's come from a town that we don't know about, who they are, we don't know what they've done, how they've done it, because solar is not just a product, it's a power plant. You're producing power, so government doesn't design or a company doesn't design a power plant just because it's cheap. It's got to be designed correctly and engineered right for the needs of the community. And that's the same with solar. It's got to be designed right and installed correctly to have that long-term savings and usage and the safety as well, and that's a big factor. You know as long as you hear about solar causing fire, but it's not because of the product, it's because of the way it was installed. So getting the right company to do that is so important. And also that way you know you've got the right size as well, because you can be advertised a certain product.

Samuel Culhaci:

But is that the right fit for you? Is that the right size system for you is going to produce enough energy when you need it? Or it may be even too too large for your needs. So you really got to look at the information or have the right information, and that's why at DNR Air Conditioning and Electrical, like I said, we've served in the community for 16 years now and we ensure that every installation is done right the first time and using the high-quality installation components, because we're going on people's roofs, in their ceilings, in their homes. It's their castle, it's their place, so we need to treat it that way and we treat each installation as if it's our own or we're installing for our grandparents, making sure everything is right before we leave, and that way we can give those warranties. Sometimes things don't go right 100% of the time. Well, we make sure it gets rectified and we're there. We don't just leave the customer because we've got their payment and see you later. No, we make sure everything is done correctly and we look after our community.

Leon Goltsman:

Well, that's the secret of any company. Success is a company who takes accountability and responsibility for their work.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, exactly, and that's why we take pride in what we do. And to do that is, you know, you've got to really understand your consumer, understand your customer, understand your products and make sure they fit right together. And yeah, that's why we have that pride and and try to help as best we can with with our customers.

Leon Goltsman:

So we've covered the people who are installing for the first time. How about people who already have existing solar systems?

Samuel Culhaci:

Well, yeah, look, some people got into the install their systems, probably 10, 12. We've had some systems that have been there for probably 15 years. So what they might be missing out on is the new efficient technology, because technology has changed very rapidly within you know. Within two years we almost have another step in our technology, and that's no different to solar. It's actually grown faster than that. So something that may have worked for them five to ten years ago is no longer adequate enough. It may be too small. Energy uses have gone up in the home. They can now upgrade.

Samuel Culhaci:

And what most people don't realise is the government incentives still apply if you upgrade your system. So they don't miss out on that. It's not a one-time incentive. They can still claim their, their stcs. There's small scale certificates, which offsets the cost of that.

Samuel Culhaci:

The other benefit is is the older panels didn't cope with shading or the direction of the sunlight as much where the newer designs do. That they have what they call a bypass diode. There's three bypass diodes within the panel, so if part of the panel gets shaded, it bypasses, as the name suggests, so it doesn't affect the rest of the panel or the rest of the panels within that system. So it's a great advantage. And also, when we started out, I think the panel sizes were about 150 watts. Now we're going for residential between 450 to 480 watts a panel and anywhere up to about 600 watts on a commercial panel, so you have less footprint on your roof, producing more power. So, yeah, it's a great benefit for those that may have an older system maybe breaking down. Also, you can't find the parts anymore to those old systems that were out there. And, of course, adding batteries now is a big benefit too.

Leon Goltsman:

You mentioned batteries. The question is is it really worth it? I mean battery storage. From what I'm hearing from our conversation here, battery storage does help maximise solar benefits, but really is it worth the investment?

Samuel Culhaci:

Definitely. You know, batteries let you store the excess solar, especially for those families that may not be at home during the day and, like we mentioned earlier, they use their power early in the morning or later in the evening. That can really take benefit of their solar system, so it stores their energy for when they need it. And it's useful also if you're in areas where there's blackouts and we're getting more and more of those or we have a storm. You know we had a storm here not long ago and some areas in morrisette lost power for two, three, four days. But our customers that had batteries well, they they kept on going, um, they didn't even realize sometimes there was a blackout and the other. The other incentive is that there's government in new south wales new south wales residents. The government offers a battery rebate between 1600 to two to two and a half thousand dollars, uh, contributing towards the battery, and that started back in November 2024. So making storage even more affordable for those customers. And they can also earn an extra $250 to $400 by connecting to a virtual power plant. What that means is the excess power. If the system needs it, they can grab it from your battery as well, which helps stabilize the system. And here at dna conditioning electrical we help customers navigate these rebates, choosing the best battery system for their needs as well.

Samuel Culhaci:

This is a lot of different battery brands out there and you just and you don't want to compromise when you're buying a battery, you don't want to be too small and you also want to make sure that you get the full benefit of that battery. So having a backup gateway so a lot of batteries are just sold without that. But every system we put in, you make sure that you do have that backup, and not only that you. We have what we call a black start. So what that means is if your power goes out, your battery takes over, but if that battery is depleted, that's it. Your power is dead.

Samuel Culhaci:

But with the systems we use, when the sun comes back up, it recharges your battery. So you can have that ongoing system. And we've also teamed up with Amber Electrical. They're an energy wholesaler so you can buy power at the same price as the retailers do, like Energy Australia, agl Origin. So we can help you with setting that up as well, especially with those that have batteries. It's such a big saving for them and, yeah, we help those, help those customers again make sure they've got the right plan and the right system for themselves so we know that not all solar providers are the same.

Leon Goltsman:

Well, what should people look for?

Samuel Culhaci:

well, just like with anything, any product they want to buy. You know, look for a company, a reputable company. And with solar, you know we've got a clean energy council, so all installers have to be accredited by them. So they need to check. Also, customer reviews You've got to be careful with the reviews as well. We're going to make sure they are right reviews and make sure the quality of the products they're using. And with dnr, look, we're here in morrisette so you can even pop in and see us. We've got a physical office with the products. There you can talk to us. We're real people. We're not, you know, a call centre somewhere, maybe not even in Australia, trying to make a sale. So we have that ongoing support. So for the last 16 years we've had that reputation Reliable air conditioning, electrical, solar installations and that ongoing support to make sure our customers get the most from their investment. So really, just do your research and not be taken up by the marketing jargon that's out there.

Leon Goltsman:

And so, sam, what is the number that people could call or website they can visit to get in touch?

Samuel Culhaci:

It's. Dnrairconcom is the website, and from there you can get all our contact details, and that's the best way to contact us. Or to just come down to 30 Gateway Boulevard, morissette, and you can talk to any of us there, whatever your needs are, and, yeah, go from there.

Leon Goltsman:

I will include all that in the show notes, and we have covered a lot today. So for someone still on the fence about going solar, what would you say to them?

Samuel Culhaci:

well, I'd say, start by doing your research. And solar isn't just about savings, it's about taking control of your energy future and viewing it as a a power plant. It's not just a, a product, an appliance you're buying. It's a power plant to secure your energy future for your you and your family. And here at dna ignition electrical we offer consultations to help people understand their options and make informed decisions. Even if you're not ready now or today, knowing your options puts a better position for your future. So, yeah, contact us, come and talk to us, ask the questions Every question is valid and we'll help you navigate the marketing terms that's out there and make sure that you're buying and you have the confidence that you're going to get that support for your right air conditioning, electrical, solar needs.

Leon Goltsman:

And, of course, this technology is going to be used for families, for their children, for their loved ones, but also an investment, not just a short-term investment, but one that is a very important part of their life.

Samuel Culhaci:

Yeah, certainly, and it is very important part of their life. Yeah, certainly, and it it is an important part of a life. We use energy every day. You know, in everything we do. From our young ones, you know, we'll have a energy product in their hand from when they were born to our older ones. We're seeing our older ones, you know, using tablets and computers and and all sorts of gadgets these days.

Samuel Culhaci:

So the demand and energy is growing and and continuing to grow. So we have to be really wise about our choices on how we're going to adapt to that change, and we've seen that we're going from fossil fuels to more greener fuels and solar is certainly one of them. There's a lot of other options out there that's being considered at the moment in the industry, but what has worked and is continuing to work is solar and every household can have their own power plant in their home and they can be independent. With those with installed batteries and it's designed correctly, they can be totally off-grid. So we do a lot of off-grid systems in the area as well, in Morrison and the surrounding areas. So, yeah, if you have an off-grid need, we can help you with that as well. But, yeah, certainly, solar is the future sam, thank you very much.

Leon Goltsman:

Glad to be part of that future and I appreciate having the future here talking to me thank you, leon.

Samuel Culhaci:

It's been a pleasure to really help you and your listeners understand how energy and solar energy works and what they can do to be part of that.

Leon Goltsman:

And that's a wrap. And with that we covered a lot of ground today, from understanding how solar works year round to the real financial benefits of investing in the right system and, most importantly, the critical differences that expert advice can make and long-term support. And that's exactly why Sam and the team at DNR Air Conditioning and Electrical are, without a doubt, the sensible choice. If you're thinking about solar upgrading your system or just want honest advice, reach out to Sam and the team at DNR. You'll be supported by real people with real solutions who are genuinely invested in the community. And speaking of supporting each other, next week I'm sitting down with David Martin from SRU Community Hub.

Leon Goltsman:

David is the inspiring leader behind Sons of the Phoenix, a transformative movement that's creating safe spaces for men facing relationship breakdowns, mental health struggles, loneliness and more. In a world where too many suffer in silence. Sons of the Phoenix reminds us you are not alone. It's a conversation full of hope, strength and the power of community, and it's a conversation that could make a real difference for you or someone you care about. If you enjoyed today's episode or have any feedback, I'd love to hear from you. Drop me an email at leon at ekohqcomau. Your feedback helps us grow and ensures we're delivering conversations that matter. And, of course, I'd love you to follow, share and tell your network about engaging conversations. Let's continue building a community of forward thinking Australians, one meaningful conversation at a time. I'm Leon Goltsman and until next time, stay engaged, stay connected and let's keep making a difference together.

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