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anyone had a solar ENERGY system installed in your house?

R

richardycc

Diamond Member
thinking about getting one installed mainly to lower my heating oil usage and cut down my elec bill. I think there are lot of incentive going on, with the interest free loan from the state, I think my monthly bill would be about the same (ie, $100/mon for electricity now, vs $20/month for electricity, $80 loan payment for the next 7yrs) so after 7yrs, I will really see the saving.

Let me know about your experience.
 
I'm going give the win here to Amused. Quicker and better punch line, though DisgruntledVirus had better delivery.
 
Originally posted by: richardycc
thinking about getting one installed mainly to lower my heating oil usage and cut down my elec bill. I think there are lot of incentive going on, with the interest free loan from the state, I think my monthly bill would be about the same (ie, $100/mon for electricity now, vs $20/month for electricity, $80 loan payment for the next 7yrs) so after 7yrs, I will really see the saving.

Let me know about your experience.
Click to expand...

Usually the payback on a Solar System is closer to the life of the solar panels which is close to 20-30 years...Also that is if they last the amount of time they are suppose to, excluding any maintenance costs. So IHO solar panels are mainly just for the environmentalist sound and not for someone just wanting to cut the cost of the energy bill to eventually save money.
 
We researched solar electric for our house and never could get the cost to make sense, even with about 60% of the cost being reimbursed through tax credits. It seemed that every time a new credit program would pop up, the suppliers would raise their prices to match. We took a look at solar hot water and that looked like it would payoff. We haven't taken the plunge there as we have extremely hard water and don't want to install an expensive system only to have it lime up quickly.
 
My Dad has 10KVA grid-tie solar system installed on the property for his house. He has 13 acres so it is fairly easy for him to find the room. His payback is about 12 years. However he more looked at it as a environmental statement. He also did a lot of the work himself. Basically he just had the parts delivered and did just about everything else which also saved him money. He is just about at the end of the first year and so far his electrical bill is still slightly negative.
 
I've looked into it, however the numbers just don't work for me. It may be environmentally sound, but not cost effective for my house.

I do plan installing a high efficient hvac system and tankless water heater this year however....
 
If you look closely there are PV mats that just about match the roofing color. The wiring goes under the standard roof cap, totally out of sight.
The glycol system is targeted for in floor heating, but I will install a heat exchanger for the hot water as well.
 
We looked very seriously at installing a solar power system for our house, but the costs are so high that the pay-off isn't there for us. To totally replace our electric utility bill, it'd cost us $70K before rebates and tax credits, (and I haven't paid taxes in 5 years, so the tax credit amounts to zero gain) and after the $2.80kw rebate, we'd still be looking at $45K or so.
The monthly payment for the solar system would be higher than the utility payments...at least for the 10 or so years it'd be financed.

http://www.findsolar.com/
 
Originally posted by: zerocool84
I figure these are like hybrids, just to make a statement. No real cost savings at all when you add it up.
Click to expand...

In my case http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/b...l/IMGP1240_640x480.JPG it worked out to be a wash to either pay the electric company and have a lower mortgage or a higher mortgage and go solar for the first 7 years. That payback period made it very attractive. We are generating about 5000kwh per month. The new panel on the roof is solar hot water, its payback period is about 3 years.

 
Originally posted by: ironwing
We researched solar electric for our house and never could get the cost to make sense, even with about 60% of the cost being reimbursed through tax credits. It seemed that every time a new credit program would pop up, the suppliers would raise their prices to match. We took a look at solar hot water and that looked like it would payoff. We haven't taken the plunge there as we have extremely hard water and don't want to install an expensive system only to have it lime up quickly.
Click to expand...

We are on well water so we have hard water issues as well. Our system is a close glycol loop system (and a small pv panel to run the closed loop pump) which takes care of that issue.

 
Originally posted by: bsobel
Originally posted by: zerocool84
I figure these are like hybrids, just to make a statement. No real cost savings at all when you add it up.
Click to expand...

In my case http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/b...l/IMGP1240_640x480.JPG it worked out to be a wash to either pay the electric company and have a lower mortgage or a higher mortgage and go solar for the first 7 years. That payback period made it very attractive. We are generating about 5000kwh per month. The new panel on the roof is solar hot water, its payback period is about 3 years.
Click to expand...

Have you noticed an increase in salesmen showing up at your house?
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
Originally posted by: bsobel
Originally posted by: zerocool84
I figure these are like hybrids, just to make a statement. No real cost savings at all when you add it up.
Click to expand...

In my case http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/b...l/IMGP1240_640x480.JPG it worked out to be a wash to either pay the electric company and have a lower mortgage or a higher mortgage and go solar for the first 7 years. That payback period made it very attractive. We are generating about 5000kwh per month. The new panel on the roof is solar hot water, its payback period is about 3 years.
Click to expand...

Have you noticed an increase in salesmen showing up at your house?
Click to expand...

Huh, not sure I follow the comment...

 
Originally posted by: bsobel


Huh, not sure I follow the comment...
Click to expand...

I have a couple of friends who sold door to door. They told me that if they saw solar panels on a house, it was the sign of an easy sell.
 
A Tankless water heater may be the first good step towards saving some electricity... just make sure it will work for you, because i live in ohio, most tankless water heaters will only put out 8-10 gpm, which would not be enough for someone to shower, and someone to have the dishwasher on... however in somre warmer states, it will put out 15-20 which is plenty for most... The more expensive ones however... now those are good...

Also, if you want to heat your house differently, put in a radiant heating floor... it will be set at like 55, but because its on your feet you will feel much warmer.

dartworth, where are you located? i think we have discussed this before.
 
Originally posted by: dartworth
I've looked into it, however the numbers just don't work for me. It may be environmentally sound, but not cost effective for my house.

I do plan installing a high efficient hvac system and tankless water heater this year however....
Click to expand...

I didn't think that tankless water heaters were cost effective? I recall a discussion on it here in the past. Tankless water heaters are more for convenience, unless you don't use hot very often (very small family). While the electric tankless heaters save on electricity, that savings is offset by the much higher cost of installation.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: dartworth
I've looked into it, however the numbers just don't work for me. It may be environmentally sound, but not cost effective for my house.

I do plan installing a high efficient hvac system and tankless water heater this year however....
Click to expand...

I didn't think that tankless water heaters were cost effective? I recall a discussion on it here in the past. Tankless water heaters are more for convenience, unless you don't use hot very often (very small family). While the electric tankless heaters save on electricity, that savings is offset by the much higher cost of installation.
Click to expand...

see, i dont get the costs of installation as my father just does that himself... the rest is all discussion from him about the actual products he sells... it really depends where you are at in the U.S.
 
Originally posted by: zerocool84
I figure these are like hybrids, just to make a statement. No real cost savings at all when you add it up.
Click to expand...

No real environmental savings either.
 
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