We Are Solar Powered!

[tarcone]

Got my bi-directional meter installed by the electric company today. I flipped the switch to my solar panels. BAM. We are now energized by the sun.
Free installation. Leasing for $468 a year for 6 years. Then we throw them a $1 or $2k and its ours outright.
Should save us $800 a year during the lease. Then after that over a $1000.
And right now our local electric company is asking for a 14% rate increase. Go ahead I say, Im powered by the Sun.
I am very excited.

[JediKooter]

That's not as expensive as I imagine it would have been. What size are the panels and what's the power of them?

[Kodos]

Tree hugger.

[cartman]

I hope you got a solar powered set of clippers, so you can get a haircut, hippie!

I've been looking at getting on the solar train as well. Unfortunately, the electric co-op I belong to doesn't support bi-directional at this time, so it would be supplemental only for me. I'm intrigued by the new solar shingles from Dow. If I have to get a new roof in the next couple of years, those are something I'm definitely going to look into.

[johnnyshaka]

What if the sun is not sunny?
That would not be fun, no that would not be fun.

(sorry, been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss with the kids lately...couldn't help it)

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by johnnyshaka

What if the sun is not sunny?
That would not be fun, no that would not be fun.

(sorry, been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss with the kids lately...couldn't help it)

Sounds to me as if he can flip the switch to the electric grid when the sun isn't out, but otherwise run off of his solar panels.

[sterlingice]

Sounds excellent to me.

SI

[Grover]

Awesomesauce.

[tarcone]

The panels run through the existing electric panel in my basement. It also runs through the electric meter. Anytime we are not using solar we are using the electric company. So we are not 100% independent electrically.
Our system is 9.36 Kw. The estimate is that it will produce, conservatively, 12000 KwH a year.
The 9.36 Kw system is the largest the company offers to residential customers.
The back of our house faces due south.

And all this hippie talk, I have a 55 gallon water barrel. That helps water my plants. Saves me money on the water bill. Planning on putting in another soon. Then a garden where the 2nd water barrel is above the garden and I can water from that with ease.

The only gren Im going is trying to save that kind that spends.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Sounds to me as if he can flip the switch to the electric grid when the sun isn't out, but otherwise run off of his solar panels.

And when the sun is out, he's likely making money since he'll produce more than he needs. So when he's pulling from the electric company, he's really just pulling back electricity he's already produced in previous days.

Tarcone, want to toss up the website for this company? Just would like to see what they offer. I've been considering this for my business.

[tarcone]

Home | Sunvest Solar Inc | Solar Panel Installation | Renewable Energy

If it is something you do, make sure you tell them I referred you. I get a reward. PM me if you are going to do it.

[RainMaker]

That's great. I'm in the process of buying a building with rental units and storefront on the first floor in the city with some other people. One of the things we're researching is putting either solar panels or one of those circular wind turbines on the roof to help deflect some of the cost of electricity. Also planning on setting up a garden of some sort as they can absorb the heat and reduce overall costs.

I know people look at that stuff as treehugger garbage, but it's amazing how much some stuff can save you. I recently switched bulbs at my Mom's house to CFL, helped her seal up windows and worked out a better ventilation system in the attic with a solar powered fan. Her summer electric bill has gone from $240/month to $90/month this year. Winter should be a good savings too as there are less leaks in the windows.

[Kodos]

FWIW, I would love to get solar panels for our house, but last time I looked, the price to do so was exorbitant.

[tarcone]

This deal is being promoted by our electric company. Our electric company isnt going to build any nuclear plants or dams in the near future. And they are getting close to being maxed out on power production and use.
Basically, the electric company and this solar panel company get all the government goodies. The kickbacks and tax breaks. I get the solar panels installed for free. And lease them for $468 a year.

I agree on it being too expensive for me to do. $25,000 to $30,000 to do it on my own. But when this deal surfaced, I was all over it. In fact, we are the 6th house down our 10 house cul de sac that has gotten these.

[sterlingice]

Seems like a great deal- this is the type of thing we should be subsidizing to help reduce consumption

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by tarcone

This deal is being promoted by our electric company. Our electric company isnt going to build any nuclear plants or dams in the near future. And they are getting close to being maxed out on power production and use.
Basically, the electric company and this solar panel company get all the government goodies. The kickbacks and tax breaks. I get the solar panels installed for free. And lease them for $468 a year.

I agree on it being too expensive for me to do. $25,000 to $30,000 to do it on my own. But when this deal surfaced, I was all over it. In fact, we are the 6th house down our 10 house cul de sac that has gotten these.

Ah, so this is Ameren only? That may be the reason this is so much cheaper that what I've seen before. I'll probably call anyway just to see if they offer it within my area.

[tarcone]

Yeah. It is Ameren. Not sure if Ameren only. The solar panel co. is head quartered in Wisconsin.

I have a direct contact if you need it. He is at home with new babies. I called the company to ask a question. And the girl had no idea, so she emailed him and he called me from home at 6:30 pm.

So, great customer service.

[RainMaker]

What kind of upkeep is there on these?

[Glengoyne]

We just completed our solar project here. Our leasing options weren't near as attractive as what Tarcone describes.

The numbers for us.

Our average electric bill throughout the year is $271 a month. The peak months are significantly higher.

The Lease would run us about $225/month for 20 years. The installation was free, and we end up owning it when all was said and done. There were no options to pay it off early or to pay directly to the principle. That didn't sound all that appealing to us, as our only savings was in the monthly discount.

The route to purchase meant that we'd have to pay up front or secure financing. We would however receive Power Company incentives as well as the federal tax credit for about one third of the cost. Financing was the key. Our credit union had a solar financing package that allowed for a one time lump sum payment and re-amortization within one year. Specifically to apply the tax credit, and lower the monthly stroke.

So we ended up with a steeper monthly payment that will be much more tolerable once we re-amortize, but we can pay the whole thing off far sooner than twenty years. Once we do that it is all gravy.

Our system is 7.3 Kw, and should result in a small credit each month on our electrical bill. The savings is amplified by changing to a time of use rate offered by the power company. Essentially power you use in off periods is cheaper than at peak periods, likewise surplus power your system generates during those peak hours is credited at those higher rates.

We're waiting for our fancy meter, so we're not really getting credit at this time for our surplus power, but since our system is up and running, we are seeing significant periods where we are running our AC without any power from the grid.


As for upkeep. Little or none. I've seen some people wash theirs off periodically, but a couple of people I know in the solar business say that it would take inches of dust on the panels to really impact them in a detrimental way. Most folks warned us that the central inverter WILL fail in 10 to 12 years. The central inverter takes the DC power from the panels and converts it to AC for your consumption. We went with micro inverters for each panel that come with a 25 year warranty, so hopefully we won't have to face that cost.

[Desnudo]

plus you're protected during a zombie apocalypse

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

plus you're protected during a zombie apocalypse

Alas the whole thing is rigged to shut off in the event of a power failure. You can't have a home dumping power into the grid when some lineman is performing maintenance on systems that he doesn't believe are being powered.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

plus you're protected during a zombie apocalypse

*Adds "Glengoyle's house" as a possible destination during the zombie apocalypse*

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

Alas the whole thing is rigged to shut off in the event of a power failure. You can't have a home dumping power into the grid when some lineman is performing maintenance on systems that he doesn't believe are being powered.

*Crosses "Glengoyle's house" off his list*

[Kodos]

Interesting development in solar power.

YaleNews | The fluorescent future of solar cells

[tarcone]

We have averaged a $5 electric bill the last 6 months.
Bring on more effifcient solar cells.

[Kodos]

A little jealous here. By the way, you know you can take the sig off, right? You haven't converted?

[tarcone]

I was waiting for the word from you. No conversion here. No sir. Although, I will say, I have always been a Bobby Knight fan.

[Kodos]

I told you during the tournament that you were all clear!

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I told you during the tournament that you were all clear!

It must have been cloudy at tarcone's house when you posted.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by cartman

It must have been cloudy at tarcone's house when you posted.

[Kodos]

Anybody else jumped on the solar train yet?

[claphamsa]

i have too many trees

[JAG]

We have to have our roof redone in the next year or so and it's definitely a consideration.

[MacroGuru]

I have a buddy that works for a Solar company here in Utah that is making $ hand over fist right now as everyone is adding it to their homes and a lot of developers are offering it as part of their new builds

[MrBug708]

My parents put it on their roof about 6 or 7 years ago, but they bought them outright and paid a pretty penny, but they are saving over $500 a month. (Bills would reach above $600 in the summer)

[tarcone]

Still going strong. July is always the worst month. A/C runs a lot. Pay about $60. Otherwise, March through June we have a credit on the bill. Usually true for September and October. The next step in the near future is getting away from gas. We have a natural gas water heater and furnace. Saving for when our A/C unit dies and then doing the whole thing then.

Still loving it.

[CU Tiger]

solar water heater is the single most efficient solar household product going.
Weigh out the balance between laying out for a solar boiler system vs adding a traditional electric water heater and using up some of those credits.

[tarcone]

I have never heard of a solar water heater. Yes, I will look into that. Thanks.

[lighthousekeeper]

New website from google (currently only available in CA and MA)

Project Sunroof

[Kodos]

Just finished our installation today. It's a 10.14 kW system and is designed to produce 9,900+ kwh/year. Once it's inspected, we'll be in business.

State rebate was $3,600
Federal tax credit was $8,700

Al Gore would be proud of us.

[Drake]

Nice!

We put in a smaller array (just 15 panels) when we replaced our roof last November, but it still cut my electric bill roughly in half. After various rebates, that gives us a projected ROI of about 6 years. Then it's all free money after that.

[flere-imsaho]

Nice!

We're definitely considering this when we buy our next house.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Drake

Nice!

We put in a smaller array (just 15 panels) when we replaced our roof last November, but it still cut my electric bill roughly in half. After various rebates, that gives us a projected ROI of about 6 years. Then it's all free money after that.

Ours is 39 panels, so our payoff time will be more like 10 years. But after that, it's all gravy. We're looking into installing mini-split systems in our house to really take advantage of the solar power.

[tarcone]

Looks great.
What a great investment.
Solar is the way to go.

[Kodos]

Here comes the sun: US solar power market hits all-time high | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian

So for our first full month with the panels, our bill was $23.75. And that was the service charge from Eversource. We banked excess electricity for future months. And it should only get better when we get our high-efficiency mini-splits installed.

Solar rocks.

[digamma]

Has anyone looked into any of the solar sharing companies that tie you into a solar panel farm rather than installing the panels at your house?

Have read very mixed reviews, with negatives being the length of contract (which can either be transferred to a new home purchaser or travel with you to your new house) and most of the savings being back ended as you bank energy.

[JPhillips]

I don't get enough sunlight, but I've heard in NY the increased assessment and increased property taxes eat up what you save on electricity.

[Kodos]

This is pretty cool:


Chernobyl going solar

[tarcone]

Missouri Dept. of Transportation is investigating Solar roads. They are talking with an Idaho company called Solar Roadways.
The roads are glass over a solar panel. The MoDot guy thinks the roads will generate revenue and generate heat that will melt snow and ice.

This is an interesting development

[tarcone]

Here is the link to the story

MoDOT working towards installing smart roads | FOX2now.com

[cuervo72]

Solar Freakin' Roadways! - Front Office Football Central

Same outfit, no?