I Just went Solar

[MTAtech]

I just had solar photovoltaic panels put on my roof. They should generate 3.2 Kwatts of power - about 20% of what I use (we use a lot of power in my house.)

Here on Long Island NY the Long Island Power Authority is subsidizing solar electrical production. The cost is about $8 per watt of which they rebate $6 per watt. In addition, New York State has a $3,700 tax credit for homeowners that install it.

If we all did this, we wouldn't need Saudia Arabian oil.

[ClubMed]

Um you're forgetting the SUV's

[MTAtech]

I seem to remember that S.A. only provides the U.S. with 5-10% of its oil. If we all did what I did with solar, dumped the SUVs and insulated our houses, the U.S. might be an exporter of oil.

[jman01pa]

If you dont mind telling, whats a setup like that cost?

[MTAtech]

It cost about $8-9 per watt or around $27,000 for a 3.2Kwatt system (more, of course, for a bigger one). This is an installed price, which includes the installed panels, inverters and new meter by a licensed electrican and connection to the local power grid. (It's cool when I make more power than I use and the meter runs backwards!)

The rebate is $19,200 plus a portion of the maximum $3,700 tax credit on my 2002 state taxes. So, I figure the net will be about $4,800 - out-of-pocket.

Admittedly, it is still expensive but electricity where I live is expensive too (12.5 cents per KWH). At current electric rates, the payback is about 10 years. However, I don't expect electric rates to remain the same for the next 25 years (the expected life of the system). So, payback should be about 5-7 years.

In addition, my decision wasn't only financial. I feel good giving the oil producing countries a kick in the pants and lowering air pollution at the same time.

[jman01pa]

The $27,000 is a bit steep but out of pocket is easily do-able.


Thanks...

[Cruez]

I would like to do that also...but in the near future I am going to install Solar panels to heat or preheat the water going into the water heater.. Should cut back the energy usage quite a bit also..

Not to mention I already framed the house with 2x6 to stuff more insulation in there..

I would love to see my meter going backwards

Is the company you bought it from on the web?

[MTAtech]

If you have to "carry the freight yourself," solar for making hot water or heat is much more cost effective than photovoltaic. However, with the heavy rebates and subsidies, PV can be cheaper.

The power company promotes it because they are at capacity now and have a hard time building new plants. (They're expensive, they take years to get the permits and nobody wants them near them.)

The company I bought solar from is ETM Solar http://www.etmsolar.com/

[Epidemic]

I have a generator for the old hurricane season.

I run my house on a 10kw generator except for I have to selectively draw when the heat pump kicks in. The main point being that if I had gas heat I would think that 3 kw would run just about all appliances under normal demand.

1500 w water heater several times a day
100 W 3 to 5 lights those little florecent ones
700 w techimo
??? Frig 740 kwh per year

Are you sure that your system is only 20 % most of the high power drains are on a random basis.

Shoot you probably are saving 80% heh

[Epidemic]

I bet you really get pissed when the kid next door whacks your roof with a baseball.