Solar Power on House

[CHA-LEE]

You need to do the math on your average monthly power bill over several different years verses the cost of Buying/Leasing a Solar panel setup. If it ends up being a wash from a cost perspective then all you are doing is adding more risk to your power utilities. If its only saving you a marginal amount of money every month then its not worth the additional risk. You also need to do research on the realistic long term reliability and function of solar panels over a 5, 10, 15, and 20 year period.

Usually these solar panel options make zero financial sense without substantial Tax subsidies. The likelihood of tax subsidies going away is far greater than the local power company raising the costs of utilities out of control.

In my research for doing solar on our house it would have only saved us about $10 - $20 a month verses without. At that rate of savings it would have taken almost 30 years to pay off the panels if we purchased them and it was a total wash if we leased it. This was also assuming that the tax subsidies and power buy back rules would stay consistent over that same 30 year term.

The reality is that solar panels are currently not efficient enough or powerful enough to be a viable replacement for standard land line power provided by the utility companies. Solar panel technology is improving every year so maybe some day they will be good enough to be a viable replacement without needing to be subsidized. Until that happens it will always be a less than optimal solution for many home owners that have a bunch of city or county restrictions on how they can be deployed. The utility companies are also going to do their best to make solar a losing proposition for as long as they can. This is no different than the Oil & Gas companies doing whatever it takes to circumvent development and innovation on alternative fuel vehicles.

[Gman]

Photovoltaic cells are just not very efficient. The efficiency and volume from a natural gas powered plant makes it difficult for the homeowner to compete. With the lease model, the company installing the equipment makes money from us taxpayers via subsidies. If it's a viable solution, then it should be able to compete without government funding.

I looked into the lease model, and about the time the equipment is paid for the panels are already degrading.

On a side note, a home down the street from us was gutted in a fire. The fire was in the area of the solar panels. Coincidence?

[husky390]

The ONLY reason I have it was because we were sick of leasing a house and tired of getting our teeth kicked in the housing market. I assumed a lease through Sunrun, $66/month, still pay some $ to Xcell every month, am required to maintain an internet connection for their system, and they receive all money for extra power generated and tax credits. When their lease is up, this garbage is coming off of my roof.




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[BushMasterBoy]

The only thing that goes on my roof is me. No way in hell would I drill holes in the roof. I did cut a hole for a wood stove chimney. Best investment so far. Every time I sign a contract for anything I am usually being screwed over.

[OtterbatHellcat]

The only thing that goes on my roof is me. No way in hell would I drill holes in the roof. I did cut a hole for a wood stove chimney. Best investment so far. Every time I sign a contract for anything I am usually being screwed over.

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[00tec]

I wouldn't mind a solar setup, but I wouldn't put it on the roof. I would build racks and put it out on the ground.
Wind would probably serve me well out here too....

[OtterbatHellcat]

If you have some space, solar on the ground seems like a really good idea. Harnessing wind energy is also an attractive idea, and there's no doubt I need to look into the feasibility of both these type systems before I get to AZ.

[00tec]

If you have some space, solar on the ground seems like a really good idea. Harnessing wind energy is also an attractive idea, and there's no doubt I need to look into the feasibility of both these type systems before I get to AZ.

My limitation and hesitancy on wind is that Adams county limits you to 1 turbine. A few smaller turbines would fit the bill a bet better (especially vertical axis rigs), but you would need a permit exception. I have enough land to plant a solar field. Would probably pay better than farming it.