Solar electric...what's up with that?
I told a salesman he could come over and pitch his solar electric system. Can anyone give me some real world advice?
Is it worthwhile? Do you ever make back your investment? What type or brand is considered the best or most efficient? What questions should I ask? Do they need maintenence, like cleaning? Buy or lease?
Sorry for the shotgun approach, but I know very little about the real world viability of a solar electric system. Years ago I went for a solar water heater, and it never paid for itself before becoming problematical.
I do have a roof that is large enough and situated well for solar panels, and I live in SoCal.
Thanks,
Rick Potter
I went through the same song and dance...
SolarAmerica pitched their product to me.
It's important to note two things:
the ROI in years and if your utility pays you for the extra power you generated.
Massachusetts has "net metering" so I only get rebates equal to my usage.
If you're running an airconditioner, it may suit your plans to check your actual consumption.
My total electric consumption, for a full year, is less than $1200. It didn't make a strong case.
If I owned an EV for daily driving, I would reconsider the installation.
It just doesn't make dollars and sense to spend nearly $55,000 (including the retail price of the car)
to drive the 30 miles I travel, daily.
Your situation should consider your total electric consumption, and the value of any power you generate.
Compare how long it takes to break even (ROI) to the amount of time you hope to spend in your home.
Projected payoff for the array on my roof (considerably further North than yours) was 14 years.
It's not the risk for rain infiltration over this period to install at the current cost for electricity.
There is also some sort of "coupon" affiliated with Carbon emissions regulation with utilities that can be sold off by the homeowner
to offset the cost of installation. It might also make you feel good to contribute in this manner.
http://www.dsireusa.org/solar/solarpolicyguide/?id=13
I would be more inclined to consider a retrofit of an air conditioner with an integrated solar array.
The idea is clever - sunshine is most abundant when the air conditioner is most in demand.
Let the sun help do some of the cooling for you...
http://www.lennox.com/solar-solutions/