About once a year I check the price of adding solar photo-voltaics on my roof, and every year decide that it’s still too expensive, and the payback is too far out.
This year things finally look good enough, with payback estimated to be about 10 years. Tax credits and utility company rebates cut the cost of the system in half.
I’ll be getting a total of about 8 KW, which should cut my electric bill to less than half. Excess power will be credited back to me; in effect (but not actually) turning the meter backwards. There should be times, especially in the spring and fall when the days are longer but we don’t use the air conditioner yet, when we give back more power than we use, in which case it will carry forward as a credit to the next month.
We’re going with American Solar Electric. They estimate that the installation will be complete in late September.
I know Richard is way ahead of me on this — by using batteries he can be “off the grid” and survive without any power other than the sun most of the time. My system will be “grid tied”, with no storage capabilities. So when the sun goes down I will be completely dependent on the power company.
I’ll keep you updated here as things progress.
Well, the Valley of the “Sun” is certainly the place to have this kind of system. Good luck with it. I suppose in 50 years or so, everyone will have it.
Comment by Donna — July 13, 2011 @ 5:35 pm
P.S. will you put in hot water panels, too?
Comment by Donna — July 13, 2011 @ 5:37 pm
I’m afraid of hot water panels. My sister had them on her house, and after a few years they started corroding and leaking and made a big mess.
You might have heard of this incident…
Anyway, I have a hybrid hot water heater and already save a lot there.
Comment by Daryl — July 13, 2011 @ 5:44 pm
Why does it take so long to install? Don’t you just nail the panels to the roof and run a wire down over the porch? 😉
Comment by Dale — July 14, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
Oh, your poor sister. Maybe she can hope for a big hail storm to hit and her insurance will pay for a new roof.
Comment by Donna — July 14, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
Is it still on schedule for this month?
Comment by Richard — September 17, 2011 @ 8:39 pm
No, now it’s late October or early November. They are very busy.
Comment by Daryl — September 17, 2011 @ 9:20 pm