quote:

Originally posted by adv ET 266:
Looks like most of you have roof with a mostly Southern exposure and few big tress, all of which close the door for this outstanding mod to some.
I read 38 SEER. Wow didn’t know that was a thing.

Here you go, they work great. I have 4 in my 6,000 Sq Ft shop and will keep it as cold as you want even in Texas heat and 3 in my house and rarely ever need more than one of them to keep it nice inside. Will eventually do some Solar on the South side of the building I am going to build a Solar patio as I do not want my roof compromised.
https://www.alpinehomeair.com/...jNle0voaArOoEALw_wcB

As Frank stated in CT, you are only allowed what you use for power in regards to panels being installed. As far as the environmental impact, here is an article. Environmental Impact of Solar Panel Manufacturing. https://www.forbes.com/sites/m...d-cheap---was-wrong/

Just had to dig this one up from the archives. A solar salesman came by, first one in a couple of months, I sat him down and let him give me his pitch. When done with his proposal I asked for a amortization printout for the life of the contract, which he hesitantly agreed to. I ran the numbers after he left, and this is what I would be getting: It would save me $408 in year one reducing to $84 dollars in year 5. year 6 would be a break even year, costing me the same as being on grid power. year 7 it would cost me $84 increasing to $456 in year 11. Leaving me paying more for solar than grid for the next 14 years of the contract. They, (and all the other proposals I have received) cannot supply all the KWH's to cover my usage, meaning I would always have a grid power bill on top of the solar bill. Bottom line is I would be paying $5580 a year for power in year 25 with solar or $3745 staying on the grid alone. Even barring grid power increases( which hasnt happened since 2010) the power company would have to have a +/- 70 % increase for their rates to catch what solar is proposing. Im not going to be here in 25 years, so it doesnt affect me, but it might if the kids decide to keep the house when Im gone.

In California look at your bill carefully. If you see MCE get out of that program. The only time I paid anything was when MCE took over billing and solar for PGE. I’m back with PGE and no bill!

You can opt out online easily.

My wife and I have a contract to lease our solar system for $149.55 for the term of the contract, 20 years. That amount can not be raised regardless if the San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) rate is increased..... 20 years same monthly fee, $149.55. They also installed a (new) additional 100 amp service panel. If and when we sell this house the buyer has the option to pick up that contract or cancel, then the Solar Company will remove everything, except the new service panel at no charge.

I believe we got a great deal!!!

Bob

I have all the ground space I would need and clear of obstructions. But even with rebates I can’t come close to the three year or so payback even as the start off at the highest output with our rates and sun supply. That’s diy too.

Well, I just read the whole thread and wonder after all this if anyones opinions have changed since installing solar.I am about to decide whether to say yes or no.

quote:

Originally posted by double trouble:
Well, I just read the whole thread and wonder after all this if anyones opinions have changed since installing solar.I am about to decide whether to say yes or no.

I keep looking into it and it is simply not cost effective. Even under Bidenomics where Electric rates have more than DOUBLED.

They are offering farmers in Georgia 1,000 an acre per year to put solar farms
Up on a 30-40 year contract

To put in perspective, to rent the land to a farmer is around 125 dollars per acre per year

I'm no expert, but I do understand where solar farms would be more effective and efficient than someone just having solar panels on the roof of their home.

My question for the farmers that rent the land for solar farms is will they be responsible for any kind of maintenance, such as grass cutting to give access to the panels.

If a company is willing to give $1,000 per acre per year for the use of the land, it has to be worth more than that. I've heard that cell phone companies offer around $1,500 per month to lease the land where a cell tower is placed.

My opinion for myself is that solar panels are still not worth the effort for the common individual with only a house or a few acres of land to use.

If you research it solar farms aren’t very efficient

quote:

Originally posted by Mike English:
If you research it solar farms aren’t very efficient

I’m not saying if they are or aren’t efficient. I’m saying they are offering 9 times the amount as a farmer for the same land to lease

[quote]posted June 13, 2024 02:16 PM Hide Post

posted June 13, 2024 02:16 PM Hide Post
Well, I just read the whole thread and wonder after all this if anyones opinions have changed since installing solar.I am about to decide whether to say yes or no.

Dan, if I was thirty years younger I would likely research it further, as of four years ago when the salesmen started beating down my door it didnt pencil out for several reasons. The biggest reason is they couldnt put enough panels on my roof to cover my usage, so I would still have a grid bill on top of the cost of solar which was half again more than I am paying now without solar. As I understand now, there are different programs available, but still, I wont live long enough to reap any benefits as the cost incured wont start to give back any benifits for 7 years. I am already past my best used by date LOL.

In place of traditional net metering, new solar customers in the state are now subject to a net billing tariff. Under this arrangement, ratepayers still get compensated for their excess solar production, but how much is determined by a complex "avoided cost calculator" that depends on the time of day and year.
What they meant to say was; avoided cost to PGE or California, you get less than half of what it was before. Stay away from second party billing like MCE. Crooks!

They really fd up a great deal. That all changed last year. Typical California! Wrong place to live and race!
We were grandfathered in but new solar folks get screwed!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BP758,

Racerdude, I agree and good for the farmer

Well, I stepped off on any deal simp[y because I won't ever realize much of a benefit from solar. I won't judge if it's good overall, just not for me and like Scott I'm past the peak of freshness so why do it?

So I get a call today from Solar guy. He asked me a few questions. I told him if I get a system it would NOT be roof mounted and NO HOLES in my roof. It would be a patio type installation on South side of building which would shade the hotter side of building and produce power. I told him I was not financing anything I would pay cash for it if I got one and only if it was cost effective at today's prices. No speculation that energy rates will quadruple or anything crazy like that.

So he asks how much energy I use monthly and I tell him about $300 my house and shop are pretty energy efficient. He says he can get me a system that would be paid off in 2 to 3 years. Okay, I am listening. What is total cash price? $50,000. Wait, that does not add up. 36 x $300 = $10,800 no where close to $50,000. No way $10,800 will pay off that amount in 3 years. Hello. "Well, you may get Government rebates if you are paying Income Tax." So you are saying you may NOT get rebates? Even if you did that would still not cover cost of system in 2 or 3 years.

He says "Well ONCOR is saying in a few years cost per Killowatt will be 25 cents." Told him we may get a real President again and price go down again to. Good thing I have a locked in contract for 6 years at 9 cents.......

Look Buddy, I told you I want a full cash price, no bait and switch and no bull for what might or might not happen 20 years from now. Just tell me what size it is and the cost and I will decide.

Then he tries to tell me that it will increase the value of my house so I needed to take that into account. Told him it is my last house and when I am gone I do not care what it sells for. All I care about is saving money now, not years after I am gone. Plus it is debatable that it will increase value of the house any at all.

They cannot guarantee the incentives since politics can quickly change the availability.
For the one we put in we are looking at about 3.25 years payback. Paid cash. Ground mount. Between state and federal incentives we got back in about 12 months 2/3rds of the $34k we paid. If they have decent reliability, that’s a pretty good investment.
Without the incentives it makes no sense.

I've said it before but if you read through this thread - the people who are happy with solar actually have it. The people who say "it's not worth it" don't have it. I could be wrong since I'm not re-reading the whole thing but I don't think anybody said they have it but regret it...
Do you want to listen to people who have actual experience or people who don't?

I don't have a dog in this hunt, therefore I am one of the "don't haves". Just saw this morning, from what I consider a reputable source but I haven't validated, Titan Solar has gone out of business (June 16, 2024), couldn't find a buyer. They're the #1 roof installer, have over 100,000 units that now have no warranty or service. Allegedly since 2023 23 large solar business have gone out of business's have gone bankrupt. Leaving 800,000 homes w/o a warranty or service. There are no more govt. incentives. Take it for what's it's worth.