Solar Electricity

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Here Solar turns out to be a good investment as it is in much of the Western States.

http://estimator.solar-estimate.org/...al_estimator=1

That's a great calculator Brian. Thanks

But if you take away the taxpayer funded subsidies that pay for nearly half the system costs has any real money been saved?

Without the subsidy, a.k.a someones hard earned dollars, my cost goes from and estimated .09/kW produced to 0.17/kW.

I currently pay .11 for conventionally produced power.

The break even point is over 11 years out also.

I don't think we are there just yet.

[Mark Thorman]

My theory is if you can finance the system and pay the same as you are currently than you should do it. Especially if oil or coal is the main source of power. Oil and coal are going to become heavily taxed so take the write off (tax cut) and enjoy tax free power (another tax cut).

www.MauiHomeInspections.com

[Bruce M. Graham]

Micheal,
It's more about % of return than cost per kw, If you have the money to invest I think it makes sense in this market, your only risk would be a lower power rate. Plus there is the added value to the home for resale. And in a worst case senerio you could always take it with you to the next house you buy.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by bgraham

Micheal,
It's more about % of return than cost per kw, If you have the money to invest I think it makes sense in this market, your only risk would be a lower power rate. Plus there is the added value to the home for resale. And in a worst case senerio you could always take it with you to the next house you buy.

I don't disagree that ROI is more important.

But it simply doesn't work without taking money from your pocket and giving it to me in the form of a tax credit.

Maybe you could just avoid the middle man and send me the $11,000 to pay about half of the system costs.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by Mark Thorman

My theory is if you can finance the system and pay the same as you are currently than you should do it. Especially if oil or coal is the main source of power. Oil and coal are going to become heavily taxed so take the write off (tax cut) and enjoy tax free power (another tax cut).

www.MauiHomeInspections.com

If you are speaking of cap and trade, I think it is largely dead for the foreseeable future but who knows for sure.

[measter]

Also you need to look at the payback versus the projected life of the equipment. If you are pushing a 20 year payback, you could get in trouble with a system that needs to be replaced as soon as you get your return on principle.

[Aubrey J. Kahn]

These are the very same questions I am asking myself. Am I concerned about "green" energy? Only if it is going to be worth my while. If it does not produce "green" in my bank account, then it is not worth the cost of going "green" at this moment in time. In the meantime I am also beefing up my insulation in the attic and looking to replace all the windows, and sliding doors in my home (anodized aluminum, single pane) with vinyl framed double paned, argon filled, low e glass. The should set me back about $15,000 in total and the return on investment will be better. Any thoughts on this solution.

[Mark Thorman]

Originally Posted by akahn

These are the very same questions I am asking myself. Am I concerned about "green" energy? Only if it is going to be worth my while. If it does not produce "green" in my bank account, then it is not worth the cost of going "green" at this moment in time. In the meantime I am also beefing up my insulation in the attic and looking to replace all the windows, and sliding doors in my home (anodized aluminum, single pane) with vinyl framed double paned, argon filled, low e glass. The should set me back about $15,000 in total and the return on investment will be better. Any thoughts on this solution.

Those are the steps you should taking anyway before considering going solar. Efficiency is cheaper than power generation.

www.MauiHomeInspections.com

[Thomas R. Hession]

another way to look at it---(estimate) $250.00 monthly electric bill going directly to your local electric co. with no benefits.... versus 70-80 % of that going towards the payment of your new free energy source. Plus you can get some satisfaction in knowing that the money you are spending isn,t going to someone or country that is trying to annihilate us.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

i like the title of this thread...Solar Electricity...lol....now thats funny.

[Timothy J. Allison, SR]

Yah, It really needs to be a combination of both greater efficiency and use of renewables to get rid of your energy bills and reduce our dependence on foreign (and domestic) oil. Several of the worlds militaries have put out studies on the effect of peak oil on them. I saw it somewhere on evWorld.com. We can definitely expect the cost of oil based energy to continue to rise.

Anyone looking at alternative energy for their home will need to get an energy audit done for their home. That is where we come in.

Tim
mold inspection San Diego

[Mark Thorman]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

i like the title of this thread...Solar Electricity...lol....now thats funny.

why?