Just my solar system installed - green energy ftw

[Mayday]

Installed my solar light n my house and had day 1 of energy production. Had clouds today and we are in Spring so not particularly great conditions.

Generated 197kwh

[Gym Rat]

Folks out here say it takes 30 yrs to recoup costs involved with installation, based on any money saved per month in power/electricity.
Not sure how true (or brutal).

Some places install for free though...

[Mayday]

Those people don’t know what they are doing. But also I have a very large home so I have economy of scale as cost is not the panel but the inverter and labour.

I’ll recoup mine in 3yrs 😉

In a nutshell If you walked into my estate you would know who was a Getbigger. Most houses generate 40kwh on a day like today and I am 5x that 😉

[ProudVirgin69]

Folks out here say it takes 30 yrs to recoup costs involved with installation, based on any money saved per month in power/electricity.
Not sure how true (or brutal).

Some places install for free though...

I’d be interested if my area had more frequent power outages.  I don’t think it generally makes sense financially but it would beat the hell out of having a generator

[IroNat]

It depends where you live and the amount of sun you get and the amount of electricity you use.

Also the financial incentives you get to install the system.

For myself, my electricity usage is quite low ($80/mo average) and my geographic location along with surrounding trees is not optimal so it's not worth it.

A system for my house would be $30k+ after incentives.  That's a 31 year payback.

Solar, like wind, is really only cost effective in certain geographic areas, otherwise it is not economically worth it.

Hybrid cars don't even make sense for me as I don't drive enough to recover the additional cost of hybrid car vs. gas only car.

The cost recovery on a hybrid car for me would be around 100,000 miles.  Then you figure in the time value of money and it is even farther out.

For example, I have a 2008 car with only 110,000 miles on it.  Most of those miles (70,000) were in the first 5 years.  I might drive it 3,000 miles a year now.

Most people don't analyze the numbers about these things.  It's an emotional decision for them.

The government is pushing this agenda and it makes no sense in many cases. 

[IroNat]

I’d be interested if my area had more frequent power outages.  I don’t think it generally makes sense financially but it would beat the hell out of having a generator

You'd need battery backup which adds even more cost to the system.

You're probably looking at $50k without incentives.

A whole house generator for emergencies (nat gas or propane) would run you $10k.  And you'd only use it maybe once a year.

[ProudVirgin69]

You'd need battery backup which adds even more cost to the system.

You're probably looking at $50k without incentives.

A whole house generator for emergencies (nat gas or propane) would run you $10k.  And you'd only use it maybe once a year.

I thought all the solar systems had battery systems?  Are they really intended to only provide power during sunny conditions?  That’s even worse then.  As you can tell, I never seriously looked into it 

[Gym Rat]

The 650.00 a month I paid for the last 2 months electric bill (1300.00) is considered "high"?? 

4 people working from home here, pool running all day, A/C's in summer... Brutal..
Just shut off the pool and A/C's so it will get better...

[Mayday]

I’d be interested if my area had more frequent power outages.  I don’t think it generally makes sense financially but it would beat the hell out of having a generator

I have legit insider info on power locally which refuted something mainstream downunder.

Do not fuck about.

[robcguns]

Those people don’t know what they are doing. But also I have a very large home so I have economy of scale as cost is not the panel but the inverter and labour.

I’ll recoup mine in 3yrs 😉

In a nutshell If you walked into my estate you would know who was a Getbigger. Most houses generate 40kwh on a day like today and I am 5x that 😉

Is this Hankins large?5k sf?

[IroNat]

I thought all the solar systems had battery systems?  Are they really intended to only provide power during sunny conditions?  That’s even worse then.  As you can tell, I never seriously looked into it 

Just about all solar systems are tied to the grid and use net metering which means you still pay your power company connection fees and the grid usage and the solar power produced offset.

At night you get electricity from your power company.

Some states are reducing the offset you get from your solar because the power companies need the money to stay in business.

[IroNat]

The 650.00 a month I paid for the last 2 months electric bill (1300.00) is considered "high"?? 

4 people working from home here, pool running all day, A/C's in summer... Brutal..
Just shut off the pool and A/C's so it will get better...

That's a lot. 

Do you heat your pool?

What is your thermostat for A/C and heat set at?

[ProudVirgin69]

The 650.00 a month I paid for the last 2 months electric bill (1300.00) is considered "high"?? 

4 people working from home here, pool running all day, A/C's in summer... Brutal..
Just shut off the pool and A/C's so it will get better...

That’s almost as much as I pay for a year of electricity 

[joswift]

Solar panels in the UK are pointless

And dont sign up with an energy company for them to pay you for electric, they drain your fucking batteries overnight and pay you 4p a KW and then charge you 23p a kw the next day

[IroNat]

Solar panels in the UK are pointless

And dont sign up with an energy company for them to pay you for electric, they drain your fucking batteries overnight and pay you 4p a KW and then charge you 23p a kw the next day

That's the way it is going to be in the States too.

[illuminati]

It depends where you live and the amount of sun you get and the amount of electricity you use.

Also the financial incentives you get to install the system.

For myself, my electricity usage is quite low ($80/mo average) and my geographic location along with surrounding trees is not optimal so it's not worth it.

A system for my house would be $30k+ after incentives.  That's a 31 year payback.

Solar, like wind, is really only cost effective in certain geographic areas, otherwise it is not economically worth it.

Hybrid cars don't even make sense for me as I don't drive enough to recover the additional cost of hybrid car vs. gas only car.

The cost recovery on a hybrid car for me would be around 100,000 miles.  Then you figure in the time value of money and it is even farther out.

For example, I have a 2008 car with only 110,000 miles on it.  Most of those miles (70,000) were in the first 5 years.  I might drive it 3,000 miles a year now.

Most people don't analyze the numbers about these things.  It's an emotional decision for them.

The government is pushing this agenda and it makes no sense in many cases.

Well said
Spot on.

[Rambone]

The 650.00 a month I paid for the last 2 months electric bill (1300.00) is considered "high"?? 

4 people working from home here, pool running all day, A/C's in summer... Brutal..
Just shut off the pool and A/C's so it will get better...

That’s pretty high. Where do you live? I’m averaging $250 spread out through the year with a pool, a larger house, two A/C units that aren’t very efficient and in South FL. Also, my roof is a dark painted metal and hot as hell

[ProudVirgin69]

That’s pretty high. Where do you live? I’m averaging $250 spread out through the year with a pool, a larger house, two A/C units that aren’t very efficient and in South FL. Also, my roof is a dark painted metal and hot as hell

Get some reflective acrylic roof sealant and roll that stuff on your roof post haste.  Makes a huge difference in terms of interior temperature and is inexpensive, like $100 for a 5gal bucket or so

Some say white is better, some prefer silver but anything is better than black 

[Goliathon]

Folks out here say it takes 30 yrs to recoup costs involved with installation, based on any money saved per month in power/electricity.
Not sure how true (or brutal).

Some places install for free though...

Depends with inflation as it is, that might be more like 10 years now.

Key with solar is it isn't about the savings, it's that it's a better way to actually invest your money than leaving it up to the market morons, or you purchasing something stupid. It's more a taking control of your domain than a logical investment.

But yeah my parents got killed by the batteries, crap isn't worth it if you can't rely on them.

It's more like getting a personal horse because you have the grasslands to feed it. Instead of a car where you're continually buying gas/new cars.

[Gym Rat]

That’s pretty high. Where do you live? I’m averaging $250 spread out through the year with a pool, a larger house, two A/C units that aren’t very efficient and in South FL. Also, my roof is a dark painted metal and hot as hell

NH

Again, its mainly from 4 adults, working from home, tons of PC's, A/C's, pool filter, etc...

[joswift]

That's the way it is going to be in the States too.

they should install them on every house and then you get cheaper bills and the grid benefits.

They didnt want to pay for panels themselves so they convinced people to buy them

There was a company in the UK putting up free panels if you signed up to the buy back, thing was the company got the revenue from the buy back for installing the panels for free
At the time it was 50p a KW

He closed the company after the energy went crying to the government to restrict the buy back to 4p

They are a fucking scam.

[oldtimer1]

Those people don’t know what they are doing. But also I have a very large home so I have economy of scale as cost is not the panel but the inverter and labour.

I’ll recoup mine in 3yrs 😉

In a nutshell If you walked into my estate you would know who was a Getbigger. Most houses generate 40kwh on a day like today and I am 5x that 😉

What's your real cost for having it installed without spin? If you are leasing how much is the monthly payment for how many years?  Everytime I ask the question I get some incredible bs answer because they were duped and won't admit it.  One guy said his electric bill is down to $30 a month but never mentions the money he is paying for the panels.  It also makes the house difficult to sell if you have a lease or are financing the solar panels because they have to assume the loan or the lease. The promise of removing the panels for free when you need a new roof is questionable. Try to get them to honor that commitment. Lastly solar panels only last about 20 years if you are lucky.

[Mayday]

Is this Hankins large?5k sf?

Sorry I’m not sure exactly what you mean by Hankins? Is 5k SF meaning 5,000sq ft?

The house we built is just under 6,000sq ft.

What's your real cost for having it installed without spin? If you are leasing how much is the monthly payment for how many years?  Everytime I ask the question I get some incredible bs answer because they were duped and won't admit it.  One guy said his electric bill is down to $30 a month but never mentions the money he is paying for the panels.  It also makes the house difficult to sell if you have a lease or are financing the solar panels because they have to assume the loan or the lease. The promise of removing the panels for free when you need a new roof is questionable. Try to get them to honor that commitment. Lastly solar panels only last about 20 years if you are lucky.

40kw system. USD13k. Owned outright.

My energy bill is USD4k/yr and that’s before my pool with a massive heat pump goes in next month 😱
I’m looking at around USD6k/yr energy bill once the pool goes in and I know we have some large energy prices on the way which will double this in the near future.

While A class panels look better and will get +5%-10% higher output per panel, the cost is 4.5x cheaper panels which makes no sense to me as the odds of failure are still the same.

I’ve had a cheapo solar panel on my Ute (pickup) for 3yrs running my fridge. Been in hail, Aussie scorching sun, monsoon rain, hasn’t skipped a beat.

[IroNat]

Sorry I’m not sure exactly what you mean by Hankins? Is 5k SF meaning 5,000sq ft?

The house we built is just under 6,000sq ft.

40kw system. USD13k. Owned outright.

My energy bill is USD4k/yr and that’s before my pool with a massive heat pump goes in next month 😱
I’m looking at around USD6k/yr energy bill once the pool goes in and I know we have some large energy prices on the way which will double this in the near future.

While A class panels look better and will get +5%-10% higher output per panel, the cost is 4.5x cheaper panels which makes no sense to me as the odds of failure are still the same.

I’ve had a cheapo solar panel on my Ute (pickup) for 3yrs running my fridge. Been in hail, Aussie scorching sun, monsoon rain, hasn’t skipped a beat.

How many panels is that for the house?

[IroNat]

What's your real cost for having it installed without spin? If you are leasing how much is the monthly payment for how many years?  Everytime I ask the question I get some incredible bs answer because they were duped and won't admit it.  One guy said his electric bill is down to $30 a month but never mentions the money he is paying for the panels.  It also makes the house difficult to sell if you have a lease or are financing the solar panels because they have to assume the loan or the lease. The promise of removing the panels for free when you need a new roof is questionable. Try to get them to honor that commitment. Lastly solar panels only last about 20 years if you are lucky.

The promise of removing the panels for free is a joke as most of these solar install companies will be long gone by then.