EllisWyatt
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- May 24, 2010
- Messages
- 259
Finally decided to move forward with the idea of installing solar photovoltaics. Gathered all my electric bills, determined what my annual energy comspumtion was (had to extrapolate 30 months of the year, as only moved into the house 9 months ago) and had a nice talk with the solar installer in the area with the best reputation, most exerience, etc.
Goal was to replace 80-90% of our energy usage.
Just got the estimate - for a 22kW system, between $125K and $150K. Guess I was naive, but that just about gob-smacked me.
Granted, Federal and State tax breaks will cover ~80% of the cost, but I'm having a hard time justifying a very large capital outlay to capture a breakeven of 12 - 15 years (assuming no maintanence cost - ie. replacing inverters, etc., but using a constant cost of electricity in todays dollars).
While I'd REALLY like to become energy neutral (or alternatively, hedge against rising energy costs I expect to come down the road), even with the ridiculously large subsidies available, I'm hard-pressed to be able to justify the up-front cost.
Note - have already invested in additional insulation, energy star appliances (as all the appliances died shortly after we bought the house- sigh), the house has high efficiency zoned A/C, etc. etc. so have essentially done the less expensive things to reduce our energy comsumpton).
I'm beginning to think that I ought to just keep the capital invested and continue use that to pay the energy bills. Lose some of the energy independance, but gain flexibility.
NORDS - you out there
Goal was to replace 80-90% of our energy usage.
Just got the estimate - for a 22kW system, between $125K and $150K. Guess I was naive, but that just about gob-smacked me.
Granted, Federal and State tax breaks will cover ~80% of the cost, but I'm having a hard time justifying a very large capital outlay to capture a breakeven of 12 - 15 years (assuming no maintanence cost - ie. replacing inverters, etc., but using a constant cost of electricity in todays dollars).
While I'd REALLY like to become energy neutral (or alternatively, hedge against rising energy costs I expect to come down the road), even with the ridiculously large subsidies available, I'm hard-pressed to be able to justify the up-front cost.
Note - have already invested in additional insulation, energy star appliances (as all the appliances died shortly after we bought the house- sigh), the house has high efficiency zoned A/C, etc. etc. so have essentially done the less expensive things to reduce our energy comsumpton).
I'm beginning to think that I ought to just keep the capital invested and continue use that to pay the energy bills. Lose some of the energy independance, but gain flexibility.
NORDS - you out there