eyeonFI
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2005
- Messages
- 105
Apologies if there is a recent thread about this - my searching only turned up discussions several years old.
There is a group in my area that has worked with a non-profit to negotiate a bulk purchase of solar systems, and I'm thinking of joining in. I just found out about it and the deadline to sign up is June 30. But I know basically nothing about solar. So I'd love any insights the group might have....
Here is some of the info the non-profit provides on estimated costs for a 3kW system (no clue what would actually be appropriate for my house, but I have a fairly small house/roof):
Cost before discount/incentives: $13,500
Upfront discounts: $4950
Upfront costs: $8550
Fed/State credits/grants: $3835
Estimated 1st year energy savings $465
Cost after 1st year: $4250
Some of my thinking about this....
I'm aiming to FIRE in 1-3 years. Right now, while I still have a high income, $4250 won't really be a noticeable expense. I'm guessing after I FIRE it would feel a lot more painful to drop that much $ on something. My planned WR after FIRE is about 2.8%, so I find myself now thinking about recurring costs in terms of how much I need to have in my stash to support the cost indefinitely at that rate. So I take the estimated annual $465 savings and multiply by ~35 to get $16,275 (less needed in stash), which then makes the $4250 cost look pretty good....(of course I may well move ~5 years down the line, but that is uncertain...). Oh, and my roof is only 4 years old, so should not need replacement any time soon.
Any thoughts or experience welcome...
Thanks!
There is a group in my area that has worked with a non-profit to negotiate a bulk purchase of solar systems, and I'm thinking of joining in. I just found out about it and the deadline to sign up is June 30. But I know basically nothing about solar. So I'd love any insights the group might have....
Here is some of the info the non-profit provides on estimated costs for a 3kW system (no clue what would actually be appropriate for my house, but I have a fairly small house/roof):
Cost before discount/incentives: $13,500
Upfront discounts: $4950
Upfront costs: $8550
Fed/State credits/grants: $3835
Estimated 1st year energy savings $465
Cost after 1st year: $4250
Some of my thinking about this....
I'm aiming to FIRE in 1-3 years. Right now, while I still have a high income, $4250 won't really be a noticeable expense. I'm guessing after I FIRE it would feel a lot more painful to drop that much $ on something. My planned WR after FIRE is about 2.8%, so I find myself now thinking about recurring costs in terms of how much I need to have in my stash to support the cost indefinitely at that rate. So I take the estimated annual $465 savings and multiply by ~35 to get $16,275 (less needed in stash), which then makes the $4250 cost look pretty good....(of course I may well move ~5 years down the line, but that is uncertain...). Oh, and my roof is only 4 years old, so should not need replacement any time soon.
Any thoughts or experience welcome...
Thanks!