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Message
Solar Panels on houses
Posted on 11/3/14 at 6:45 pm
Posted on 11/3/14 at 6:45 pm
so anyone install these?...seem to be seeing more and more of these...does it take a long time to pay for itself?
Posted on 11/3/14 at 6:49 pm to mpar98
It depends on how big your system is, but it can take up to 20 or so years to pay for itself. It's very possible it won't ever pay for itself bc you will have maintenance on the system. A lot of people got state and federal subsidies to pay for a lot of the costs. Obviously, that won't take long to be worthwhile.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 6:57 pm to mpar98
There are different types. I know some people that bought the kind that allows for net metering and they haven't paid an electric bill in a couple of years. There cost after the tax rebates was about 5K. If you power bill is $150/month average, you can get payback pretty quickly.
I also know two people who apparently rent them. They signed a 15 year contract. No installation costs. They pay $45/month for the rental of the panels, which includes all maintenance and repairs. One of them told me she saves about $90/month on electric compaired to before, and the other about $75/month. So on both of those, you get a small payback immediately.
I also know two people who apparently rent them. They signed a 15 year contract. No installation costs. They pay $45/month for the rental of the panels, which includes all maintenance and repairs. One of them told me she saves about $90/month on electric compaired to before, and the other about $75/month. So on both of those, you get a small payback immediately.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 6:59 pm to mpar98
You can put one on your car too.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:00 pm to arcalades
quote:
It depends on how big your system is, but it can take up to 20 or so years to pay for itself.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:07 pm to mpar98
My dad just finished installing a system for the home he's going to retire in. 6 large panels. A ton of large batteries. It was a pretty expensive system. But it sells excess power back to the local power company (Alabama Power where he is located) when the batteries are full. He is still a few years out from living out there full time so he is making a pretty good return on it so far.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:09 pm to Rand AlThor
So he's going to be a Gump living in a battery powered house?
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:20 pm to mpar98
Make sure to check your HOA before trying to install them.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:26 pm to mpar98
I checked them out at one time....even after the credits where the government paid most of the tab, it was going to take 12 years or so to pay back and I think it will need maintenence before that....
not a good financial deal, IMO so I declined...
not a good financial deal, IMO so I declined...
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:38 pm to mpar98
I got them earlier in the year. It cost me $5k out of pocket which the company financed me no interest for 18 months. It will pay for itself in 4.5 yrs. This month and probably the next few months I will have NO electric bill. In the summer months it cut my bill in half from $250-275 last year to $115-130 this year.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:45 pm to O
quote:
Make sure to check your HOA before trying to install them.
We just went through this in our neighborhood. Our hoa has a written restriction about solar panels. The resident lawyered up and there's apparently a state law that was passed in Louisiana that doesn't allow hoa regulations on solar panels anymore.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:56 pm to liuyaming
It also voids part of your homeowners policy unless you somehow have it in the policy or contact your agent first.
In majority of cases they probably won't cover it
In majority of cases they probably won't cover it
This post was edited on 11/3/14 at 8:01 pm
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:59 pm to More beer please
To all the people with roof panels in coastal hurricane zones, my condolences.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 7:59 pm to Spankum
Not counting what is does to the roof system.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 8:02 pm to Spankum
quote:
not a good financial deal, IMO so I declined.
People are quick to say this about the pay off date. But very seldom does the topic on PV steer towards the usage during major power outages after a storm; Isacc in '12 for example. I find that curious because here in the south,many drop up to tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases, for backup generators for the whole house for instances like that. What do you think the realistic payoff date is on something that is ONLY activated when needed in a crisis vs something that can be put to use every day?
FTR, I don't have them on my crib, but wouldn't mind them. I question those who say, "they don't look good on a roof." Buddy, if you're someone who finds roof aesthetically pleasing to the point they can be considered ugly by PV panels, you need to find a better hobby.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 8:03 pm to Cogsworth
Driving through New Orleans it seems like I see more panels on roofs than anywhere else? Any reason why?
Posted on 11/3/14 at 8:09 pm to tilco
I do know that in many parts of NOLA, uptown and FQ, due to historic building codes/laws they're not prevalent. But in others like broadmoor, gentilly, mid city, parts of lake view, where devastation was greatest, when people rebuilt they probably were eager to take advantage of the tax credits (combined, it was 90% then) with some of the insurance payout.
Posted on 11/3/14 at 8:13 pm to Rand AlThor
That system should have run him 9k
Posted on 11/3/14 at 8:14 pm to Traffic Circle
quote:
So he's going to be a Gump living in a battery powered house?
Funnily enough, this is exactly what I said
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