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Message
re: Solar Power for Homes
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:28 pm to Jester
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:28 pm to Jester
quote:
This is very false. The state still has a 50% refundable tax credit (limits apply) on top of 30% from the feds.
It had been a while since I looked in to the LA state level incentives (about 2-3 years ago was the last I looked at it)....I though that it was odd that it completely dropped off...but I figured that the poster had researched it more recently than me. I knew that the federal was still in place....but honestly, it takes more than the 30% from them to get the ROI in the right range, IMO. But if that 50 is still in place at the state level...then at a combined 80% is make a ton of sense if you have the money to slap down initially.
I would still recommend going solar thermal 1st before you invest in Solar PV....
1
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:31 pm to Geauxtiga
my cousin did it all on the backside of his house, you have to do it where to predominant sun shine is, there are many months out the year that he collects a check from demco because of the panels.
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:35 pm to KingRanch
quote:
Solar Power for Homes
forget it, smarter to take that money and install a nice Briggs and Stratten 60k gas powered whole house generator and be prepared when the SHTF.
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:38 pm to mikeytig
if SHTF the sun will still shine....but gas stations probably wont be pumping gas/NG wont be flowing/LP trucks wont be delivering...
but I dont think that Solar it really considered because of its "SHTF" capabilities (although that is a benefit). Its normally considered more for ROI and by people that just want to do the right thing and have the money to do it...
but I dont think that Solar it really considered because of its "SHTF" capabilities (although that is a benefit). Its normally considered more for ROI and by people that just want to do the right thing and have the money to do it...
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:39 pm to StinkDog12
quote:
I was referring to product that is actually produced by a reputable manufacturer
Nah, in all seriousness, mine looks so professional that folks have asked where I got it. The trick is to use furnace parts you find up north for water radiator heaters (circulating pump, thermal actuated relay, expansion tank, etc.)
I added an insulated water tank in series with (just before) the existing propane water heater. The "solar tank" is heated by the solar panel outside which pre-heats the water for the water heater (which seldom runs, but is there when needed).
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:47 pm to CoastieGM
I know brah...it wasnt a specific dig atcha or anything but I have seen plenty of funny looking stuff out there.
I have solar thermal pool heating, solar thermal domestic water heating in my house. My shite is all from a major manufacture...but that only because I work for a solar thermal manufacture....If I didnt have the "hook up" I could rig up a plenty sufficient system on the cheap.
Wish I knew as much at PV that I do about solar thermal because Id love to be able to do some DIY solar PV!
I have solar thermal pool heating, solar thermal domestic water heating in my house. My shite is all from a major manufacture...but that only because I work for a solar thermal manufacture....If I didnt have the "hook up" I could rig up a plenty sufficient system on the cheap.
Wish I knew as much at PV that I do about solar thermal because Id love to be able to do some DIY solar PV!
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:48 pm to brass2mouth
quote:Reminds me of a BIG house my dad built. He put in all copper plumbing.
In Iraq the water tanks for showers and all were outside, uncovered or anything, always had hot water.
Actually used to pissed me off sometimes bc I wanted to take a cold shower bc it was so hot, but the cold water was hot and the hot water was capable of boiling things.
He insulated the hot water pipes so they wouldn't lose heat between the water heater and the faucets (remember, big house with long runs).
Well, in summer, the uninsulated cold water copper pipes would be hot as hell from the heated attic...the insulated hot water pipes were much cooler. Hardly such thing as a cool bath or shower in the summer...really sucked.
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:55 pm to StinkDog12
quote:I totally realized that...that was a funny dig.
it wasnt a specific dig atcha
I wish I had a picture of it, but there used to be an old abandoned place in San Felipe, TX from the late 1800's that had a batch water heater (separate from the gravity pressure tank).
Obviously a well-to-do mo-fo that lived there.
Posted on 3/30/13 at 7:55 pm to CoastieGM
In hot regions with cool night time temperatures...they often install "water coolers" that basically circulate water from a big arse tank through a roof mounted set of piped/tubes at night so the water is cooled by the cooler ambient temps at night. then during the day...you have a tank full of cooler water to use. High end shite though...you average Democrat aint doing investing in that just to get cool water.
This post was edited on 3/30/13 at 7:57 pm
Posted on 3/30/13 at 9:16 pm to brass2mouth
Call joule energy in Nola......
Posted on 3/30/13 at 9:54 pm to CoastieGM
Did he foam the attic?
Posted on 3/30/13 at 10:30 pm to Geauxtiga
Had solar water heater in my last house. Frequently had problems with roof leaks. If you live in a windy area or the SE US (hurricanes & tropical storms), I'd advise against it. I have tankless in my new house and am satisfied.
Posted on 3/30/13 at 10:31 pm to Geauxtiga
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/30/13 at 11:21 pm
Posted on 3/30/13 at 10:39 pm to Boca Tigre
Well a leaking roof has nothing to do with the actual gear and has everything to do with the installer of the gear...but anyway.
Tankless is a solid option! Water heating in the US will move towards tankless LONG before it moves towards solar.....
just some rough industry stats to share.....
-solar makes up less than .05% of all water heating in the US market
-tankless makes up about 4% of all water heating in the US market
So all in all...both have a long ways to go. But with that being said...if you track foreign water heating trends...we are only about 10 years from being majority tankless and about 5% solar
Tankless is a solid option! Water heating in the US will move towards tankless LONG before it moves towards solar.....
just some rough industry stats to share.....
-solar makes up less than .05% of all water heating in the US market
-tankless makes up about 4% of all water heating in the US market
So all in all...both have a long ways to go. But with that being said...if you track foreign water heating trends...we are only about 10 years from being majority tankless and about 5% solar
Posted on 3/30/13 at 11:18 pm to StinkDog12
Leaks weren't because of bad installers. 10+ hurricanes and tropical storms in addition to countless high wind thunderstorms will put stress on any type of fasteners. Over time leaks will occur.
This post was edited on 3/30/13 at 11:21 pm
Posted on 3/30/13 at 11:47 pm to Boca Tigre
Ive been in the industry for 15 plus years...I know what causes leaks.
Fact is that is not a fault of the solar product...it is either a fault of the installation, a fault of a weak roof, or a fault of mother nature. I also know that Southern FL is home of the toughest building/installation codes that exist in the nation....Ive been down to the windload testing facility several times watching gear get ripped of the testing rack according to the standards that South Florida sets, it is stupid!...if your solar panel gets ripped off at 165MPH...you have much bigger problems than you solar heater....you fricking house is likely gone!
But with all of that being said...SF hasnt seen any winds anywhere close to testing standards in the last 10 years...so if an installation had a leak within that time fram...it wasnt because of the gear that was installed. it was either the installation or a faulty roof.....
Fact is that is not a fault of the solar product...it is either a fault of the installation, a fault of a weak roof, or a fault of mother nature. I also know that Southern FL is home of the toughest building/installation codes that exist in the nation....Ive been down to the windload testing facility several times watching gear get ripped of the testing rack according to the standards that South Florida sets, it is stupid!...if your solar panel gets ripped off at 165MPH...you have much bigger problems than you solar heater....you fricking house is likely gone!
But with all of that being said...SF hasnt seen any winds anywhere close to testing standards in the last 10 years...so if an installation had a leak within that time fram...it wasnt because of the gear that was installed. it was either the installation or a faulty roof.....
Posted on 3/30/13 at 11:54 pm to Boca Tigre
also....if you house has been though
Of course the shite will leak....what do you expect?
Thats like saying that you expect your shingles to survive 10 hurricanes without leaking or your windows to withstand 10 hurricanes without leaking....
EVERYONE BEWARE....IF YOUR HOUSE IS HIT BY 10 HURRICANES YOUR ROOF MAY LEAK WHERE YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM IS INSTALLED!!!!
Thanks for the heads up Boca
quote:
10+ hurricanes
Of course the shite will leak....what do you expect?
Thats like saying that you expect your shingles to survive 10 hurricanes without leaking or your windows to withstand 10 hurricanes without leaking....
EVERYONE BEWARE....IF YOUR HOUSE IS HIT BY 10 HURRICANES YOUR ROOF MAY LEAK WHERE YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM IS INSTALLED!!!!
Thanks for the heads up Boca
This post was edited on 3/30/13 at 11:55 pm
Posted on 3/30/13 at 11:56 pm to StinkDog12
Don't want to getting into a pissing match here. I have over 20 yrs exp in the insurance industry. My personal residence had a post Andrew building code roof. The only leaks I ever had were around the the solar panel fastners. Many of my neighbors and clients had similar experiences.
The op asked for pro's and con's...just adding my personal experience.
The op asked for pro's and con's...just adding my personal experience.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 12:05 am to StinkDog12
My parents were going to do it. Even had 2 different contractors come out and give quotes. Both said that the state had ditched the solar subsidies a month before they came to quote.
I dunno, maybe they both had wrong information that they told my parents because they didn't like making money. Seems like an odd business decision, but you know better than them.
They were completely unrelated companies and this was maybe a year or two ago.
I dunno, maybe they both had wrong information that they told my parents because they didn't like making money. Seems like an odd business decision, but you know better than them.
They were completely unrelated companies and this was maybe a year or two ago.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 12:09 am to Boca Tigre
I hear ya...I know, that you know it, but we (manufactures) have to meet strict manufacturing codes for our products and we do! Insurance companies are simply in business that attempts to pass the buck onto someone else to pay a portion of the claim that is being filed on your insurance policy....so you guys look for a reason why manufactures are guilty (because manufactures have the deepest pockets). Fact is, manufactures of solar gear are not responsible for leaks to homes....PERIOD.
Leaks on solar gear dont happen any more often than leaks on any other type of roof penetration.... Insurance companies would point the finger at a solar manufacture, just like you would point the finger at a roof jack vent manufacture, just like you would point the finger at a sky-light manufacture....
Its not a pissing contest...it is business. The fact is that we as manufactures build to the guidelines that are set for our products and then have to defend against insurance companies any time they have to pay out a single dime.
Is what it is...but dont smash the solar industry because it cant withstand ***quoting you*** "10 hurricanes....
Leaks on solar gear dont happen any more often than leaks on any other type of roof penetration.... Insurance companies would point the finger at a solar manufacture, just like you would point the finger at a roof jack vent manufacture, just like you would point the finger at a sky-light manufacture....
Its not a pissing contest...it is business. The fact is that we as manufactures build to the guidelines that are set for our products and then have to defend against insurance companies any time they have to pay out a single dime.
Is what it is...but dont smash the solar industry because it cant withstand ***quoting you*** "10 hurricanes....
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