Going Solar?

[stickyvicky]

Has anyone here gone solar? I'm taking Rokkerr kicking and screaming against his will to a solar informational seminar tomorrow afternoon. (That's why I pushed my show back - I'm not sure how long it will be).

I find it quite fascinating! Now that we purchased our house and we live in Florida doesnt it make sense? I know lots of people here who have electric cars and they plug them into their solar homes so they don't pay for electricity or gas! I will never give up my my corvette though, never never never ever!

[Andrew35]

right now only have went with LED bulbs etc.

[CGYMike]

We are slowly switching over to LED lighting in our home as we renovate stuff. I love the idea of homes that can take advantage of solar power and taking more power off the grid, especially in places like Florida where as rumour has it, gets a lot of sun all year round.

[WalterB]

I had solar water heating at my home in Denver. It was water only, not power. But it makes sense to me.

Here in El Paso there's some weird deal where people with solar power get charged $11/month extra by the electric company. It looks like that has been shot down, but not in other areas. Google "electric company charges solar customers" and read some of the articles. Then get in close with FPL on this and how they handle it. Do all this before you begin the install process.

[TheShaft]

There’s a few houses on my home golf course that have solar panels on the roofs. Looks kinda ugly but hey if it saves money...

[stickyvicky]

I agree it's super ugly. We will make sure they are only visible from the backyard not from the street.

[WalterB]

Just remember, they need to face the sun,

I've seen at least two houses where the roof panels were on the back side of the roof = no sun. Don't know if the homeowners or the installers should be shot, but the installers should have caught it.

[SamanthaGrace]

Owning my own house (mortgage free), going solar and driving and electric car... my life goals. I seriously love the idea of never having to pay for gas or electric. It thrills my inner rebel. Haha.... Honestly, I love Tesla's but compared to a Vette.... yeah. I would never give up the vette.

[stickyvicky]

I am so excited! I am going to a co-op meeting this Thursday night I'm going to join the co op so a bunch of homeowners (100) will choose a provider and installer for the panels Etc and have a lot more negotiating power! So cool!

[Andrew35]

I'd be glad the day driverless cars are the norm, insurance business probably go out of business though, maybe they can still make some hot cars that are driverless so we don't have to give that part up

[SamanthaGrace]

I am so excited! I am going to a co-op meeting this Thursday night I'm going to join the co op so a bunch of homeowners (100) will choose a provider and installer for the panels Etc and have a lot more negotiating power! So cool!

Oh! that's amazing! Especially considering you will have negotiating power. i'm kind of excited to see how the whole process pans out. I mean it's just a one time payment. Then freedom from paying for electric!

[stickyvicky]

It's not really a one time payment though, because you have to finance it. But say for example my electricity bill is 500 per month or 6000 per year. I buy the solar installation for say 24,000 pay it off at 500 per month or 6000 per year, so in 4 years it's paid for. (just using round numbers).

So while im paying for it, it doesn't cost me anything more than what i'm already paying for electricity, actually protects me from rate hikes. At the end of each year, I will likely get $1500 back from the electric company because I put more into the grid than take from it. After the 4 years, my electricity is free and i continue to get $1500 back each year.

The first year I get a tax refund for 30% of the 24,000 it cost, so I get a check back on my tax return for $7200 which i could just plunk down on the loan so it gets paid off faster.

All the while I'm helping to protect the planet! It's a win/win for everyone!

[SamanthaGrace]

It's not really a one time payment though, because you have to finance it. But say for example my electricity bill is 500 per month or 6000 per year. I buy the solar installation for say 24,000 pay it off at 500 per month or 6000 per year, so in 4 years it's paid for. (just using round numbers).

So while im paying for it, it doesn't cost me anything more than what i'm already paying for electricity, actually protects me from rate hikes. At the end of each year, I will likely get $1500 back from the electric company because I put more into the grid than take from it. After the 4 years, my electricity is free and i continue to get $1500 back each year.

The first year I get a tax refund for 30% of the 24,000 it cost, so I get a check back on my tax return for $7200 which i could just plunk down on the loan so it gets paid off faster.

All the while I'm helping to protect the planet! It's a win/win for everyone!

Wow! So, many detailed I had no idea about. It's an expensive investment at first. But it is an investment that pays off in the long run. It actually starts playing for itself. I think it is totally worth it. But my mind tends to work more long term big picture. Not really a short term thinker.

I'm always a fan of reducing waste. Solar is really one of the most effective actions one can take to reduced waste. You will have an amazing carbon foot print. I'd really be excited to get an electric car. I was just reading an article yesterday about discovering a liquid that can store solar power. It was rather mind blowing. think about the effects that would have on waste reduction.

[stickyvicky]

Well this didn't go anywhere! Our roof is in bad shape, lol... so we would have to replace the roof on the half of the house where the panels would go. Wouldn't make any sense to invest in solar panels that would all have to be replaced when the roof needed replacing. Doesn't it just figure... half the roof was replaced in 2012, right before we moved in, but the part of the roof where the panels need to go is much older. Like early 2000? Not quite sure... but the guy who came to give the estimate said we need to get an expert to verify the integrity of the roof before they would install panels on it....... grrrrrr....

[SamanthaGrace]

Wow!! Something I would have never considered. What’s amazing, I guess 2019... that’s almost 20 years. So, it makes sense.

Well this didn't go anywhere! Our roof is in bad shape, lol... so we would have to replace the roof on the half of the house where the panels would go. Wouldn't make any sense to invest in solar panels that would all have to be replaced when the roof needed replacing. Doesn't it just figure... half the roof was replaced in 2012, right before we moved in, but the part of the roof where the panels need to go is much older. Like early 2000? Not quite sure... but the guy who came to give the estimate said we need to get an expert to verify the integrity of the roof before they would install panels on it....... grrrrrr....

[stickyvicky]

Yeah I can't tell you how disappointed I am about this! I was so stoked about doing this but it's just going to have to wait.