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Replies: 32
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All-In [34823]
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Thinking about adding solar to the house.
Apr 26, 2021, 10:11 AM
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I can do a 9kw installation without messing up my roof, and I think it is going to be the wave of the future. I foresee more grid problems, not less.
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Oculus Spirit [85054]
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I just saw a solar ad on buddybook and there was 1 comment
Apr 26, 2021, 10:24 AM
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"Don't do it"....haha sounded like from experience.
Still seems questionable to me. Aren't there a couple in here with solar?
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All-In [34823]
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That's why I posted this, I want to hear some voices of
Apr 26, 2021, 10:31 AM
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experience. It sounds like a good thing, but my only reservation is putting a bill on myself at this point in my life. I have my power on level billing, but it's just me and Mumbette here now, and my power consumption has gone way down.
I have wifi thermostats for each of the two HVAC systems, and now that nobody is upstairs, I am more than 2 months ahead on my billing. I probably won't realize as much savings as the current snapshot predicts, but the idea of Duke having to give me a credit every year sure sounds nice.
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Oculus Spirit [75671]
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Come to my 'hood, somebody will be around
Apr 26, 2021, 10:24 AM
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shortly to talk to you about them.
I like the idea of solar. I don't like the idea of leasing the panels and having issues when it comes to selling this place later.
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Oculus Spirit [78823]
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just take them with you
Apr 26, 2021, 11:07 AM
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along with your light fixtures and crown molding
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All-In [46768]
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Everybody in my little neighborhood has solar
Apr 26, 2021, 10:26 AM
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with the exception of my house
they like it. Leasing them pretty much evens it out from the regular light bill.
Plus they are ugly as ####
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All-In [34823]
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The elevation of my house from street level
Apr 26, 2021, 10:33 AM
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combined with a shallow pitch will make mine nearly impossible to see.
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Heisman Winner [135611]
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MeTiger has it
Apr 26, 2021, 10:35 AM
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metiger®
Also look into community solar, that's what I have. The panels are not at my house but I get credit for the electricity they produce.
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All-In [45624]
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metiger has 18 panels on roof.....
Apr 26, 2021, 12:25 PM
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I have gas for heat. Save on electricity. Wish I had gotten battery backup. Mine is Sunpro. Tax credits to IRS. $135/month.
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All-In [34823]
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I'm looking at 24 x 375 watt panels.
Apr 26, 2021, 1:22 PM
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That will more than cancel out my highest peak demand, and Duke will have to pay the Mumbo Electric Company $0.13 per kw-h that they get from me.
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Oculus Spirit [80954]
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I looked at a house for sale that had solar last week
Apr 26, 2021, 10:40 AM
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Well, I was going to look at it. I didn't want that ish on my roof and decided not to.
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CU Medallion [60205]
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All-In [31830]
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I don't see distributed solar (meaning residential....
Apr 26, 2021, 12:53 PM
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solar) going much above where it is right now in terms of % households with solar, unless something changes dramatically on the cost side. It's just really hard to justify from a payback perspective.
You mention "grid problems". Have you had "grid problems" recently? Where do you live? The above payback issue generally becomes even worse when you include battery storage systems.
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All-In [34823]
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I have 2 systems, the larger downstairs unit is forced air
Apr 26, 2021, 1:35 PM
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AC and gas furnace, the smaller upstairs unit is a heat pump. It's an old house, so not well insulated. My gas bill, which reflects water heater, cooktop, and heat for downstairs, is $47/month at level billing. The heating is offset significantly by a wood stove that I use almost continuously in the winter.
My electric utility bill, however, is $339 per month level billing. According to their literature, there is a 26% Federal Tax one time credit (capped at $14,500), and a SC Tax credit of 22%, paid at $3500 per year until the 22% figure is reached. That will leave me about $30k to pay off. By my calcs, I can easily pay it off in about 7 years. It would be free money after that.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'm thinking about it. Duke also charges $12/month for a net meter that can "run backwards" when I am supplying power back to them. These figures are for 96% peak demand at my house, and would be about $8,000 cheaper if I went with 83% peak.
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All-In [31830]
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7 years is a long payback period IMO...
Apr 26, 2021, 2:00 PM
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and what is the expected service life...~15yrs on the panels and less on the conversion system?
Does that system include battery storage that will take you through the nights and/or storms/cloudy days? Probably not, which means your payback period is likely longer. And how long does the storage equipment last and what is the replacement cost.
Mind you it's been a little while since I looked, but a few yrs ago, a realistic pay-back including maint cost was in the 10 yr time-frame.
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All-In [34823]
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I'm not disconnecting from Duke.
Apr 26, 2021, 2:37 PM
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They will still get money for what I draw at night and on cloudy days. But we all know that the usage goes way down at night, so during the spring and fall months where the only thing using power are lights and electronics, the panels make 9kw while I need maybe 2 kw.
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All-In [31830]
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Sure, but didn't you use your entire power bill offset...
Apr 26, 2021, 3:25 PM
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in your payback calculation?
I think the other point you're making is you'll get some offset from net metering and selling some power to the grid during low consumption periods. Is the kWh price when you sell to Duke variable/market pricing? If so, the kWh price during these periods goes down substantially.
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All-In [34823]
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No, because my bill has another couple of months to go
Apr 26, 2021, 3:41 PM
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before it recalculates to a new monthly amount, which will be substantially less than what I'm paying now, probably $75 per month less due to the decreased usage from just the two of us in the house now.
The literature says its a flat $0.13 per kwh for what I generate. But I am sure rate increases will occur during the ROI calculation, as well, which shortens the ROI, as you know. Back of the envelope calculation says I can easily have $220/month savings.
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All-TigerNet [11241]
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Re: I have 2 systems, the larger downstairs unit is forced air
Apr 26, 2021, 3:03 PM
[ in reply to I have 2 systems, the larger downstairs unit is forced air ] |
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Based on my experience adding ceiling insulation, vented foil under the rafters assisted by a solar vent/fan and smart thermostat was better bang for the buck than the solar panels. I liked my $20 bill last month though. I don't have but eight 280 watt panels...I think that's right? With energy prices going up the payback/break even will be shorter but it's not the 7-8 years the salesman tried to sell me. I knew that going in and I am happy but as investments go it may be more like 12-15 years. And, I got some incentives from SCE&G/Dominion that are no longer available. Not big incentive but works out to another $8 a month off.
I have a small house and a big lot so I mounted them in the backyard. I can move them to another house if I ever wanted to. Would have to cut some trees but it's doable. Look online and see what the latest cost per watt, etc. Do the math and see if it works for you. I know it's changed some since I did mine 5 years ago. Installation could be more than the panels if you can do it yourself you would save big. Then, you have to get a permit from the utility and inspections that are a factor. Not sure how it would factor in resale of the house but life-span was estimated at twenty years but no reason it couldn't be longer. I know efficiency drops some over time but I haven't noticed it. It's great in the spring and fall when days are still long and heating and A/C demand are low.
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All-In [31830]
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What's the service life of the panels and equipment?...
Apr 26, 2021, 3:59 PM
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I would think somewhere in the 15 years range. If so, doesn't that put your payback time and the lifetime of the equipment pretty close?
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All-In [40868]
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I applaud you
Aug 5, 2021, 8:27 AM
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For lowering your percentage of climate change
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All-In [34823]
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It merely offsets my prodigious colonic output.***
Apr 26, 2021, 2:38 PM
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All-In [40868]
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cow farts are bad human farts are okay
Apr 26, 2021, 3:05 PM
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breathing is bad, it pollutes the earth and contributes to climate change
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All-In [34823]
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Mine smell so good
Apr 26, 2021, 3:19 PM
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that Febreze is gonna pay me to sponsor their stuff.
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Hall of Famer [22259]
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mumbo...you mentioned poor insulation, I wonder if a quicker
Apr 26, 2021, 5:12 PM
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ROI would be to address that? I'm no expert, it may not be not easy/cheap to upgrade insulation, depending on the house. But yes, $339/month for elec on EPP seems excessive. My house is not big (2200 sqft) and my gas bill (water heater, 2 furnaces) is $55 & elec is $104. But there's only me living here now, and I spend most weekends at GF's house. House was built in 1990, so not real old, but I'm sure new houses are much more efficient than mine.
mumbo78®
edit: I'm in Greenville area too.
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All-In [34823]
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Mine was built in 1915. Plaster laid over lath, granite,
Apr 26, 2021, 6:11 PM
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brick, basement, about 3850 sq. ft.
The attic has been super-insulated, even applied netting to the rafters and blew it in between, about 16 years ago. There are a few places that it "breathes" a bit, though. You can hold your hand in front of receptacles on the wall in the winter on a really cold night, and feel it. But heat isn't really an issue. It's cooling the 10 foot ceilinged rooms in the summer.
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Hall of Famer [22259]
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Oh OK, I get it now. Yeah, that's a different animal. A good
Apr 26, 2021, 6:30 PM
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friend inherited a "McDaniel Ave area" house built in that era. Gorgeous, eat up with charm... but a bear to heat & cool. And a former co-worker had a house in the North Main/Earle St area that was similar, built around the turn of the century. Beautiful house, but very high utility bills. I guess that just comes with the territory, as they say. I understand now why you are thinking about solar.
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All-In [34823]
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And I am on Earle, so there you have it.***
Apr 27, 2021, 5:59 AM
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Lot o points [155580]
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Have you given any thought as to how you will
Apr 26, 2021, 6:14 PM
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passive-aggressively lord over your neighbors with the moral superiority that comes from your new addition?
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All-In [34823]
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If I could do it without telling a soul
Apr 27, 2021, 5:57 AM
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that would be more my style.
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Lot o points [155580]
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You’re missing all the potential for fun.
Apr 27, 2021, 7:36 AM
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One of the snooty neighbors bemoans the fact that there’s a Waffle House near the neighborhood, you get to reply with “Well Mitzi, that seems like a small thing to worry about when you aren’t even harnessing the clean and renewable energy of the sun to power your carbon-negative home.”
Just roll with it.
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All-In [34823]
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I prefer to reply to her long-winded, devoid of logic
Apr 27, 2021, 7:42 AM
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and common sense comments on news of the day with memes that are funny and biting.
Once I get the spittle to flying, my day is done. It would put another arrow in my quiver to have the solar house humblebrag in reserve, though...
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All-In [34823]
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Here are two I dropped on her a couple of days ago:
Apr 27, 2021, 7:50 AM
[ in reply to You’re missing all the potential for fun. ] |
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She was arguing against the bill in Florida where motorists had the right to drive through protesters who were in the road way, blocking traffic.
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Replies: 32
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