sesfw
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Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Post by sesfw on May 11, 2019 11:54:03 GMT -5
Well, we went total (as much as possible) solar in Feb.
Our March electric bill was normal for the time of year. April bill was 0 (zero) kWh, down from 20 kWh a year ago. May bill is 0 (zero) kWh, down from 35 kWh a year ago. It's going to be very interesting to see how the hot A/C summer months will play out.
However we are still paying:
Monthly service charge - $32.44 Demand charge - $19.73 On peak energy charge - $0.18 Off peak energy charge - (-)$.025 City tax - $1.36 County and state tax - $3.30
Total electric bill - $56.76
Seriously doubt we'll be in this home to see a return on funds spent.
Last year DH insisted we pay off the mortgage, and this year insisted we go solar. I think he afraid of my possible financial situation if he passes on first. He is trying to get the monthly bills as low as possible.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on May 11, 2019 12:27:50 GMT -5
That is so sweet of him, really!
do update us in aricon season - if it ever comes this year.
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Artemis Windsong
Senior Associate
The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
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Post by Artemis Windsong on May 11, 2019 17:47:45 GMT -5
Are you in a state that assists with the cost of solar? Any money off income tax?
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sesfw
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Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Post by sesfw on May 11, 2019 18:02:54 GMT -5
Don't know about solar tax credits yet. Will have to wait until the end of year to see what Congress does to screw things up.
When DH#1 and I got a solar water heater about 1975, with all the credits and rebates at that time we had a payback within 18 months. DH#2 and I got one in 2002 and with credits and rebates we had payback within the 18 months.
Tax season next year will be interesting.
We live in the Phoenix AZ area
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on May 11, 2019 18:04:53 GMT -5
With our ungodly bills we are talking about solar. But I don't know about costs and I think ours requires a lot of kilowatts. I need to see if Indiana offers any assistance. I would like to do it if possible.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on May 11, 2019 18:51:03 GMT -5
We looked it up, $60k to $100k for wind. For solar about $60k with federal 30% rebate. With a generator the fuel is so expensive, said a 500 gallon tank might last a week 24/7.
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sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Post by sesfw on May 11, 2019 21:17:30 GMT -5
Ouch countrygirl …….. that is a lot of money. Our system was $20K and I was a little uncomfortable about that. We have a 2K sq ft single level home and that's all that's powered by solar.
What all will you have on your system?
If you have several buildings can you do one at a time? We started with a water heater about 10 years ago.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on May 12, 2019 3:31:12 GMT -5
Congrats! I'm happy for you!
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on May 12, 2019 16:00:02 GMT -5
If we build our 'retirement' home I was thinking about investing in solar for electricity, and using a geothermal heat pump for the heating/cooling (which supposedly is effective in our part of the country). We'll have to see what the payback period is, but I would love to be retired with no heating/electrical bills.
How long did you calculate it would be for you to reach the break even point, if you stay in the house?
Also do you know, if you sell your home, how much that will increase the sales value of your house? (Would you re-coop your investment from the increased sale price? )
One last question, since you've been using a solar water heater since the 70's, do you find it reliable?
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sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Post by sesfw on May 12, 2019 18:55:15 GMT -5
Happy …… answering your questions.
We figure breakeven point will be around 20 years. With DH being 81 and I'm 77, we won't see it but we are doing our part helping the environment.
I don't know if this will increase our home value beyond inflation but it will be a major selling point. Very low electric bills in the AZ desert.
Our solar water heating has been very reliable. In Flagstaff we had to replace the water pump about 4-5 years later but the last time I checked the home the solar panels were still on the roof. We sold the home in 1994. In this home about 4 years in the water tank developed a small leak and the replacement was covered by warrantee. Both water heaters have electric backup and we haven't run out. During the summer here the water is HOT.
So far, so good.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on May 13, 2019 7:30:34 GMT -5
Happy …… answering your questions. We figure breakeven point will be around 20 years. With DH being 81 and I'm 77, we won't see it but we are doing our part helping the environment. I don't know if this will increase our home value beyond inflation but it will be a major selling point. Very low electric bills in the AZ desert. Our solar water heating has been very reliable. In Flagstaff we had to replace the water pump about 4-5 years later but the last time I checked the home the solar panels were still on the roof. We sold the home in 1994. In this home about 4 years in the water tank developed a small leak and the replacement was covered by warrantee. Both water heaters have electric backup and we haven't run out. During the summer here the water is HOT. So far, so good. Thanks! We used to have a wooded lot but after the tornado, not so much - so I think solar panels would work on the roof of our current house, but we may not stay here post-retirement (which is in 5 years), so I don't know if we want to invest so much in this house.
If we do build a retirement home, though, I would want them, plus the geo thermal heat pump, I think.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on May 13, 2019 9:22:30 GMT -5
We put in solar at end of last year. Our electrical bills have been under $2 a month since then. We financed the solar over 10 years, and added in an upgraded electrical panel which brought our total up to $22k. If we leave the financing as is, our payments for solar will be a little over $200 a month. If we apply our rebate to the loan we can recast it to get payments down to about $125. I budgeted $150 a month for electric before, built up a surplus during the winter and spent it down in the summer.
I'm not sure that we'll see a huge financial return on it, but I feel good about the decision. We're trying to get back to our hippie roots. We are also putting a wind turbine on our farm property, although that will actually pay us which is pretty sweet. It's taking at most a couple acres for the road and the turbine land so we're not losing much in cropland it should be a financial gain.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 13, 2019 10:48:42 GMT -5
"""We figure breakeven point will be around 20 years. With DH being 81 and I'm 77, we won't see it but we are doing our part helping the environment."""
I agree heartily with your 'helping the environment'.
But as for the breakeven point I question that, people seem to leave out the 'time-value-of-money' in their calculations. I'm about your DHs age, I've been invested in the SP500 index for over 40 years - it has an average return of over 11%/year during that time. The money doubles about every 7 years. Eg, your $20k would be $40k in 7 yrs, $80k in 14 years , and so on . I'm guessing that the growth in time value of money would easily outpace the savings from solar.
Same for wind power - the turbines are more practical than solar, they run 24 hours, not just 12 hrs per day. But most people will not live long enough to see a return on that $60k initial cost.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on May 13, 2019 12:08:52 GMT -5
Well, we went total (as much as possible) solar in Feb. Our March electric bill was normal for the time of year. April bill was 0 (zero) kWh, down from 20 kWh a year ago. May bill is 0 (zero) kWh, down from 35 kWh a year ago. It's going to be very interesting to see how the hot A/C summer months will play out. However we are still paying: Monthly service charge - $32.44 Demand charge - $19.73 On peak energy charge - $0.18 Off peak energy charge - (-)$.025 City tax - $1.36 County and state tax - $3.30 Total electric bill - $56.76 Seriously doubt we'll be in this home to see a return on funds spent. Last year DH insisted we pay off the mortgage, and this year insisted we go solar. I think he afraid of my possible financial situation if he passes on first. He is trying to get the monthly bills as low as possible. you are paying $56.76 for ZERO electricity use? That is about twice as much as I pay for my regular bill (no solar or other alternative energy involved) and that includes all taxes and some of the garbage charges (the rest is in my HOA fees). Holy CRAP!!!
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Deleted
Joined: Mar 29, 2024 0:43:41 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2019 12:28:58 GMT -5
Well, we went total (as much as possible) solar in Feb. Our March electric bill was normal for the time of year. April bill was 0 (zero) kWh, down from 20 kWh a year ago. May bill is 0 (zero) kWh, down from 35 kWh a year ago. It's going to be very interesting to see how the hot A/C summer months will play out. However we are still paying: Monthly service charge - $32.44 Demand charge - $19.73 On peak energy charge - $0.18 Off peak energy charge - (-)$.025 City tax - $1.36 County and state tax - $3.30 Total electric bill - $56.76 Seriously doubt we'll be in this home to see a return on funds spent. Last year DH insisted we pay off the mortgage, and this year insisted we go solar. I think he afraid of my possible financial situation if he passes on first. He is trying to get the monthly bills as low as possible. you are paying $56.76 for ZERO electricity use? That is about twice as much as I pay for my regular bill (no solar or other alternative energy involved) and that includes all taxes and some of the garbage charges (the rest is in my HOA fees). Holy CRAP!!! My basic service charge is $36.17/month, then there is a $13.21 in taxes that doesn't appear to be per KwH. My total bill is usually between $100 - $200.
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