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Renewable Energy for the Home

What are some advantages of solar energy?

7 years ago

I know this is a really broad question, but what are some advantages that you have found in using solar? Anything from feeling good about being more green to saving money is fair game. Anyone?

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Comment (1)

jakkom
7 years ago
Sorry, I'm not often on this forum so I just saw your question. We installed 14 solar panels in Oct 2014 and went "live" 2 mos. later. Our reasons were:
- Electricity costs from our local utility are high and getting higher all the time. Constant rate increases. Our electricity bills were at the $100-135/mo level - and we use natural gas for cooking, furnace and water heater! All our lighting is high-efficiency CFL or LED.
- Going "green" is cost-effective in our area if you plan to stay at least 5 more yrs in your home.
- We chose to remain connected to the "grid". Whole-house storage batteries are still too costly and bulky. The Federal solar tax credit was a great incentive and our CPA was impressed, he said it ended up being almost a dollar-for-dollar refund to us for that year's tax return.
- Because all three state utility companies wanted to encourage solar, they had been offering "net zero metering", up to a limit of xxx number of solar systems installed. After 10 yrs our utility was fast approaching its limit. NZM is a sweetheart financial deal for consumers.
  
  Instead of the utility buying our solar energy at wholesale prices, as it does for all its regular suppliers, we are credited the same price per kW as the utility charges us for the power we use. The NZM was recently modified and now consumers with solar panels can enjoy the NZM rates for 20 yrs after the installation of their system, retroactive to the original install date. We'll be long gone from this house by the time 2034 comes around, LOL.
- We remodeled our entire home 26 yrs ago and although we've kept it well maintained and reasonably updated, it doesn't have the "bells and whistles" that new construction/remodeling would have. The layout is excellent, both bathrooms updated, and a ton of storage space everywhere -- but the kitchen is mid-range quality, not as fancy as the newer ones.
  
  We always keep resale in mind. People here are passionate about solar, but few homeowners have sprung for the up-front purchase price (many people lease, which cuts savings considerably). Being able to sell a home that has the NZM pricing on electricity until 2034 (after that the utility can begin crediting the homeowner only the wholesale energy price, not the retail energy price), is a very big selling point.
Savings will always depend on how many sunny days happen during the billing year. Remember, we were paying $1200+/yr just for lights and appliances. Once solar is installed, the utility only bills once a year for electricity. There is a modest charge for connectivity to the "grid" of $10/mo. However, under the NZM contract, the utility has to CREDIT us for that charge. After 2034 the homeowner will have to pay that charge monthly, there will be no more crediting back.

Our first full year's bill for electricity was.....$6.37.

Our second full year's bill was higher. We got more rain/less sun. Our total bill was $120.44, or just about $10/mo.
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