Consumer Reports - Doing the Math on Tesla's Solar Roofs (Again)

[OnlinePoker]

Now that Tesla has announced detailed pricing for its upcoming Solar Roof, which the company plans to start rolling out in June, potential customers can get an estimate on an installation using the company’s online calculator. If Tesla’s math is correct, it seems that in many cases the roof would more than pay for itself in electricity savings over the 30-year life of the warranty.

That sounds like a pretty good deal, but is it too good to be true? The answer is a complicated one, since Tesla’s calculator relies upon some important assumptions and predictions that delve deep into the economy of residential solar power in the U.S.

http://www.consumerreports.org/solar-panels/doing-the-math-on-teslas-solar-roof/
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They have a link to the Tesla site where you can put in your U.S. address and see the estimated costs/savings of the roof over its projected 30 year lifespan.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Douglas-Martin Sunpower Screens. . . nt

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2. You'd think that a solar roof would do more than just pay for itself over 30 years?

What about generating enough power to run your house with surplus to sell back to the local power company?

And most people don't stay in a house for 30 years, there has to be more than a "will pay for itself in 30 years" incentive to spend way more than a regular roof.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Think. It probably includes selling back some. Further, it increases value of the house

With a solar roof, the house is more valuable. So the owner does not have to stay there 30 years to get their money back.

[brush]

4. That's an unproven maybe. It ususally depends on what the comps say as to the value of a house

As it is now re-doing kitchens return 65% of value. Bathrooms are comparable.

It's still to be seen if a solar roof will actually return value at all, or even approach what a new kitchen or bath will.

I'd wait for concrete sales examples before plunking down a big chunk of money without evidence of getting some of it back.

It's not going to return 100% of what you paid for it. Nothing does, but if it's within the range of what a new kitchen does then it's worth considering.

Or not, maybe just keep the roof that's on the house and the money in your pocket.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Redoing a kitchen is not adding a kitchen. Adding a solar panel 99% the first time; so full value.

[brush]

6. Why would anybody add a kitchen? Any figures to back up the full value statement?

Probably too early to make that claim without any established sales history to back it up.