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csziggy

(34,189 posts)

4. I have a solar water heater but no photovoltaic

Tue Dec 2, 2014, 12:31 AM

Dec 2014

I looked at photovoltaic but instead of putting the money into it, I built a tighter shell which will pay off sooner than solar electric would.

The solar water heater works great, but I need to hire someone to climb up on the roof and clean off the panel.

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Ok, so who has solar on their roof? Raise your hand. [View all] lonestarnot Dec 2014 OP

Thought about it; decided it wasn't cost-effective brooklynite Dec 2014 #1

Why did you decide it wasn't cost-effective? lonestarnot Dec 2014 #2

How long ago did you check into it? Friends of ours got it last year pnwmom Dec 2014 #3

Someone with pockets as deep as yours should be more concerned about the carbon you will not ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #5

But as a two-person, energy efficient household, we don't put out that much carbon to begin with. brooklynite Dec 2014 #16

Couple of decades?? Dream on. REP Dec 2014 #39

After the rebates. I'll be paying off my panels, which were installed 2 years ago... Javaman Dec 2014 #42

Sounds like you're experience was supremely cost-effective. Now you'll have more than ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #43

you have some numbers to share along with that? snooper2 Dec 2014 #53

First off, I have a small home... Javaman Dec 2014 #57

cool, could you share what company you went with? snooper2 Dec 2014 #59

I worked with Circular Energy out of San Antonio. Javaman Dec 2014 #60

Javaman, I assume your panels are roof mounted? LondonReign2 Dec 2014 #63

No impact what so ever. In fact... Javaman Dec 2014 #68

Many thanks for the information LondonReign2 Dec 2014 #69

They are carbon emission-effective. roody Dec 2014 #14

I have a solar water heater but no photovoltaic csziggy Dec 2014 #4

Well one the local providers of the electrical utility sends out this crap, looks like junk mail, lonestarnot Dec 2014 #7

That was another reason we did go for PV - the local utility would not buy the excess csziggy Dec 2014 #17

Solar power sytems are much cheaper these days and there's a 30% federal tax credit that you ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #20

Cool. 30%. lonestarnot Dec 2014 #21

Not only that, let's say your system costs $10,000. You would get a $3000 tax credit. So, let's ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #23

Even more coolness! lonestarnot Dec 2014 #24

Yep =) ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #25

Thank you. lonestarnot Dec 2014 #26

You're welcome. The more solar comes down in prices, the more likely we in Texas are to ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #28

you could also lower withholding and get the complete credit in one year. Travis_0004 Dec 2014 #52

Yeah, I'll have to check next year. I don't have the money this year to do it csziggy Dec 2014 #22

thank you for that very important piece of info magical thyme Dec 2014 #48

Glad to help. I love solar power and hopefully our sorry ass congress will extend the ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #49

If I can threadjack slightly, can any Northern Californians who would reccomend an installer PM me? LeftyMom Dec 2014 #6

PDk or similar on this thread in Southern CA. Has one. lonestarnot Dec 2014 #11

Solar City treated me very well. NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #33

I do. Year and a half now, Southern California . Love 'em. Nt pkdu Dec 2014 #8

Are you pleased with the folks that clean it or do you do it yourself? How about the contractor? lonestarnot Dec 2014 #9

I hose them down myself periodically. The contractors were a bunch of well meaning Cowboys .. pkdu Dec 2014 #18

Nine panels. Been up there 14 years. roody Dec 2014 #10

As I understand the language in this crap mail electric co sent, "Res. customers who add their own lonestarnot Dec 2014 #13

Lit em up in October. Love it. Don't know why everyone in Arizona dosn't. OffWithTheirHeads Dec 2014 #12

I have Zorro Dec 2014 #15

So how clean do they have to be kept? Someone here said they just hose 'em off. lonestarnot Dec 2014 #19

You just want to keep them from getting too dusty Zorro Dec 2014 #27

Equala'! No quiero que limpa nada mas. Damn it! The joys of home ownership ringing in my ears. lonestarnot Dec 2014 #29

Soon its been approved. Historic NY Dec 2014 #30

Yeah! lonestarnot Dec 2014 #32

Unfortunately, like most folks in NYC, I don't own the building I live in and thus cant do it. stevenleser Dec 2014 #31

I wish. I can't afford the initial investment. nt Quackers Dec 2014 #34

Would love to do it Mojorabbit Dec 2014 #35

We do! 6000eliot Dec 2014 #36

We do! On Kauai.. lots of Sunshine.. DO you, lonestarnot? Cha Dec 2014 #37

Yes; house has solar radiant heating (hot water is also heated by solar) REP Dec 2014 #38

Back when I last checked it would have cost us $20,000 for solar panels. I understand it has finally Hekate Dec 2014 #40

Be sure to look into the 30% federal tax credit if you install before 01/01/17! nt ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #44

Me. And have had them for 2 years. nt Javaman Dec 2014 #41

My apartment building says they're installing them in 2016. JaneyVee Dec 2014 #45

How difficult is it to find American made solar panels bighart Dec 2014 #46

Imports are only slightly lower in cost per watt than American-made Solarworld panels... ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2014 #56

The question to me is what is the cost per watt bighart Dec 2014 #61

I have solar panels in my fishing boat B Calm Dec 2014 #47

Rooftop Solar Cost Competitive with the Grid in Much of the U.S. n2doc Dec 2014 #50

I live in an historical house, I can't modify it. MADem Dec 2014 #51

I lived in what now would be considered a historical house as a teenager. RebelOne Dec 2014 #64

They weren't around when this house was built--and we're prohibited from modifying the exterior. MADem Dec 2014 #67

I have! maced666 Dec 2014 #54

I do. Ink Man Dec 2014 #55

We are in the final days of MuseRider Dec 2014 #58

I looked into it, but the contractor said I'd have to cut down some mature trees. badtoworse Dec 2014 #62

Problem is that residential electricity use overall is small... hunter Dec 2014 #65

I really want it, but can't afford it right now. Rachel Maddow did a segment of her show Stellar Dec 2014 #66

I looked into it, but they couldn't say if they'd stay on during a Tropical Storm or Hurricane. FLPanhandle Dec 2014 #70

Being a do-it yourselfer One_Life_To_Give Dec 2014 #71