General Discussion

Javaman

(65,717 posts)

57. First off, I have a small home...

Tue Dec 2, 2014, 11:36 AM

Dec 2014

1310 square feet.

So my array isn't gigantic.

I have no kids. It's just my girlfriend and I.

My array is 1.2 kW.

the overall cost before the rebates were 18,000

After the federal rebate (which took care of a large chunk of it) and a Texas state rebate, my total was roughly 7500 out of pocket.

2500 of which I was able to claim on my taxes which left a remaining 5000.

We took the average monthly bill total and put that away each month.

it comes out to roughly 5 years to pay it off.

So there it is.

Prior to all of this, I did have to get an energy audit to make sure my home was suitable for solar panels. I had to get my duct work upgraded and new attack insulation.

that was 1500 bucks. But that also had a rebate and out of pocket was about 750.

on edit: since we did our own renovation on the home, we invested in a tankless water heater, new energy saving appliances and upgraded our a/c system. We keep our thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer. Because our house is so well insulated now, we don't need the ac as much in the summer or the heater in the winter.

Yes, everything is electric.

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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