OT - Have any of you guys considered going Solar on your house?
- Thread starter tfp
- Start date
saltykelly
Member
I've been considering it since I bought my house. (1.3 yrs) I don't need it for my tank because I only have 40b with led lighting and no cooling issues. But with solar prices falling each day I have been really thinking about it. Only reason I haven't is my desire (and dream) to move to Portland soon. Don't know if it would benefit resale. Probably far fetched, but have you ever considered doing solatube to light your reef suplemented with royal blue led's?
trhaynes
New member
With the life span of the panels, and the quantity that you would need. I don't think you would ever come out ahead. I could be wrong, but I penciled it out once before and it looked like a break even if the panels lived there life span. That does not account for early failure. Also they are kind of ugly, would you really want your roof covered in panels?
simpleman98
New member
I have a 3kw system that offsets about 90% of my usage. This is not the norm as I am on a pge time of use schedule. This means in the summer the excess power is sold back at top dollar during the afternoon when we are not home. When we get home we use power at part peak or off peak. I calculated the roi to be 5 years. Average roi is 7-10 years if you can take advantage of the fed tax credit. Google clean power estimator for a ball park roi. This estimator is provided by the California energy commission and is about as unbiased as it gets.
Disclaimer: I have worked for the nations largest wholesale solar distributor for the past 8 years.
Merry Christmas!
Disclaimer: I have worked for the nations largest wholesale solar distributor for the past 8 years.
Merry Christmas!
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tfp
Active member
thaynes,
based on our roofline and the number of panels we'd be able to get, we would never come out ahead
. my goal would be to minimize the number of kwh we are into tier2.
the panels and inverters have a 25yr warranty but you know they become less efficient as time goes on. but the monitoring system looks sweet.
based on our roofline and the number of panels we'd be able to get, we would never come out ahead
. my goal would be to minimize the number of kwh we are into tier2. the panels and inverters have a 25yr warranty but you know they become less efficient as time goes on. but the monitoring system looks sweet.
Hagisan
Preparing to move on...
A buddy of mine was lucky enough to pick up some panels from AeroJet and he's been able to get his house of the grid and get checks in the winter and pays about a $5 SMUD bill in the summer. His entire back side of his roof is covered with panels.
We considered it also when er had out pool put in but did not have enough room to accomadate both the pool and electric panels. So we just have the solar for the pool.
We considered it also when er had out pool put in but did not have enough room to accomadate both the pool and electric panels. So we just have the solar for the pool.
RonMidtownStomp
You can edit this?
I feel like solar is at the equivalent of 1W LEDs for reefing and that the next step in technological development will take them to the equivalent of Cree 3W. In other words, they're really close, but need one more technological step to make it really make sense.
Isn't there a good option involving the solar company owning the solar equipment and you just leasing it for slightly less than the cost of electricity from SMUD?
I went as far as to call a company that advertised on the radio. They said I wouldn't really save any money.
Isn't there a good option involving the solar company owning the solar equipment and you just leasing it for slightly less than the cost of electricity from SMUD?
I went as far as to call a company that advertised on the radio. They said I wouldn't really save any money.
TOM BLEVINS
New member
having a reef tank has been killing us ever since its been setup
has anyone here gone solar?
tim
Ha, I think we bet you Tim, 320 last bill.
300 reef, 3000 gallon koi pond & pool, I have been considering it for sure.
Tom
KarenLM
New member
$260.00 a month what a steal!
My neighbors have solar. Their bill was about $400.00 a month for a 3600 sq ft home no fish tanks. They get a credit from PGE every year about $300.00. Initial cost $56,000 but with the rebates they ended up paying less They figured they would have the solar paid off in 6 years. They are on the grid so PG&E pays them.
My neighbors have solar. Their bill was about $400.00 a month for a 3600 sq ft home no fish tanks. They get a credit from PGE every year about $300.00. Initial cost $56,000 but with the rebates they ended up paying less They figured they would have the solar paid off in 6 years. They are on the grid so PG&E pays them.
