Getting solar at the house

[T-Giv]

Solar City told me they would replace the roof if needed, before installing panels. My garage would need a roof before panels are installed, so we'll see if they tell me "they pay for it" again when we meet sunday.

Now that's crazy. Please let me know what they say!

[Gman]

I believe their contract is the lease agreement? I haven't looked too closely at it either. I was supposed to meet with Solar City again tomorrow, but it just got pushed back to Sunday. I'll report back with any other details.

http://www.solarcity.com/residential/solar-ppa.aspx

How is SolarPPA different than SolarLease?Our SolarPPA and SolarLease are both great options. They offer similar financial advantages to the homeowner. The primary difference is that with a lease you pay by the month, and with a PPA you pay per kWh. Another benefit of the SolarPPA is that you can purchase the system anytime after year five. Availability of SolarPPA and SolarLease vary by location based on what your local utility company prefers.

Please let us know how it goes. The idea of them replacing the roof just seems crazy. I must say that I'm now intrigued.

...anybody want to get me into a timeshare while I'm vulnerable?

[tmleadr03]

http://www.solarcity.com/residential/solar-ppa.aspx


Please let us know how it goes. The idea of them replacing the roof just seems crazy. I must say that I'm now intrigued.

...anybody want to get me into a timeshare while I'm vulnerable?[/FONT][/COLOR]

I heard about some beach front property in AZ if your interested...

[Gman]

How much?

[BigDee]

Ok I understand some of the arguments about the lack of transparency with solar (or wind for that matter). No one shows the land getting slagged to mine the rare earth metals. No one shows the pollution from the production facilities in China nor do they take into account the coal fired plants producing the energy to make the solar panels. The alternative energy side just sees the production of clean energy without acknowledging the "carbon footprint" of the manufacturing process.

On the other side part of the argument makes sense from a standpoint of energy independence (if only our energy policy were so and we were drilling for all the gas and oil Colorado could produce). Instead of building more energy production plants either natural gas or coal we can turn suburbia into a daytime producing plant by sending back energy espcially during peak hours in the day time. Our gas and oil could be better spent moving us from point A to B without having to be beholden to people who fund others who hate us and want to do us ill will. Solar is an integral part of any person trying to get "off grid" but I would also utilize wind if availble, wood gasification (there is a new company just moved into Douglas county that builds large generators that are super efficient and also produces electricity from the heat production, a smaller version is the Biolite stove where you can heat up your meal and charge your phone or other electronic device at the same time). Think about how much water we have to send downstream in the Colorado just for energy production to keep Las Vegas, Phoenix and So Cal cool in the summer.

I see the spending to incentivise solar purchases just like any other infrastructure spending project for local, city or state good. I am not a big Gov believer and we would have more purchases outright on new homes but I have been told the language does not account as an upgrade that can be rolled into the value of the home and therefore allowed in the loan. Again if it was tied to a real energy policy that moved the US to be energy independent of middle east oil then this makes sense. And I firmly believe in fracking for all the oil and natural gas our reserves will produce.

So if I was not under IREA I would have a system installed. Part for "what if" scenarios I would have my own energy if the power did go off during the day and I would not have to run my generator all day, just at night. I could opt to add battery banks at some time later to store first then sell back the extra.

Just my $0.02 worth.

I believe under the new laws IREA will have to allow solar on their grid.

I looked into solar last year and didn't do it because of IREA. I could have installed a system and used battery banks to store the reserve power but the added cost eliminated any real benefit. I'm planning to go solar as soon as IREA starts permitting it, I can't stand IREA and greatly look forward to no longer shelling out money to them.

[T-Giv]

Just got off the phone with Solar City. Apparently my roof panels are not conducive to their panels so they won't install panels on my roof until the roof is replaced. They also said that I don't use enough power for their panels so they won't install them until my usage increases.

[al_g]

Damn, I thought my system was big. How much was that electric bill before the solar?

I remember asking the previous owners of the house, but don't recall. He used to have something like a half dozen salt water tanks and said that uses a lot of power. So the system was sized for that load.

[meatman]

Damn, I thought my system was big. How much was that electric bill before the solar?

Ours is 9.6kW. We averaged about $80/month or 750 kwh usage for what they based their calculation on. We would've been closer to $75/700kwh, but my wife left the xmas lights on 24/7 during the month of Dec, so our Jan bill was $135/1340kwh which bumped it up. Solar City said Xcel would approve a system that would provide up to 115% of average usage.

[T-Giv]

Looks like my roof is all T-lock or whatever that crap is that got discontinued so I can get it replaced via my insurance since it has hail damage on it. I am going to have to use my AC for the rest of the summer and not be shy about usage through the next year and then my usage average will be up for when I go through with the solar early next summer.

[tmckay2]

i am building a house and am interested in solar but i just am shy about the long term cost effectiveness. i mean how long will these things last? i know they pay for themselves after about 5-6 years.