To solar or not to solar

[Plutoburn]

I’m waiting for the tech to get better. I’m not covering my roof with those ugly things. In a few years it will be just a panel or 2.

If the hang up for you is appearance, Tesla already have solar panel roof tiles that look just like normal roofing looking from sidewalk.

If I live in sunny regions that like Southern California, Arizona, or New Mexico. It'd be worth it.

 

[Satsui Ryu]

If you buy solar, the liberals win. Best to just burn shit in your backyard to power your home.

 

[chickenlip]

The thing is I’m either paying duke energy or a loan payment. If those Are equal then this makes sense. If they are not then it doesn’t. For me I want it to be paid off in five. So even if I pay cash at 20 and never have a bill that’s 8 years 4 months. So while we’re close I think it’s just outside my limits. I am looking at other jobs and stuff too, so want to be agile

Well that’s for you to decide then, but for the average person solar just doesn’t make sense

 

[Merlotte's]

I move too often to sink money into solar. Haven’t sat in one place for more than five years. If I live in a van some day solar would be cool.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

I would go that way if I had the chance.

Even if the cost/benefit isnt there

 

[boingyman]

I periodically get curious, but I don't know. There is no way I will put up leased solar on my roof. Purchasing cost a lot up front but how long it takes to recoop (plus interest you could make with dropping that type of cash) is not convincing enough for me. My energy bills can get pretty high in the peak summer months, but it's just a short period. Maybe one day as tech gets better and panels get cheaper.

 

[TheNinja]

Wind is far more efficient than solar btw. I knew a guy who lived off the grid and had both a windmill and solar panel systems. He produced far more usable energy through his single windmill than he did vs multiple solar panels.

But anything that helps reduce the consumption of resources is good IMO. Even if you don't financially come out ahead.....even if you break even at least you are helping the planet.

PLUS you are talking 8 year breaking even at current energy costs. Energy costs are sure to rise in the next 8 years.

 

[jericksen5]

You could run a couple of easy basic calculations to figure out whether it’s worth it. Look at your electric bills, and figure out a rough average of your annual energy consumption in kWh, and the total cost. Then use your energy consumption figure to determine the size of solar system you need, and price that out. Now that you have your cost savings from your electric bill, and have your cost to invest in a solar system, you can use those 2 numbers to find out how many years it will take to recoup your upfront cost (payback period). If it’s 2 years as an example, and you plan on being in your home for another 5+, then clearly that’s worth it.

 

[boingyman]

I periodically get curious, but I don't know. There is no way I will put up leased solar on my roof. Purchasing cost a lot up front but how long it takes to recoop (plus interest you could make with dropping that type of cash) is not convincing enough for me. My energy bills can get pretty high in the peak summer months, but it's just a short period. Maybe one day as tech gets better and panels get cheaper.

Bump.

In the process of getting Tesla solar panels. Applied and put down my deposit a week ago and I already have installation scheduled on Monday. This is moving way faster then expected. Getting 8.16kW (24 panels). Wish I did it in 2020 when prices were lower although at least the 26% tax credit was extended until 2022. Cost will be about $18k (it was $16k before the price increase), but after rebates it's closer to $12k. Paying with multiple credit cards with bonus points will net me another ~$2700-$3300 depending if I decide to go 2 vs 3 card route. This will shorten my ROI 1-1.5 years depending on actual results. I'm glad I pulled the trigger on this when I did since you can no longer buy panels standalone without Powerwall purchase, which started yesterday I believe.

 

[GSP_37]

How often do you need to replace the battery and how expensive is that?

 

[Grassshoppa]

Not getting solar until total cost of product and installation is more like $5,000. Our electric is an average of $100/month in southern California. No way I'm paying $15,000 for solar. Even if we paid $150/month in electric I wouldn't get my money back for 10 years. Not worth the investment yet. Much cheaper to follow my wife around the house and turn off all the lights she turns on.

 

[PinkFlammingo]

Basic solar heater.

Real fast description. A wooden frame with pop cans painted black. The cans have holes drilled in the bottom and are glued together. Something like a computer fan blows the air inside the frame out. That is a $20 garage heater.
With the same concept, but adding in a control switch, battery storage, a timer, a sensor, you can start to make this an efficient room heater day and night all year.

The very biggest fault in solar energy is the storage and conversion. It really is just a matter of waiting for someone to figure that storage problam out and goddamn everything will be solar in 5 years.

Thats pretty cool, thanks!

 

[Fedorgasm]

I won't do solar because the companies are shady as fuck. They employ door to door sales people, which should be a red flag right there. Any company that uses sales people is automatically ripping you off, because they have to charge prices high enough to cover the cost of the sales people.

But then they basically sign you up for these shitty deals where you may save pennies, but all the big savings go into their pockets. And they have these crappy warranties that sound amazing but since these companies all go belly-up in a few years they won't be around to honor your warranty. But it's a good deal for them because they didn't really go bankrupt. They just dissolve that company and start a new one with all the same employees under a different name, which helps them escape all the terrible online reviews that have built up over the past few years.

The only one I'd trust is Tesla, but they're so fucking expensive right now. I'll wait for the price to come down a bit then I'll buy them from Tesla.

 

[Woldog]

That is the question
Anyone buy panels yet? Does the math work out yet? For me if I have no electric bill I break even at about 8 years. So I’m leaning that way if the warranty and whatnot are right.

I just had solar put on two months ago.
It only just got connected to the grid last week. so I can't really tell you much except that I generate more electricity than I use so far.

 

[Woldog]

I won't do solar because the companies are shady as fuck. They employ door to door sales people, which should be a red flag right there. Any company that uses sales people is automatically ripping you off, because they have to charge prices high enough to cover the cost of the sales people.

But then they basically sign you up for these shitty deals where you may save pennies, but all the big savings go into their pockets. And they have these crappy warranties that sound amazing but since these companies all go belly-up in a few years they won't be around to honor your warranty. But it's a good deal for them because they didn't really go bankrupt. They just dissolve that company and start a new one with all the same employees under a different name, which helps them escape all the terrible online reviews that have built up over the past few years.

The only one I'd trust is Tesla, but they're so fucking expensive right now. I'll wait for the price to come down a bit then I'll buy them from Tesla.

All this is exactly why I went with the biggest energy provider in the country. It was more expensive but idc at least I know they'll be around in 10 years.

 

[GSP_37]

I just had solar put on two months ago.
It only just got connected to the grid last week. so I can't really tell you much except that I generate more electricity than I use so far.

How many panels? Manufacturer?

 

[Woldog]

How many panels? Manufacturer?

15. It was supposed to be 20, but the angle of my roof didn't allow for the 20 (something about overhang and in high winds turning my roof into a makeshift glider). Luckily my roof has no shadow at any point while the sun is up unless it's overcast.

Not sure what brand, though I know the panels themselves are made in Australia and the inverter was made in Germany.
For reference it's 10:27am here and today I've generated 15KWH of power.

 

[KreamPuff]

Interested in Solar, but I'm not sure I'll be living at this house for 10+ years to recoup the costs. Plus the wife thinks they look ugly as sin.