Solar Rebates used up? (Jacksonville: house, water heater, buying) - Florida (FL) - City-Data Forum

dolphin3 · 03-30-2008, 08:38 AM

I was looking into solar systems since the price of everything is going up and it looks like florida(The sunshine state) allready used up its money for rebates! Also the incentives from JEA were not too good as compared with other places in Florida. What are the general attitudes towards solar power in Jacksonville?

apvbguy · 03-30-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphin3

I was looking into solar systems since the price of everything is going up and it looks like florida(The sunshine state) allready used up its money for rebates! Also the incentives from JEA were not too good as compared with other places in Florida. What are the general attitudes towards solar power in Jacksonville?

I had a guy come out to me and he suggested I use solar for pool heating but he felt it wasn't cost effective to use it for the whole house. YMMV

dolphin3 · 03-30-2008, 09:01 AM

I had a pasive solar hot water system on my last house and I swear my hot water heater rarely came on!

Magnolia Bloom · 03-30-2008, 09:08 AM

How does a passive HW system work? How expensive is it? I've googled solar for home use and it is overwhelming for a non-techie.

There is a bill before the legislature this session that would require electric companies to buy back power from residents.

dolphin3 · 03-30-2008, 10:13 AM

The house I had just had a tank (a box with four tanks in it) called a PT40 on the roof. It was just over the hot water heater in the garage. The water was piped so it could be diverted up to the roof before coming back down into the house and when it came back off the roof in the summer I swear it would burn you! Made a believer out of me! Thats what made me look into the rebate program. It makes for some interesting reading! Looks like the state ran out of money in the first month of the year. How sad is that?

riveree · 03-31-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphin3

I was looking into solar systems since the price of everything is going up and it looks like florida(The sunshine state) allready used up its money for rebates! Also the incentives from JEA were not too good as compared with other places in Florida. What are the general attitudes towards solar power in Jacksonville?

I don't think you'd recoup your costs if you sell a home with solar in Jacksonville. So you could spend $30k on panels, and maybe get a rebate of $15k, but the other $15k is probably a loss at resale. You'd have your utility savings each month, but the break even point takes years.

So I struggle some with that, as I am a bit on the nomadic side

. If I knew I was staying in a house, I'd install the solar and take whatever rebate I could get.

I looked into the hot water heater rebates from the state when I last had to replace a water heater, but it's not like you can go to Sears and pick out a water heater and apply for the rebate

. The water heaters that qualify for the rebates are *special* and not readily available at your local store. It was all far too complicated for my situation, so I ended up just buying the water heater with the highest energy star rating instead.

It takes a lot of research to understand how the rebates work and I bet a lot of people get turned off by the process. I did not even know they could run oout of rebate money each year!

I'm still researching solar panels, I'm not giving up

.

dolphin3 · 04-01-2008, 06:41 AM

Thanks for taking the time! It is a bit complicated and confusing. I really tried to understand the rebate deal but just when I thought I had it figured out I got to the part that said that the state ran out of money allready for this year. I truely believe that solar is the wave of the future and if you can stand the wait (at least 5 years) it will start giving you free power! The systems are getting better by leaps and bounds and it's shown in states like New Jersey that are investing so much into it. Don't give up! It may be raining today but the suns comming out next week!

weweillc · 04-28-2008, 05:52 AM

Dolphin-
short FYI on the solar rebate. The thought is that the fund will be "re-funded" this July 2008. You may know for solar usually you are talking solar thermal (domestic hot water, pool heating etc.) and solar electric (photovoltaic). The rebate amounts vary depending on thermal or electric. the "payback" will also vary with the method. Many qualified solar companies in fl as well as solar association to google, talk to etc. You will add value to the home with the investment as well. Or in our case here in fl, maybe slow down the loss in value. best regards

KerryB · 04-29-2008, 01:12 AM

I agree with waiting a year or two. They now can actually print solar panels on thin sheets & it'll be lower cost than bulky panels.

riveree · 04-29-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerryB

I agree with waiting a year or two. They now can actually print solar panels on thin sheets & it'll be lower cost than bulky panels.

Any idea how they might compare in cost?

How about durability, might they hold up as well as the traditional panels? Some people are using panels they bought 10+ years ago and they're still in great working order...I wonder if a thinner material might last decades on our roofs?