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Old 05-31-2016, 06:01 PM
 
Location: Brooklyn
337 posts, read 420,784 times
Reputation: 273

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Does anyone know the typical instal rate for these things? I see more and more people getting them in my area and are considering cost vs savings and can't imagine it's worth it for all that trouble. If you have money to burn and want to be environmentally sound I get it. But to save money? Anyone know how this works?
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Old 05-31-2016, 06:06 PM
 
Location: Bergen County, NJ
9,847 posts, read 25,174,020 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brooklynorbust View Post
Does anyone know the typical instal rate for these things? I see more and more people getting them in my area and are considering cost vs savings and can't imagine it's worth it for all that trouble. If you have money to burn and want to be environmentally sound I get it. But to save money? Anyone know how this works?
The panels are not so great because you can't store the energy in a batteries. If you could do that then yeah you would be saving some real money. Solar thermal can save a lot of money though. That's when you use the solar gains to heat your hot water.
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Old 05-31-2016, 06:30 PM
 
Location: Brooklyn, NY
2,348 posts, read 1,892,896 times
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I remember hearing something about subsidies for installation.
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Old 05-31-2016, 06:33 PM
 
Location: SC
8,793 posts, read 8,108,255 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NooYowkur81 View Post
The panels are not so great because you can't store the energy in a batteries. If you could do that then yeah you would be saving some real money. Solar thermal can save a lot of money though. That's when you use the solar gains to heat your hot water.
You can't?

Backup Power Supply
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Old 05-31-2016, 09:15 PM
 
Location: Brooklyn
337 posts, read 420,784 times
Reputation: 273
I've heard of tax breaks which is why I'm curious
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Old 06-01-2016, 12:39 AM
 
Location: Brooklyn, New York
5,427 posts, read 5,659,092 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brooklynorbust View Post
I've heard of tax breaks which is why I'm curious
It depends on your tax bracket. There are federal, state, and city tax breaks. If you make over $80k+ a year (depending on other tax exemptions etc), the tax savings are such that you can possibly break even after only 5-7 years, after that you pretty much get free electricity, since solar panels last a really long time (they have a 20+ year warranty, but can last up to 30+ years).
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Old 06-01-2016, 07:42 AM
 
Location: Manhattan
25,346 posts, read 36,880,109 times
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Beware the scams where you don't own the units. You then contract to buy electricity at what is claimed to be at a bargain price.
The owning company gains all the tax credits.


If I had a roof with a Southern exposure (or a roof, PERIOD) I would install something that I own and operate in spite of tax breaks meaning near nothing to me.
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Old 06-01-2016, 08:09 AM
 
31,655 posts, read 26,539,292 times
Reputation: 24482
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brooklynorbust View Post
Does anyone know the typical instal rate for these things? I see more and more people getting them in my area and are considering cost vs savings and can't imagine it's worth it for all that trouble. If you have money to burn and want to be environmentally sound I get it. But to save money? Anyone know how this works?

As it relates to life on the Rock:


The number of Staten Island homes with solar panels has quadrupled since last summer (with photos) | SILive.com


Solar power: Is it worth the investment? | SILive.com
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Old 06-01-2016, 08:29 AM
 
Location: NYC
20,550 posts, read 17,537,829 times
Reputation: 25616
Solar panels are worthless in states that don't get constant sun. You'll need con ed regardless you use solar or not. Solar is not enough to power your Window AC all summer without a battery and pray that there's sun everyday. Then you'll need a $7000 battery to keep the power.

After all it's said and done you've wasted $30k to install the stuff just to save $50 a month yet in the winter you still need Con Ed.
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Old 06-01-2016, 12:22 PM
 
Location: Manhattan
25,346 posts, read 36,880,109 times
Reputation: 12749
At electricity priced at $.32.Kwhr for Con Ed, it is hard to comprehend too many scenarios where solar electrical generation is not cost effective unless run by thieves.


Quote:
$30k to install the stuff

Why $30K?
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