Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
First, there is no maintenance.
Second, they aren't unsightly -- but that's a matter of taste.
Third, it's a standard financial calculation. If electricity rates never go up for the next 25 years, you would have spent $45,000 on electricity. Alternatively, you could spend $10,000 or so now, and have essentially no electric costs. The $10,000 can be financed over 10-15 years at a positive cash flow.
If you don't care about $50-75 a month, there are many charities that would be willing to accept that money.
Finance $10,000 over 15 years? Even at 8% rate, it will cost you OVER $25,000
$25,000 divide that by $150 (my average monthly electric bill) 166 Months or 13 years Just to break even.
No thanks! Don’t need my house looking like a spaceship.
Finance $10,000 over 15 years? Even at 8% rate, it will cost you OVER $25,000
$25,000 divide that by $150 (my average monthly electric bill) 166 Months or 13 years Just to break even.
No thanks! Don’t need my house looking like a spaceship.
Huh? Where do you get that math? At 8% it would be $95.57/mo for a total of $17,202 over 15 yrs ...not quite anywhere near $25k. And anyone paying 8% for a system right now must have a FICO score of 400 and probably shouldn't be financing ANYTHING. Most offers are from 2.9-4.9%. Even at 5% $14,234 total), it's $79/mo for almost free electricity and a 15 yr hedge against PSEG annual rate increases. Spaceship?! What a hoot. No one even knows I have panels except on the extension and they look just fine to me. Kind of cool even, and they are all over the neighborhood anyway. My Levitt spaceship. I'm like Elon Musk. Yee haa.
Huh? Where do you get that math? At 8% it would be $95.57/mo for a total of $17,202 over 15 yrs ...not quite anywhere near $25k. And anyone paying 8% for a system right now must have a FICO score of 400 and probably shouldn't be financing ANYTHING. Most offers are from 2.9-4.9%. Even at 5% $14,234 total), it's $79/mo for almost free electricity and a 15 yr hedge against PSEG annual rate increases. Spaceship?! What a hoot. No one even knows I have panels except on the extension and they look just fine to me. Kind of cool even, and they are all over the neighborhood anyway. My Levitt spaceship. I'm like Elon Musk. Yee haa.
OK, if I use Your math. It goes back to my original reply: TO SAVE $50-$75 per month.
No thanks! Those things look horrible! AND I don’t have to finance anything. I’ll donate my $50
OK, if I use Your math. It goes back to my original reply: TO SAVE $50-$75 per month.
No thanks! Those things look horrible! AND I don’t have to finance anything. I’ll donate my $50
Don’t know if they are available yet in the USA. But, did you see they now make solar roof shingles.
They have been around for years already a good 10 years prob a bit more. I haven’t looked into them for quite a few years but the shingles weren’t the most effective and very expensive. Good to use as an adjunct within a design.
What if you are in need of a roof repair down the road? Can they remove panels in order to make repairs?
My roof needed repair after Hurricane Irene. Fortunately, the panels were not damaged.
I had a solar contractor move the panels to an unaffected part of the roof while the roofers worked. Then, the solar people put them back.
I also think having solar panels shading the roof makes the roof last longer, since it's shaded from the run, somewhat out of the rain and wind -- although, I have no proof.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.