Are home Solar Systems just for the wealthy?
Question:
My power costs 8 cents per Kilowatt-Hour (KWH). I think this means I get 1000 Watts for one hour for $.08. I checked the DOE website and the avg. around the US seems to be about $.10/KWH.
My understanding is the 3000 Watt rating is "Peak Power" for the 16 panel system. Since peak is only when the sun is bright and the angle is just right. This occurs only a short time each day as the sun moves accross the sky.
For estimating my savings, I am assuming getting 3000 Watts for 6 hours a day on average, and assuming only 200 days each year due to rainy, cloudy days, etc. I will assume my cost for power is the average of 10 cents per KWH, or $.10 for 1000 Watts. My annual savings is then 3KW X 6HRS X 200DAYS X $.10 which gives me $360 savings / year.
Interest on the $16,000 is at least $800/yr?? IS THIS CORRECT?
Answer:
16k? i priced it at 30k.
this is the reason everyone doesn't have them.
even the "greenies".
to be fair, there are fed, and sometimes, state and electric company rebates. but your still going to spend more than you re-coup.
especially when maintenance is factored in.
i'd get one in a heart beat if it was economically justified.
Yes.
another type of panel that could help you is a heat panel. If you have the climate that is. We used it to heat our water. its a long set of thin tubes of black rubber that has water running through and as it does, it heats it. that would save you on immersion.
As for your solar panels.. thats not really that much. panels are an investment as your not goin to exactly carry them around with you. My friend is building a house with panels and they are costing her even more. Try and go with a contractor to make up you panels if you are still in the building stages and it may work out cheaper.
Just remember you may be living in the house longer than you think. and will save in the long run and help save out planet. Its really getting bad.
One of my colleagues has a 3000 watt solar photovoltaic system.
His average annual production of electricity is approximately 4000 kilowatt hours.
The system cost him $30,000 installed. He financed it with a $30,000 loan at 6% interest.
His annual interest cost for the system is $1,800 per year.
That amounts to a cost of approximately 45 cents per kilowatt hour for the interest on the loan. That does not include the cost of maintenance and depreciation.
.
Your savings would almost certainly be more--for a number of reasons. Probably more in the neighborhood of that $800 per year--unless you are someone who uses very little enrgy to start with.
Most of these systems can be installed for less--mainly by taking advantage of tax credits, rebates, etc. Its not unusual for someone to cut the price of a system such as you describe by up to $7000.
Either way--at present it does take a long time to pay for itself, granted. After that, though, it saes you money. And--having a solar system adds to your home's value, much like other home improvements.
For the most part, though, that large an investment is best for those who have a good bit of money--though being wealthy is by no means necessary. If your resources are limited, I'd focus on les expensive energy saving measrues (eergy-efficient lights, improving home insulation, replacing appliences as they wear out with energy-efficient models, etc.) And, of course, when trade-in time comes, don't buy a gas hog!
Save investing in solar for a few years. The cost has been cut in half in thelast 5-6 years--and is going to drop a lot more in thenext few years. So--5-10 years from now, its gooing to be a lot more affordable.
it is for all who can afford to buy!here in the philippines the lowest price is 20,000 pesos!or around 500 us dollars!from the shell head office at valero st,makati,philippines.
I've read that the efficiency/cost of solar power technology is supposed to improve by about 40% by the year 2010. The technology is rapidly improving, so while it's not very affordable or efficient right now, soon that will change.
I'd have to go with the solar water heater. Much more efficient and less costly. With federal and state rebates, most solar arrays eventually pay for themselves. No matter how long you stay on the grid you will never break even, then start getting free power.
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