23 replies to this topic

[mylo]

Then, based on the financial interest of the Bill Z Family Foundation, I will wait until there is a real ROI. The BZFF is a self interest foundation working towards the betterment of the lives of it's members with a high interest in the life of it's youngest member. It's ongoing mission requires it to remain solvent until the founders pass on the assets to the lower aged member, after that, the foundation will be dissolved and it will be up to the surviving member to do what he feels he must.

Technically, the youngest member is paying the subsidy on the Intel project

[MikeinFolsom]

I don't think the household systems are very efficient. From what I understand, even if a moderately sized house has a roof covered with solar panels, you probably won't break even with even regular use of electricity. The monthly payment along with the "extra" juice you use that the panels don't provide doesn't make this a sound investment. Yet.

[That Guy]

I don't think the household systems are very efficient. From what I understand, even if a moderately sized house has a roof covered with solar panels, you probably won't break even with even regular use of electricity. The monthly payment along with the "extra" juice you use that the panels don't provide doesn't make this a sound investment. Yet.

On a strictly ROI basis, that's true. But you can also think of it as a bit of a hedge aginst fluctuating SMUD energy prices. Also, solar panels provide energy in the summer so it also will help smooth out you electricty bills over the entire year. I'm not saying these are enough, but they are some additional benefits of rooftop PV.

[Bill Z]

On a strictly ROI basis, that's true. But you can also think of it as a bit of a hedge aginst fluctuating SMUD energy prices. Also, solar panels provide energy in the summer so it also will help smooth out you electricty bills over the entire year. I'm not saying these are enough, but they are some additional benefits of rooftop PV.

but if it costs me $20K, and my energy saving are only $500 per year, that's 40 years to recover my costs, not including lost interest from other investments and the expected lifetime of the solar panels is only 20 years. that makes it at a minimum, tossing $10K to the wind for feel good greeny activity. sorry, i got better things to do with $10K than feel good green energy. A good investment can more than double that money in 20 years, so with the initial $20k, I could have $40K, $60k, maybe even $80K+ in 20 years.

As for hedgeing on smud prices, you must not have read my previous reports on smud rates in the last 10 years vs. other utilities in those same 10 years.

[Folsom Guy]

but if it costs me $20K, and my energy saving are only $500 per year, that's 40 years to recover my costs, not including lost interest from other investments and the expected lifetime of the solar panels is only 20 years. that makes it at a minimum, tossing $10K to the wind for feel good greeny activity. sorry, i got better things to do with $10K than feel good green energy. A good investment can more than double that money in 20 years, so with the initial $20k, I could have $40K, $60k, maybe even $80K+ in 20 years.

As for hedgeing on smud prices, you must not have read my previous reports on smud rates in the last 10 years vs. other utilities in those same 10 years.

How much tax benefit does one get by spending 20k.

[FolsomVW]

I don't think the household systems are very efficient. From what I understand, even if a moderately sized house has a roof covered with solar panels, you probably won't break even with even regular use of electricity. The monthly payment along with the "extra" juice you use that the panels don't provide doesn't make this a sound investment. Yet.

The idea is that you size the system to provide a net output equivalent to your yearly usage, according to previous/current/about to change rules. If you size it correctly, my understanding is that you won't have to pay anything out of pocket after the year is said and done. Isn't the ROI something like 15-20 years with the tax incentives and rebates?

The CA Independent System Operator is constructing a new Campus on Iron Point road next to Folsom H.S. In addition to its green design, I believe they will also include a solar generation capacity, perhaps over parking spaces.

How much tax benefit does one get by spending 20k.

Here's a nice article on solar generation ROI...not sure if it's up to date: http://www.greenands...r_electric.html

[mylo]

The problem with 15-20 year ROI is that the usable life is only 15-20 years It dies before it pays itself off...

[Lexington Hills]

As a benefit we were offered a "discount" from the folks who are putting up the solar field at Aerojet and the ROI still isnt that great. It seemed like for a typical folsom house 2200ish sqft you need about a 4kw system +/- a couple kw depending on your energy consumption. That type of system ran about ~$15k. Being the new home owner that I am I don't have 15k to spare, so of course they have a 6% loan you could take out which of course brings the ROI even lower. (lower? or higher? whatever)

but yeah their main goal is to get you out of the more expensive tier 3/4 energy part of your bill, which is a pretty big amount if you use a lot of energy, i.e. have kids. The cells had a warranty of 25yrs, inverter was only 10.

I think the biggest ROI you can do in our area is a whole house fan, for the summers of course. For the winter I think you might be screwed into keeping everything with PGE.

my nickel.

[Toadster]

meh - should be on the rooftop of the buildings and put up a parking garage too!