We have a 100w guerilla system that has been in place for over 6 years and a 2+KW system that has been in place for more than 3 years.<br>
<br>
The more you conserve the worse the payback equation looks. We don't approach this from a standard ROI equation. Even with that, I would be surprised that it would take 30 years to recoup a $9k investment. I would also expect any quality panels to last longer than 25 years.<br>
<br>
We try to see if we can use under 500KWH each month. We did not make it the last two months, but typically we do.<br>
We don't mind spending a little money up front to get monthly payments (in this case electric bills) that will be less than normal.<br>
<br>
....and besides, it would set up any EV owner to be using their own electrons...<br>
(we have a 1997 S-10E waiting in the wings)<br>
<br>
Time of use metering is on its way, and we want to have a third system in place before that happens.<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Dustin <ullearn@gmail.com><br>
To: ausev@austinev.org<br>
Sent: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 10:17 pm<br>
Subject: [ausev] Residental Solar Power<br>
<br>
<div id=AOLMsgPart_3_45f11fb2-c80c-49bb-88fc-5598e647c802>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Does anyone have experience with solar panels for home use? </SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">A couple weekends ago the company solarcommunity.net was organizing neighborhood residents who may be interested in installing solar panels at home. The business pitch is to get as many residents together to go in on purchasing to reduce the costs associated with installing a solar system.</SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">I did my initial research and found that the cost of a 3k kw solar system of $20-23k with a cost to me of $9k (using Austin Energy and Federal rebates) would take about 20 years to pay back (with solar panels having a life of 25 years or so). Ideally I could better invest my money in purchasing clean energy from Austin energy clean energy directly, but I am still planning to attend a meeting they are holding to hear their pitch and wanted to see anyone else's experience or thoughts on installing solar panels.</SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Thanks,<br>
Dustin</SPAN></div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- end of AOLMsgPart_3_45f11fb2-c80c-49bb-88fc-5598e647c802 -->
<div id=AOLMsgPart_4_45f11fb2-c80c-49bb-88fc-5598e647c802 style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff"><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT>_______________________________________________
AusEV mailing list
<A __removedLink__53037820__href="mailto:AusEV@austinev.org">AusEV@austinev.org</A>
<A target=_blank __removedLink__53037820__href="http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev">http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev</A>
</TT></PRE></div>
<!-- end of AOLMsgPart_4_45f11fb2-c80c-49bb-88fc-5598e647c802 --><div id='u8CAC6A759953D79-1298-1A34' class='aol_ad_footer'><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">It's time to go back to school! Get the latest trends and gadgets that make the grade on <A title="http://shopping.aol.com/back-to-school?ncid=aolins00050000000007" href="http://shopping.aol.com/back-to-school?ncid=aolins00050000000007" target="_blank">AOL Shopping</A>.</FONT> </div>