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Scott and Scarab, I have some questions Posted by Ken [Email]  (#2113) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ken) on Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:29:59
In Reply to: Check out this Sunroof!!!!!! Awesome!!, 92Scarab, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 08:29:58 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I live in Oakland and am in the midst of a home remodel and expansion. My entire roof structure and membrane will be replaced, so I have the opportunity (as in new construction) to install the photovoltaic panel brackets directly onto the plywood deck so that my new roof membrane will be installed around the supports. The obvious advantage is that the roof shingles wil not have to be penetrated with mounting screws, thereby virtualy eliminating chances of leaking.
Now, several vendors have quoted me systems ranging in size from 1.8 to 2.5 kw. Installed cost, after a hefty CA rebate, is approximately $11k. My roof peak is oriented from SE to NW, so one face is generally southward facing but not perfectly so. I too have a neighbor several houses down with tall trees that shorten my energy producing day.
It appears that the real payback, after eliminating all the BS the system sellers tell me, is between 12-14 years. In other words, it takes almost 13 years to just get my investment returned, forget about making any profit on it. While this is good compared to the depreciation I have suffered owning my Saab, I'd consider this a crappy investment in any other arena.
Homes in my neighborhood sell for $700k to $1.2mm. I see no market evidence that I would get a penny more at resale time if I have solar than if I didn't as most home purchasers in this price range don't bother to think about utility bills.
As Scott has pointed out, I cannot make profit selling surplus energy. And PG&E will not even let me offset the gas portion of my bill running the electric meter backwards. How do I rationalize doing this, vs let's say investing same $11k in a socially responsible mutual fund and donating the earnings to an environmental charity?
I would love to be one less contributor to Middle Eastern energy dependence, but given the economies of scale of large utility plant power generators, I am not certain this investment makes sense either for me personally, or for the State of California. Under current rebates, State will pay 1/3 of the cost of the system. Wouldn't the state be better off putting that money towards a larger renewable resource power plant, rather than funding the inefficient thousands of small plants that their policy does now by offering individual homeowners a rebate?
I would love to hear any thought or recommendations, especially any insights related doing this as part of a larger remodel. I have until June 30 to submit my application before the rebate drops further. Obviously you guys thought about these same issues and chose to take the plunge. Please share your thinking so that I might be convinced to join you.
Thanking you in advance,
Ken
posted by 165.247.22...
_______________________________________ Ken
, Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:29:59 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 1 Jul 2004 16:37:36
, Sun, 13 Jun 2004 23:12:17, Thu, 1 Jul 2004 16:33:36, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 14:34:11
, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 18:14:22, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 22:39:25, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 17:17:19, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 14:39:05, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 17:10:33, Sun, 13 Jun 2004 23:14:57, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 14:48:51, Sat, 12 Jun 2004 17:25:19
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