I have solar panels on my roof that heat the pool. It does not provide any power to the house and is only used for the pool. Make sure that you don't have an old roof first and that it is structurally strong enough to support the panels. The solar companies will try to sell you their product even if your roof is old and not suited for the extra weight. If you install it on an old roof and you have a storm with heavy winds, the panels tend to want to raise upwards and will put extra stress on your roof. If you have a shingle roof, you can experience the shingles raising up or the nails/screws moving around and causing leaks.

Mars posted:

I have solar panels on my roof that heat the pool. It does not provide any power to the house and is only used for the pool. Make sure that you don't have an old roof first and that it is structurally strong enough to support the panels. The solar companies will try to sell you their product even if your roof is old and not suited for the extra weight. If you install it on an old roof and you have a storm with heavy winds, the panels tend to want to raise upwards and will put extra stress on your roof. If you have a shingle roof, you can experience the shingles raising up or the nails/screws moving around and causing leaks.

Thanks. 

Work out the final cost of the Solar. 

Let say it's $ 50 G. Do the math against your monthly bill you are currently paying 

Imran posted:

Work out the final cost of the Solar. 

Let say it's $ 50 G. Do the math against your monthly bill you are currently paying 

they said installation is free, and my bill will be 30-50 % less.

Calculate the ROI and the payback period of your investment.

VishMahabir posted:

Imran posted:

Work out the final cost of the Solar. 

Let say it's $ 50 G. Do the math against your monthly bill you are currently paying 

they said installation is free, and my bill will be 30-50 % less.

The installation is built into the product cost. 

Get your final estimate without hidden cost... was listening to a program the other day...  I heard it's around 50 G .

Reporter ask the guy how would you save... his reply was, it's good for resale value.  

If your cost is 50 G, Vish you are looking @ 30-40 years to see a saving.  

My son, Mike Jr., recently renovated his bungalow into a two-storey family home. Early in the construction, he decided to add solar panels to the roof. My garage, a project that my son worked on, is completely off the grid. By seeing that, he was inspired to use renewable energy for his own house. But going solar is a big job and there are pros and cons.

Let’s start with the cons first: money.

Using solar energy to power your home is smart, but the initial investment is beyond what many people can afford — solar electric systems aren’t cheap. Upfront costs include solar panels, a transformer, installation and any changes or upgrades that need to be made to the home so that these systems can be properly (and safely) installed.

Going solar is one thing you do not cut corners on. If you’re planning a big renovation — like my son is — you need to be realistic. There’s a good chance you will have to eliminate something so that you have enough money to incorporate solar the right way.

The pros about using solar energy for your home are long term. You are going to consistently save money on the monthly output of electricity for years. The cost of energy keeps going up — so if you can minimize that cost, it’s a smart investment.

How can I argue against solar? I’m the guy who says you should think of things like solar, a metal roof, thermal break on the outside of the house — but you have to do it right.

First, you should get your roof orientation assessed. Solar installation companies help you determine how many panels you can fit and the best location to capture sunlight. Second, you should explore rebates or selling electricity to the grid when considering your costs — this requires doing some homework as not all areas offer these options or do so at different rates.

Once you have determined what your savings are, you must look at the roof where the solar panels are being installed. The professional who is installing the panels will need to create the layout of the mounts for the rail system the panels will be installed on. Anchors need to be added to the roofing that will eventually secure the panels.

Next, think about space.

Using solar power for your home requires more than just throwing a bunch of solar panels on your roof. You will likely need a battery backup — and, in some cases, a backup generator.

A battery backup is necessary to store energy that will be used when there isn’t enough solar power, like at night or on cloudy days. The solar power system we installed in my garage has a battery bank of 24 batteries, weighing 170 pounds each with about 1,200 amp hours. So between the battery bank and the generator, you’re going to need space.

The sun provides more energy than the world could ever use

Here’s how solar panels work:
Every day, particles of light called photons hit the earth’s surface. Solar panels can capture those photons of light and convert them into electrons of direct current, or DC, electricity. The sunnier it is, the more photons there are, and the more photons there are, the more electricity the panels can generate.

On my garage, I have 40 solar panels on the roof, which have a peak power production of about 10 kilowatts. When the sun (photons) hits the panels, the panels have electrons in them that start to move, producing direct current (DC) electricity.

Solar panels generate DC power but the appliances and devices we use in our homes need alternating current, or AC, power to work. That means after the solar panel transforms photons of light into electrons of electricity — or DC power — the electrons must flow out of the panel down to inverters, which convert DC power into AC power.

For my garage, the inverters — along with a backup generator — feed two “Sunny Island” controllers that are used to charge the battery bank. The “Sunny Islands” are the brains of the operation that manage the entire system. They communicate with the generator, the battery bank and the solar panel system on the roof to direct energy where it needs to go.

During the day, when there’s enough power coming in from the solar panels on the roof, solar power is fed directly to the electrical panel. It’s also used to charge the batteries. When the battery bank drains down to about 30 to 40 per cent, the Sunny Islands will turn on the generator to feed the panel.

The sun provides more energy than the world could ever use. It’s free, clean, safe and renewable. One of the best things we can do is use it. Solar energy isn’t a trend, it’s the future. Let’s make it right.

The. Above was from Mike Holmes. A contractor in Canada.  

Mitwah posted:

Calculate the ROI and the payback period of your investment.

Without a significant tax subsidy, there is really no payback!

Imran posted:

VishMahabir posted:

Imran posted:

Work out the final cost of the Solar. 

Let say it's $ 50 G. Do the math against your monthly bill you are currently paying 

they said installation is free, and my bill will be 30-50 % less.

The installation is built into the product cost. 

Get your final estimate without hidden cost... was listening to a program the other day...  I heard it's around 50 G .

Reporter ask the guy how would you save... his reply was, it's good for resale value.  

If your cost is 50 G, Vish you are looking @ 30-40 years to see a saving. 

Did the 30/40 year break even consider imputed interest on your 50k investment?

ba$eman posted:

Imran posted:

VishMahabir posted:

Imran posted:

Work out the final cost of the Solar. 

Let say it's $ 50 G. Do the math against your monthly bill you are currently paying 

they said installation is free, and my bill will be 30-50 % less.

The installation is built into the product cost. 

Get your final estimate without hidden cost... was listening to a program the other day...  I heard it's around 50 G .

Reporter ask the guy how would you save... his reply was, it's good for resale value.  

If your cost is 50 G, Vish you are looking @ 30-40 years to see a saving. 

Did the 30/40 year break even consider imputed interest on your 50k investment?

Very good question Base.  

Answer is no. 

Imran posted:

ba$eman posted:

Imran posted:

The installation is built into the product cost. 

Get your final estimate without hidden cost... was listening to a program the other day...  I heard it's around 50 G .

Reporter ask the guy how would you save... his reply was, it's good for resale value.  

If your cost is 50 G, Vish you are looking @ 30-40 years to see a saving. 

Did the 30/40 year break even consider imputed interest on your 50k investment?

Very good question Base.  

Answer is no. 

Well, you have no payback.  Take your 50k and invest in Shell, BP or such good dividend stock and the dividends will be a better subsidy for your electricity bill!

Forget about that increased value, it's salesman BS. No one will pay you 50k more for the house because of the solar panels.  They may pay you 20k, then for them, it's worth it!

In the US we have solar companies installing panels on your roof for free and you get to buy discounted electricity from the panels and any excess goes to the grid.  It works for them because they manufacture the panels or buy huge quantities at discounted prices then get large tax subsidies from the Govt so their investment cost is lowered!  They create the market for their product integrating the end consumer as part of the finished product value chain.

Understand, current technology in solar panel delivers a low conversion factor of 10%.  Unless overall cost of current technology comes down or the photosensitizer conversion factor increase at current cost, Solar is a difficult sell!  But if you into a feel-good green factor, then it makes sense!

Thanks....this is useful information.