Comments on: One year with solar energy at home: Mostly sunny!

By: Steuer Gray

Steuer Gray — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:01:59 +0000

Good article. Sorry about the hate mail. Kevin, as I wrote in my book “The Moment of Truth” Steuer Gray on Amazon, there are two problems which are killing the industry. One is the parts cost. They have come down tremendously and would come down even further if solar was being mandated for high users. It’s like the digital TV’s. Congress mandated them, they were expensive at first but now because we produce a zillion of them they are dirt cheap. The other cost factor is installation. States have ridiculously burdensome certification so there aren’t that many installers. It’s supply and demand. If there were a million installers, the labor cost would drop dramatically. If we did my plan *see my book, it wouldn’t cost taxpayers one cent.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:45:10 +0000

A Ground source heat pump will pay back faster than a solar PV system.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:42:09 +0000

I have 46 panels.
I have questions on that math.
$2,500 / .09 cents per KWH = 27,777 KWH / 12 months= 2314 KWH per month.
You said your system only made 13,803 kwh per year.
27,777 kwh used – 13,803 kwh made = 13,974 kwh more used than you made.
You are are short 13,974 kwh?

What am I missing here?

By: Johannes p visagie

Johannes p visagie — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:51:23 +0000

Hi am in South Africa and drive a hybrid want to go solar and brows for info. Thanks for this.

By: HonoluluBoy

HonoluluBoy — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:40:42 +0000

Please don’t feed the trolls.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:51:18 +0000

Agree on the up-front investment costs, Andre. If not for our unique situation, we wouldn’t have been able to make that investment either. As far as energy credits, or SRECS, yup, we have them, but they’ve dropped in value dramatically. I’ll have to take a second look. Thanks!

By: Andre

Andre — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:31:11 +0000

Actually there is something from stopping folks doing this, and that is the high cost of entry. I just installed a 4.41KW system here in FL 4 weeks ago at a cost of $18k up front, with 30% tax credit in March, and a 50% rebate promised in 6-8 weeks from FPL (utility company). Payback in 3-4 years hopefully. But I am fronting the whole $18k for 2-3 months, and another $5k or so for a month or so more. Most people aren’t able to do that.

FPL buys back at the same rate apparently.

Kevin, have you looked at the energy credit trading? I think PA is included?

By: LLroomtempJ

LLroomtempJ — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:33:10 +0000

how many square feet?

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:14:05 +0000

Diego, thanks much for the comment and insights. Few other data points that might affect your estimate on our electricity usage. The home is 2900 square feet, has a well (so *all* of our water is pumped by our electricity), and we have forced air heat; meaning although the air is heated by a propane burner, the fan runs on electric to circulate the hot air. We also have a central air unit for the summer, which of course, adds to the electricity usage. And we have a 7×14 Endless Pool that runs from April-ish to September; aside from electricity powering the filter, it also powers a propulsion system so you can swim in place.

Having said all that, our initial energy before solar was well over 10,000 kWh a year; we’ve cut it down by 30% since going solar via a smart thermostat, LED and CFL bulbs throughout the house (and there’s a LOT of ‘em), smart plugs to eliminate vampire drain, etc…. Could we do better? Probably, but we’ve done the majority of what we can do. Thanks!

By: Diego

Diego — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 03:55:21 +0000

Congrats Kevin on going solar, but…

I would advise readers that are considering installing solar to do the following first before installing solar:

Invest your money in all possible energy efficiency measures first, because every dollar saved on your electricity bills will save you $3.5 on your solar system. So if Kevin’s family would have cut their electricity consumption by half (this is easily achievable), corresponding to $1250 savings per year or 3798kWh per year, your system would have been $29,205 / 2 = $14,602 cheaper. To achieve, that savings one has of course to invest for example in an energy audit, a new fridge, LEDs or insulation and so on, but the costs will be way cheaper than the $14,602.

As an accredited BPI Energy Auditor, let me assure you that your electricity usage for four people and two working at home is at least double as what it could be, especially since you “use propane for heat and hot water”.

20.8kWh electricity usage a day (7596kWh/365 days) is just way to much for four people and no electric hot water.

7kWh a day would be a more reasonable amount,
Didn’t your solar installer advise you to become more energy efficient first?

Every day I’m still amazed how wasteful american families are with their energy usage.
It’s time for a change to get the country back on track.

Nevertheless, keep up your good work and thank you for sharing your experience.

Kind Regards,
Diego

PS: And by the way Kevin, did your family subscribe to 100% green electricity from your utility?