Does Anyone here use Solar Panels?

[Duderonomy]

My girlfriend's Uncle is building a house and is investigating the possibility of going solar.

The way I understand it, you buy the panels and either install them on your roof or pipe-framed bleachers (on your yard)

You then just let the sun do it's thing .

The electricity produced goes to the power company... while you are sucking electric FROM the power company.

At the end of the month your produced electric is deducted from your bill.

Been told most people produced more than used so they receive a check in the mail (for the difference) every month.

This sounds like a win win thing .

If so, why isn't everyone doing it ?

[KobesFinger]

y parents have them on their house. The way it worked for them is they bought them and had them installed. Every few months (I think every quarter) they get a cheque from their energy supplier for the excess electricity sold back to them. Someone comes to read the metre every so often too. Reasons why people might not have them:

Cost - high up front cost and long payback period

Efficiency of panels

Lots of people are renting and as such aren't allowed to do it

Can devalue the property

[highwhey]

It's a pretty big thing here in Phoenix because of the amount of sunny days. I remember a couple years ago there was some sort of rebate that essentially made it a subsidized purchase. Not sure if that is still going on but the poster above me is right in that the initial cost is rather high.

[rufuspaul]

I have some panels at my summer house in Maine. It's on an island and off the grid so I don't have to worry about dealing with the power company. I use them mainly for lighting and charging computers and cellphones. I use propane for fridge, stove and hot water.

[imdaman99]

Can devalue the property
I am curious, why would it devalue the property? If anything, this is future proofing and saving money on electricity.

[FillJackson]

I remember a couple years ago there was some sort of rebate that essentially made it a subsidized purchase.
Thanks Obama!

[DukeDelonte13]

A buddy of mine's dad had solar panels installed and a small wind turbine, he lives in BFE ohio.

He rarely produces more than what his bill is but when he does he gets a small tiny check back from the power company. The pay a very small percentage of what you would pay for the same kilowatt hour from them.

I'm sure varies from provider to provider.

[UK2K]

My girlfriend's Uncle is building a house and is investigating the possibility of going solar.

The way I understand it, you buy the panels and either install them on your roof or pipe-framed bleachers (on your yard)

You then just let the sun do it's thing .

The electricity produced goes to the power company... while you are sucking electric FROM the power company.

At the end of the month your produced electric is deducted from your bill.

Been told most people produced more than used so they receive a check in the mail (for the difference) every month.

This sounds like a win win thing .

If so, why isn't everyone doing it ?

It's super expensive and unless you live in the desert, chances are you'll never recoup your investment.

[KyrieTheFuture]

I am curious, why would it devalue the property? If anything, this is future proofing and saving money on electricity.
They're ugly as **** and large, and in the future Solar Panel technology will only get better. 10 years from now you'd want a house with no solar so you can put your own in, not buy and replace 10 year old panels

[SexSymbol]

A lot of those solar panels work without the glaring sun, just off some light. It's a very good investment

[Draz]

I was thinking of this. It'll definitely be bigger in 15 years. Houses should come with them by then. It's an investment up front, but you're saving on the other end in the long run. Two things to keep in mind, your location whether winter plays a role and how long you'll be living in the household. Some people sell after 10 years, by then the investment starts to kick in from what you paid to install them.

[Rooster]

Yes I have a Solar and I paid for them. If you gonna do Solar, NEVER LEASE. Always better to pay it cash or finance them if you don't have the dough and you will save money in the long run plus the 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT makes it a no brainer.

Also it depends where you live, the NET METERING is very important. What happens is your meter run backward while your solar panels is producing electricity and you get the all the credit at the end of the year if you produce more than you use albeit its on wholesale price.

If you use a lot of electricity like if you have a pool or electric car than definitely you should go Solar. Otherwise if your electricity is less than a hundred bucks and you have little tax liability then just switch to LED lights and other energy efficient appliances unless you Want to go green and environmental friendly.

[Draz]

Or just go the rastafari way

[~primetime~]

I've thought about it, looked into it a little...things are getting more affordable and practical.

Living in Texas, get lots of sun, but we also can get good size hail a few times a year. I'd be worried my expensive panels will get destroyed.

[Jasper]

Resale - some people think panels are ugly.... look at cell phone towers (dah)

Solar panels in my investigation are the best way unless you are in a wind zone like the prairies of ND or SD etc.. then wind turbines are good.
I live in Wisc. so wind isn't a good option , but solar is good.
My region has 33+% overcast days.
Solar powers best avenue is into a battery bank. The battery bank charged by the sun is used with an inverter' to change dc to ac power.
(This is where it gets complicated. You can't over charge the batteries and you can not under charge. Point on is that you can only use a portion of the battery power so that the batteries can recharge and last a long time. )
I am semi off grid, no propane or natural gas. I am dependent on electric , and heat my house with wood. My furnace is 'very very efficient and average costs of heat during my 5+ months is $500-600 a year.
Problem is electric fans run the furnace as well as water heaters.
I plan on installing two solar panel systems - one for the furnace fans as well as one for the barn. Up front cost will be around $1800.
No rebates to cover cost , but I will be on a independent system , so no more going back to my wallet.
Electric companies want hookups to be building code regulated, and that means more money out of your pocket for installation.

[DeuceWallaces]

You have to be careful with your state laws. Many power companies are fighting to make you pay minimums no matter how much power your panels generate. This is analogous to the dumbass outtage minimums that may have to pay when you lose power for a week due to lines being down. It's absolutely ridiculous.

[Rooster]

You have to be careful with your state laws. Many power companies are fighting to make you pay minimums no matter how much power your panels generate. This is analogous to the dumbass outtage minimums that may have to pay when you lose power for a week due to lines being down. It's absolutely ridiculous.

Around here in SoCal with Edison, you pay a minimum of $10 regardless if you have a negative bill. The power companies are fighting to take off the net metering which is like a game changer and they are trying to cap it off. I don't think it's ridiculous , grid tied solar owners like me are like free riders and I am using their services so paying them minimum is fair.