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What is a solar home?
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| The rooftop solar Photo-Voltaic ("PV") electric system consists of a number of
roof-mounted panels, conduit and wiring connecting it to an inverter, two"disconnects", means for cutting
off the inverter from power, and entry into your main electric panel. The system panels produce Direct Current
("DC") electric energy when the sun is shining on the array, and the inverter changes it into normal
Alternating Current ("AC") which feeds into the grid. If you produce enough electric, the meter actually
runs backward and you are given credit for the excess production, which is used where it's needed -- on your block.
This socially useful service helps lower the need for additional power plants to meet the daytime peak electric
demand. For that reason, you are granted partial funding of the system, via a rebate and tax credits, helping make
it economical.. |
| As a solar homeowner, you are volunteering to be a visible part of the energy solution, and putting up a
big chunk of money to do the right thing. So what do you get for your community spirit? Surprisingly, the amortized
cost of a solar system is usually less than the old electric bill, and even more advantageous if you have a plug-in
electric car to avoid buying some gasoline, replaced by electric you make on your roof. |
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Becoming a solar homeowner: economics
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| Solar power involves a large initial investment which is recouped over
months and years of lower or zero electric bills. Panels are guaranteed to perform to 80% of specifications for
the first 25 years, and may last decades after that. Inverters, and all electric work, are warranteed for five
years. |
| Return on Investment ("ROI"): |
| Each $20,000 of system cost returns about $1000 of electric per year before
the rebate, a 5% ROI. |
| But after the rebate, currently about $6,000, your cost is about $14,000,
a 7% ROI. |
| You get a $20,000 value in hardware that goes on your roof and is yours
to keep, increasing your property value, but only pay $14,000, putting the ROI even higher. From the start, you
are ahead of the game; and instead of paying money each month that just goes away to the electric utility, your
money has gone onto your roof, a permanent "addition" to your house that does a lot more than just another
balcony or sidewalk. State law prohibits re-assessment of your home for the solar system value. |
| Even better, you are avoiding after-tax expenditures of $1000, which can
free up as much as $1400 in pre-tax income for other purposes, such as a 401K retirement plan. And if you borrow
the initial cost of the solar system on a home loan, interest payments may be deductable from your gross income,
raising the ROI even more. |
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Solar PV: doing the right thing is also a prudent
investment
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| Solar won't make you rich, but it's a prudent way of investing for
the future, protecting against future energy scams and rate rises, and, with optional battery backup, can help
your home be a bulwark for disaster recovery. |
| Nothing can substitute for the knowledge, watching your meter go backward,
that you are taking action to helping us attain clean energy independence and preparing for the future conversion
to battery plug-in Electric cars from our current dependence on overseas oil imports. |
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Other Resources
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| PlugInAmerica promoting plug-in hybrids and Electric cars |
| Yahoo group promoting plug-in hybrid
and Electric cars |
| EV1 oil-free car crushed by general motors |
| Driving the Future.com |
