Solar Panel Opinions Please

[TBH]

Re: Solar Panel Opinions Please

What a great discussion.

This point jumped out at me from the original post:

I am told there is no maintenance required and my electric bill for next 25 years (expected lifespan) would be $5 (line service charge by utility).

You have no guarrantee that the utility companies won't raise their line service charge, especially as energy gets more expensive and more and more people switch to alternative sources. Just a thought. I also feel pretty suspicious of the "no maintenance required" promise. Show me the equipment that doesn't need ANY maintenance.

That said, I think it's a great plan. I'm envious that you're going to be able to add panels while the credits and rebates are still around. I don't plan to be in my house more than a couple of years, so it's not worth it for me, and the neighborhood isn't one that can support high-tech home improvements like solar panels. I doubt I'd get any of it back in resale value.

Since solar isn't an option for me, I pay an extra charge every month to replace all my electrical usage with wind energy. I buy my electricity from the regular city power company, and then they turn around and buy however many kilowatts I used from the wind energy company.

I've done some energy efficiency stuff in my home, but could do more. I haven't replaced my light bulbs because fluorescent lights give me migraines sometimes and I don't know if those energy-efficient bulbs will do that too. Anybody know if they're the same as regular fluorescents like we all have in our offices?

[msnln]

Re: Solar Panel Opinions Please

Good point Claire,

I suppose utility can charge whatever they want for service, and they have. As they could not increase electric rates without state approval, they have been charging fuel surcharge, which has caused electric bill to go up some 40%+ over the past few years.

As for maintenance on the system, I have been reading up on the solar panels and it is correct that panels will continue operating at least 25 years and after that, efficiency will reduce to 80% but still will continue to operate. The weak link seems to be the inverter, which is gadget that converts direct current produced by the sun into alternating current, which we use at home. Average life for an inverter is about 10 years and I will need to find out the replacement cost for an inverter, if it should fail. I am hoping economies of scale will bring prices down 10 years from now, if we decide to go with this.

As for compact florescent bulbs, prices have come down so much that it would make sense for you to try out one room in your house with these bulbs. And if you dont have problem in the room, you can replace the whole house. I got my bulbs online at http://www.energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php while they were having a sale and got great prices. I got reflectors for recessed lighting and globes for bathroom at $$2-2.50 a piece. Of some 30 bulbs replaced, I had 3 or 4 go out (over past 5 years) that I had to replace and I had purchased extras to make sure I had "uniform look" with all fixtures having same bulbs.

[TBH]

Re: Solar Panel Opinions Please

Thanks, msnln, for the bulb resource. That's a great idea to do one room and see how I like it.

I have to say again how useful this discussion is. Sometimes I feel like I have a split personality: in my offline life, I'm on the left politically, vocal about environmental conservation, and practice my own version of progressive politics. In my online life, I'm a personal finance geek. It's always fun when the two sides intersect.

[msnln]

Re: Solar Panel Opinions Please

You are welcome. I lean more to the right, but when it comes to natural resources, we only have limited amounts and I really do not want by-products from burning them to leave negative legacy to my kids.

I think conservation of environment and personal financial responsibility go hand in hand and I don't know why these should be viewed as opposing forces, especially now. Large businesses need cheap source of energy and they lobby government for favorable energy policies at the cost of environment. Obviously the government must weigh $ vs. environmental costs in deciding on policy and usually $ wins.

However, with such high prices for energy these days (oil, gas, which leads to higher elecricity), conservation of these resources could be achieved without having to add to cost. Prices for alternatives that substantially reduce reliance of these resources have come down so much that it makes financial sense to switch and in the long run, you end up saving more and get the dividend of helping the environment.

[TBH]

Re: Solar Panel Opinions Please

I lean more to the right, but when it comes to natural resources, we only have limited amounts and I really do not want by-products from burning them to leave negative legacy to my kids.

One of those interesting bi-partisan intersections of priorities. Hopefully that will mean we'll get clean energy faster than, say, an estate tax system everybody can agree on.

[msnln]

Re: Solar Panel Opinions Please

Costs will force people to look closer at alternatives energiy and conservation. Frankly, I am surprised at how quickly people's attitudes have changed regarding SUVs over the past year. I personally think big businesses will ask government to provide additional subsidies to invest in energy conservation systems or alternative fuels and force the government to take action if oil prices stay where they are today. Otherwise, US economy will suffer a lot.