Solarizing your home

JDtech · 07-17-2010, 10:20 AM

Has anyone looked into the cost lately of converting to solar energy for the home? I have heard that the ROI time is still around 20 years.

jcjacob · 07-17-2010, 11:02 AM

Yes, I did.

Early this spring, I had several companies come to evaluate my home, as I was hoping to install a photovoltaic system large enough to become electrically self-sufficient.

The estimates for the system were approx. $90,000. With state and Federal and tax incentives, it would have been a net cost to me of approximately $18,000. At that cost, it would have taken me 6-8 years to re-coup the cost of the investment.

In the end, sadly, I could not install a system. My house is near the back of my property and borders woods which are part of a nature conservancy, and during the winter months, most of the roof is partially shaded which would prevent the solar panels from working.

I do have 1+ acres open between the house and the road, but I didn't want to lose the land by covering it with large ground-based panels.

Jon Foster · 07-18-2010, 02:45 PM

I did a large scale solar evaluation for the school system a couple years ago. For a small investment of about 1.3 million dollars we could lower our use of power from the utility company by about 20%. The ROI was between 25 and 30 years. With those kinds of numbers it will never happen.

For our home it still wouldn't be a wise investment either. At least not yet here in southern Michigan with a preexisting home build on junk technology and construction techniques. The prices and the technology keep advancing though so I'd wager in a few more years things will be much better.

On the other hand, if we were to find the funding to build a new home, I would design it around solar, wind, geothermal and maybe even hydro power if the area offered some water source to use.

Jon.

harryset · 10-28-2010, 06:21 PM

The ROI is around 20 years, coincidentally their life expectancy. I keep waiting for some of these technologies to take off and become more viable for the common man.

07-17-2010, 10:20 AM	#1
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 308 Blog Entries: 1	Solarizing your home Has anyone looked into the cost lately of converting to solar energy for the home? I have heard that the ROI time is still around 20 years. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more. __________________ Follow me on Twitter \| My Tech Blog

07-17-2010, 11:02 AM	#2
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	Yes, I did. Early this spring, I had several companies come to evaluate my home, as I was hoping to install a photovoltaic system large enough to become electrically self-sufficient. The estimates for the system were approx. $90,000. With state and Federal and tax incentives, it would have been a net cost to me of approximately $18,000. At that cost, it would have taken me 6-8 years to re-coup the cost of the investment. In the end, sadly, I could not install a system. My house is near the back of my property and borders woods which are part of a nature conservancy, and during the winter months, most of the roof is partially shaded which would prevent the solar panels from working. I do have 1+ acres open between the house and the road, but I didn't want to lose the land by covering it with large ground-based panels. __________________ -John

07-18-2010, 02:45 PM	#3
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	I did a large scale solar evaluation for the school system a couple years ago. For a small investment of about 1.3 million dollars we could lower our use of power from the utility company by about 20%. The ROI was between 25 and 30 years. With those kinds of numbers it will never happen. For our home it still wouldn't be a wise investment either. At least not yet here in southern Michigan with a preexisting home build on junk technology and construction techniques. The prices and the technology keep advancing though so I'd wager in a few more years things will be much better. On the other hand, if we were to find the funding to build a new home, I would design it around solar, wind, geothermal and maybe even hydro power if the area offered some water source to use. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

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10-28-2010, 06:21 PM	#4
harryset Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bemidji, Minnesota Posts: 45	The ROI is around 20 years, coincidentally their life expectancy. I keep waiting for some of these technologies to take off and become more viable for the common man.