| Author |
Message |
    
Sifo
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 05:31 pm: | 
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I'll also admit that my situation is unique (I live in California which is in a perpetual energy crisis and my house is ideally located for solar panels) and I don't profess that everyone needs to go solar or use a windmill or reduce your carbon footprint. My motives were strictly monetary and it just made fiscal sense to me.
You are fortunate to have a situation where that make economical sense. I am not as fortunate in my situation. I must now formally demand to share in your savings because I am among the unprivileged masses.  |
Aesquire
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 09:37 pm: |
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His situation seems typical in one way.
80-90% energy efficiency in a home is about the logical max. That last 10% costs a lot, and that last 1% is really pricey. Not worth it.
You can build a house that can be heated with body heat and 1 100 watt light bulb. It will cost a LOT more than one that uses a couple of face cords of wood, or 1 tank of Propane. ( talking North Eastern winters )
Same thing is true for alt. energy projects. Around here I keep getting 10k out of pocket, 10 year payback. More out of pocket, faster payback, to a point. |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2011 - 06:52 pm: |
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Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2011 - 07:07 pm: |
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I would consider a solar system with 4-5 year payback and savings of $3,000+ annually thereafter. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2011 - 12:15 pm: |
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An automatic transfer switch shouldn't be that expensive; you could forgo the batteries and just have daytime power during a brown-out or rolling blackout situation. At the least, surely you could install an manual switch; you just have to manually actuate it when the power goes off.
Am I missing something? |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2011 - 02:15 pm: |
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A standard transfer switch connects the generator (in his case the solar panels) to the house and disconnects the house from the grid in the event grid power is lost. The generator is NEVER connected to the grid. His panels have to be connected to the grid in order to backfeed power. I believe you would need a special transfer switch specific to a solar array, or other backfeed type power generation system. I have no idea what those cost. My standard transfer switch (100 Amp) was $350.00 |
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