Home Solar panels

I'm taking the plunge. I've applied for a home equity loan. I'll be putting in solar and I'll be replacing my driveway.

I'm considering both advancedsolarelectric and Borrego for the solar.

Advanced Solar Electric

Borrego Solar

I'll probably have both come out to give me estimates and perform their spiel. Then end up going with whoever gets it installed before the end of the year so I can get the tax credit.

For the driveway, I'd like to use Hastings: checker block.

green pavers

Comparing systems table

I've already got my microsprinkler system running out that way so extending it and adding some small microsprinkler heads around the edges to water won't be a problem. I'm thinking maybe korean grass. Maybe even mix in a little dicondra in spots. I want something I don't have to mow. It will get driven on twice a day, out in the morning and in in the evening. Even if I have to tire paths the rest will still be relatively green and better than the cracked concrete I have now. I have two very large pots I'll like to place out there with plants in them. They'll also be on the drip system.

I may have someone come out to give me a consultation on the on-demand system given what I've read above. I don't know what my gas line is but it isn't dedicated to the water heater and if I have to lay a new line...forget that. My water heater is in a closet in the kitchen so it doesn't have a blanket and I don't worry about temperature. The flew goes straight up through the attic but I'd like to use the existing one. The house is built way before 1990 (like 1922?) so I deal with what I have. I will not bastardize it too severely so if it doesn't work...too bad.

I have all of the original windows and will be keeping them. I've done some reading and the savings in either replacing the glass or replacing all of the windows doesn't save much. Plus I've read the original windows will last a lot longer than anything I replace them with. New windows will probably last about 20 years. The current windows are already 85 years old and in great shape. It's San Diego so it's not like I'm going through Buffalo NY winters or Phoenix AZ summers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 24 2007, 12:59 PM) [snapback]467291[/snapback]</div>

Yes. It needs to be replaced. It has some large cracks and there are places where the surface has worn off/ chipped off down to the aggregate. It really needed to be replaced when I moved in in 1987. I put it off because I could still drive on it and it's in the alley where no one sees it. As long as I've got the loan for the solar, I'm doing the driveway too. I'll replace it, put out my two really large pots and it will be pretty and my home value will go up. I saw the checker block stuff at the Home Depot by my parents' house so I know I can get it locally. As long as I'm replacing the driveway I'm adding some plants to be greener than another concrete slab. And....I'll be putting in a special doorbell on the garage. It's an old school fire alarm. After that, my parents can parallel park on my driveway and then ring the bell for me to come out and open the gate for them. Neighbors? Well, I have to listen to their really awful ranchero music all hours of the day. I really don't care if they are annoyed by the fire alarm doorbell. Looking forward to it in fact. Not that my parents visit me that often. But if I can get the driveway done so they have a place to park maybe they will. BTW the doorbell will be behind an italian cypress I'll be planting in the big pot so it will not be noticeable and hopefully will not invite constant poking by the local adolescents.

I'll be taking before, during and after pictures so everyone can enjoy.

 

Good on ya, Godiva. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jun 24 2007, 12:55 PM) [snapback]467290[/snapback]</div>

I actually used advancedsolarelectric. They were great, but aren't they kind of far for you? I'd be surprised to see them go 2.5 hours to install in san diego.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jun 25 2007, 07:14 PM) [snapback]467935[/snapback]</div>

I didn't check their location. I have a list of I'll be calling and added them to that list on the recommendation here. If they're too far, I'm sure they'll either say so or their bid will be too high.

 

$2.50 per watt from California Solar Initiative. And I own my REC, I guess in case I can sell excess in the future should I choose to do so. I am not required to sell but can keep all I generate.

"California Solar Initiative incentives, combined with federal tax incentives, can cover up to 50 percent of the total cost of a solar system."

"In addition to rebates available through the California Solar Initiative, you can save by taking up to $2,000 in Federal income tax deductions - up to 20% of net installed cost by installing solar electric power. You can also deduct for purchasing a range of energy-efficient products and systems."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jun 25 2007, 07:14 PM) [snapback]467935[/snapback]</div>

Ah. It's not Advanced Solar Electric. It's Advanced Solar Technologies. They're on the list of accepted installers for the rebate program along with Borrego.

Advanced Solar Technologies

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jun 27 2007, 04:16 PM) [snapback]469046[/snapback]</div>

That makes more sense. Good luck!

 

Just got off the phone with Borrego solar.

He loves my roof. He got an aerial view from msn but I sent him to my website where I have photos of the front and back yard work that show the house. I've got the perfect roof for solar. But I knew that.

At any rate I'm looking at about 18 panels. After rebate cost is $16,000-$21,000.

No waiting and takes about 3 days to install.

As soon as the loan comes through I'm good. I'm hoping it will be up and running by the end of July.

I do have to pay a rental fee for my electrical meter from SDGE. Works about to about $2.50 a month. And they don't buy back any excess power you generate. Yet. But I'm hoping some day in the future they will. If they do, adding panels to my roof is easy and I've got enough space to double the size of my array if I desire.

Future projects include solar water and or on-demand water heater.

I'll show before, during and after pics of the solar and then the driveway when I get that going.

 

Kudos to both of you! So Tadashi, you had (have) and electric water heater? Isn't it amazing how much energy they use? 400 kWh will power our entire house (1300sqft, 3 bdrm, 4 people) most months of the year! Can't wait to see the pics.

 

I went with Borrego Solar.

I'll be signing my papers tomorrow. The system will be in before the end of August but the final inspection may not be done by then because they're several weeks behind.

I'm getting a 2.5 kwh system. Cost up front is: $23,089.36. After rebates and tax credits: $14,689.17

I'm getting 16 Sharp Solar ND-187U1 187 watt modules and one SMA - SB4000US(240v) 4.0 kW inverter. You might wonde why the larger inverter. I have a lot of roof space and wanted the option to add panels in the future without switching out my inverter should my electrical needs increase. Like....if I got an EV car.

The driveway guy is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate. I need 240 square feet (exactly one pallet) of checkerboard concrete blocks. It's called "Driveable Grass" and is available here in So.Cal through soilretention.com. They supply Home Depot among other vendors. I'll lay the drip irrigation myself after the squares are laid. I'll sweep in the dirt and seed myself as well. I'm very excited.

I'll take before, during and after pics of the driveway when it get's going.

I'll have to rely on Borrego Solar to take pictures of the roof.

BTW I am very impressed with Borrego Solar. They even included an environmental page for me. According to their calculations my system will reduct CO2 emissions by 5,160 lbs annually or 154,791 over the life of the system. That is the equivalent of planting 2 acres of trees. I'll also reduce Nitrogen Oxide by 45 lbs over the life of the system and Nitrogen and Sulfur oxides by 49.4 lbs over the life of the system. This is based on the electricity I don't need that is generated by coal, oil and natural gas, etc. Between my Prius and my PV system I will have reduced my carbon footprint considerably.

BTW the French door is repaired and the inside side is painted. Tomorrow I'll flip it to the outside, chisel the hinges and bevel the edge, apply Jasco and Thompson's and then wait to paint. Should be hung by next week, about Thursday or Friday.

Does anyone know if you can have a solar water heater tied to an "on demand" water heater?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 12 2007, 08:47 PM) [snapback]477889[/snapback]</div>

I'm sure that you can. I know space is a big consideration for you though. However, preheating the water fed to the tankless would mean that you'd use way less energy to bring it up to temp or it would simply pass the water through if it was already at temp. On the other hand, it might just make it really hot. Don't know how sophisticated those things are.

Tadashi,

It sounds like the solar water will pay itself off pretty quickly if you've got a $2k credit on it. Assuming you use 400 kWh/mo and you pay $0.08/kWh that's $32/mo. If you took out a loan to pay for the system, you've got a tax deduction, so you're saving even more. I bet your ROI is pretty good on that part of the system. Too bad about the solar, but if you can deduct the interest on a loan that's far better than paying for electricity with post tax dollars.