Anyone has a solar energy system in their home? - GoFuckYourself.com

Quotealex · 09-29-2006, 04:47 PM

Does it substentially reduce your energy bill?

baddog · 09-29-2006, 04:52 PM

I had solar water heating in my last home. It did not cut down as much as they said it would, but it helped.

crockett · 09-29-2006, 05:11 PM

Check out this website.. has some good info http://www.solarhouse.com/

If you go full bore with it, you would likely end up selling power back to the electric company.

Quotealex · 09-29-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

If you go full bore with it, you would likely end up selling power back to the electric company.

Yeah but at what cost? If it cost $100k to do so, it may not be worthwile investment wise!

crockett · 09-29-2006, 05:43 PM

On that site they say the average cost is around 20k

Hotrocket · 09-29-2006, 07:14 PM

I dont have 1st hand knowledge, but about 3 months ago a friend of mine in sacramento had an estimate from a solar energy company to install a system for his home (a 5 brm, 3 bath, aprox 2,500 sqft, refrigerated air, no pool but with a jacuzzi spa) that would have only covered/generated about 1/2 to 2/3rds of his energy use and the price was just under 100k..they claimed a lifetime of aprox 25 years and a return on the investment in about 20yrs.
He passed...lol

E$_manager · 09-29-2006, 08:34 PM

Of course. It warms the swimming pool here. It becomes 37 in the evening.

E$_manager · 09-29-2006, 08:44 PM

It is really an expensive thing.

notabook · 09-29-2006, 08:47 PM

Atm, you can supply all of your energy using solar power for about 75k without battery backup. This is for an average sized house with energy efficient appliances. Without the battery backup, this means that during the day you?ll use your own power but at night you are SOL unless you get power from the electric company. What you do then is you sell whatever extra energy you produce during the day to the power company and then at night you essentially ?buy back? the energy you sold them. Basically you can get your bill down to almost zilch doing this, but is 75k really worth the investment?

If you want to be off the net completely (that is, have battery backup so you can use power gathered during the day at night) expect to double the cost, so if your solar powered conversion cost 75k expect to pay around 150k for everything. At this point in time unless you are a tree hugging hippie it really isn?t worth the investment imo ?in your lifetime? but I wonder how solar-powered houses would do on the market?

NaughtyJulie · 09-29-2006, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

Check out this website.. has some good info http://www.solarhouse.com/

If you go full bore with it, you would likely end up selling power back to the electric company.

Any information there about the costs and process of converting an existing home into solar? Seems all the references on the site refer to building a new home? Wondering if I'm not seeing something with my tired eyes tonight.

But what a site, great info!

Fizzgig · 09-29-2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrocket

I dont have 1st hand knowledge, but about 3 months ago a friend of mine in sacramento had an estimate from a solar energy company to install a system for his home (a 5 brm, 3 bath, aprox 2,500 sqft, refrigerated air, no pool but with a jacuzzi spa) that would have only covered/generated about 1/2 to 2/3rds of his energy use and the price was just under 100k..they claimed a lifetime of aprox 25 years and a return on the investment in about 20yrs.
He passed...lol

I think I'll just build my next house over a volcano vent and go with geothermal power.

RF_Erick · 09-29-2006, 09:09 PM

My uncle in canada is off the grid.
His house and gear runs off bio diesel.
He also built his own saw mill
Grows a huge garden. Fruits and vegetables.

Dagwolf · 09-29-2006, 09:10 PM

We've been looking into solar power. It's too expensive, and too cloudy here.

sniperwolf · 09-29-2006, 10:42 PM

ahh... darn.. to think that I am in a tropical country and how come very few of us here are into that idea.. lol sucks

Theo The Theologian · 09-29-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex from Montreal

Yeah but at what cost? If it cost $100k to do so, it may not be worthwile investment wise!

Brother Alex. It would be much cheaper/better to invest in wind power.

Take a look at products like Whisper 100/200/500 etc. The 500 model can power an average home completely, the smaller models can drastically reduce your utility needs. There are things that have to be considered for wind (special needs such as average windspeed in your area etc) Wind is a bit cheaper than solar as well, although some new technologies like thin plastic solar sheets are bringing down the cost substantially for solar.

Take a look at http://www.treehugger.com for some interesting articles on alternative energy.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to sacrifice a goat.

biftek · 09-29-2006, 11:41 PM

wind power is very location specific need to be in a good area to get the best performance out of wind power, remember with wind power you don't need a slight breeze you need gale winds

this is meant to be the new in thing for wind power http://www.turby.nl/ heard a few good reports on it

using alternative power is a lifestyle thing ,you have to adapt to self sufficiency, eg:wood fired stove/oven which does the hot water too. get rid of that dishwasher and other fancy appliances ,

Quotealex · 09-30-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theo The Theologian

Brother Alex. It would be much cheaper/better to invest in wind power.

I heard it makes alot of noises!

09-29-2006, 04:47 PM	#1
Quotealex Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: The Global Digerati Village Posts: 6,265	Anyone has a solar energy system in their home? Does it substentially reduce your energy bill?

09-29-2006, 05:11 PM	#3
crockett in a van by the river Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 76,806	Check out this website.. has some good info http://www.solarhouse.com/ If you go full bore with it, you would likely end up selling power back to the electric company. __________________ In November, you can vote for America's next president or its first dictator.

09-29-2006, 05:43 PM	#5
crockett in a van by the river Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 76,806	On that site they say the average cost is around 20k __________________ In November, you can vote for America's next president or its first dictator.

09-29-2006, 08:34 PM	#7
E$_manager Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: pink adult dreams Posts: 13,557	Of course. It warms the swimming pool here. It becomes 37 in the evening. __________________ Enjoy more sales with EnjoyBucks! Homemade: Asian : Ebony : GFs : Voyeur : Nudist : Public : 3D

09-29-2006, 08:44 PM	#8
E$_manager Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: pink adult dreams Posts: 13,557	It is really an expensive thing. __________________ Enjoy more sales with EnjoyBucks! Homemade: Asian : Ebony : GFs : Voyeur : Nudist : Public : 3D

09-29-2006, 04:52 PM	#2
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	I had solar water heating in my last home. It did not cut down as much as they said it would, but it helped.

09-29-2006, 07:14 PM	#6
Hotrocket Confirmed User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,327	I dont have 1st hand knowledge, but about 3 months ago a friend of mine in sacramento had an estimate from a solar energy company to install a system for his home (a 5 brm, 3 bath, aprox 2,500 sqft, refrigerated air, no pool but with a jacuzzi spa) that would have only covered/generated about 1/2 to 2/3rds of his energy use and the price was just under 100k..they claimed a lifetime of aprox 25 years and a return on the investment in about 20yrs. He passed...lol

09-29-2006, 08:47 PM	#9
notabook Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Not a Library! Posts: 9,748	Atm, you can supply all of your energy using solar power for about 75k without battery backup. This is for an average sized house with energy efficient appliances. Without the battery backup, this means that during the day you?ll use your own power but at night you are SOL unless you get power from the electric company. What you do then is you sell whatever extra energy you produce during the day to the power company and then at night you essentially ?buy back? the energy you sold them. Basically you can get your bill down to almost zilch doing this, but is 75k really worth the investment? If you want to be off the net completely (that is, have battery backup so you can use power gathered during the day at night) expect to double the cost, so if your solar powered conversion cost 75k expect to pay around 150k for everything. At this point in time unless you are a tree hugging hippie it really isn?t worth the investment imo ?in your lifetime? but I wonder how solar-powered houses would do on the market? __________________

09-29-2006, 09:09 PM	#12
RF_Erick Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Baltimore,Md Posts: 946	My uncle in canada is off the grid. His house and gear runs off bio diesel. He also built his own saw mill Grows a huge garden. Fruits and vegetables. __________________ Exclusive Reality Feeds - [email protected] - ICQ: 4144516

09-29-2006, 09:10 PM	#13
Dagwolf President of Canada Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leaving Hell, Entering Limbo Posts: 23,141	We've been looking into solar power. It's too expensive, and too cloudy here. __________________ Sleep well, and dream of large women.

09-29-2006, 10:42 PM	#14
sniperwolf Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 17,743	ahh... darn.. to think that I am in a tropical country and how come very few of us here are into that idea.. lol sucks __________________ ~Accepting design works~

09-29-2006, 11:41 PM	#16
biftek So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,030	wind power is very location specific need to be in a good area to get the best performance out of wind power, remember with wind power you don't need a slight breeze you need gale winds this is meant to be the new in thing for wind power http://www.turby.nl/ heard a few good reports on it using alternative power is a lifestyle thing ,you have to adapt to self sufficiency, eg:wood fired stove/oven which does the hot water too. get rid of that dishwasher and other fancy appliances ,