star_nerdy t1_iza49pj wrote on December 7, 2022 at 4:33 PM

Reply to comment by Digitalburn in F*ck you RI Energy! by ClnclyDprsd420

That’s ideal then. The life expectancy of solar is 30+ years (and even then it just has reduced output, it doesn’t just die).

Solar doesn’t damage the roof and void warranties, at least not usually.

As for your friend, there are lots of people who say, they wouldn’t install it, but everyone is in a different situation.

Maybe they have a tree in front of their house that would block solar efficiency. Maybe they just got a new oil burner and wouldn’t want to scrap it (you don’t have to scrap oil, but then you’re just shooting yourself in the foot). Maybe they have natural gas and want to keep that (same situation as oil).

With solar, you can go 100% electric and your heating and energy costs are the solar panels. For 6 years, you break even. If you sell the place, solar panels increase property value. After 6 years, your heating and cooling cost is $0 a month.

If you’re focused long term, you’re breaking even at worst and then pocketing $200+ a month in 6 years.

I don’t see the argument of not doing solar unless you have trees blocking panels.

Status_Silver_5114 t1_izbz9d1 wrote on December 8, 2022 at 12:01 AM

This! Folks think by not going solar they’ll save money / no you’ll be sending the same amount or more to an energy company. It’s been amazing for us. Going on 6+ years without a bill!

darkrom t1_izcfw4o wrote on December 8, 2022 at 2:05 AM

How many years left to break even on the cost of it all licensing, equipment and installs? Not counting the big one that stops a lot of people as well, tons of tree removal. Which is not exactly "going green" either.

Status_Silver_5114 t1_izcgqiu wrote on December 8, 2022 at 2:12 AM

You’re already paying the money. We paid a dollar less per month for those costs until we paid it off so literally was already saving money from day 1. “Breaking even” isn’t the mentality here. Paying in a certain (ever rising) amount to RIE is baked in unless you go solar. You’ll break even at current rates even sooner than we did if that’s your concern.

darkrom t1_izchn69 wrote on December 8, 2022 at 2:19 AM

You need to have the money up front, or take a loan for it. If your loan is less than your electric bill every month, and it’s paid off in the warranty period then yes that would be a win. Assuming you don’t need to cut down a ton of trees. Can’t get over going green by removing all the greenery.

Status_Silver_5114 t1_izdvsgn wrote on December 8, 2022 at 11:37 AM

We took a loan out for it and it was less than our elec bill. We paid it off in two years. But even without that the knowledge that our power was coming from solar only was a huge weight off our shoulders (and pocket book as rates just continues to rise) so while it wasn’t “free” from day one using those standards still 100% worth it. And systems have gotten cheaper and the solar credit from the feds went up to 30% (was 26 when we bought I think) so it’s even cheaper. And battery storage is likewise cheaper now - not to mention RIE will pay you to use your battery (we’re getting our battery this winter) and that basically pays for itself over the next 3-4 years. Very few people in the city that I know had to actually remove any trees (which may speak more to there being a shortage of trees in PVd than anything!) - have 15 neighbors who have gone solar since we did and no one had to do that. I think folks get intimidated by thinking they need a huge chunk of money and they have to finance ergo don’t make it happen. But it’s just renaming your rising electric bill for a fixed payment (and there’s a lot more financing options now than there were in 2016) and it’s still coming out of your wallet if you don’t make the shift so why not? You won’t actually be saving any money if you don’t do it.