N4U|Redux wrote:Solar energy is grossly inefficient right now, and is an insanely dirty development process.
Just to warm your water or light your driveway, they have to mine, refine, and use gillions of chemicals.
FL is obviously a great place for solar energy though. Though, like hybrid technology, I'll be refraining from it until the time to recoup your investments dwindles.
OT: They need to have a solar device to charge an electric car
like this one in a feasible amount of time. Then we'd be in business.
As inefficient as it may be, it stll makes perfect sense.
For example, let's say your electric bill is $180/month. I would recommend
a 5KW system with a solar hot water system. The entire cost of both systems would be $50,000. Sounds too expensive right? Well here is the catch. If you were to finance that amount over a 30 year loan at 5% interest rate your monthly payment would be roughly $216 per month which is slightly higher than the $180-$190 it is producing. But, we the cost of fuel rising and the economy nose diving, the cost of electricity will rise at a much higher pace. For example, back in 2000 cost of gas was $1.50/ga. If I would have told you I'll sell you gas at $1.8/ga for the rest of your life, a lot of people would have looked at me as if I was crazy since I was charging a higher rate than the gas stations, but looking back now, all and I mean ALL of you would take that deal.
Add to that the value of controlling your finances. Knowing how much you'll pay for electricity and not have to worry about what's going on in the outer world since it will not affect you as much. Electric rates will raise about $10 this summer due to fuel prices, gas will rise, and panic will continue to harm the economy. This is one of the reasons why people do it.
Add to that the fact that the government helps pay for your system. You'll be paying $216/month for the entire cost of the system, then you will get a $20,500 state rebate check which is non-taxable. You will also get $9,000 tax credit that can carry over for 20 years. It is a credit, not a deduction, so it is as good as money. You can apply this to the system or spend it however you like (magic season tickets)
Also, take into account the environmental benefits of it. It is reducing CO2 production. This type of system can eliminate the ame amount of CO2 as if you took 800 cars off th streets or placed 300 trees.
Last, but not least. This system will increase the value of your home. You will automatically be class one energy star home, and as bad as the market is right now, having a solar system would have made it MUCH MUCH easier to sell your home and at a good price too.
The system is warranted for 25 years, but it's life expectancy is 45-50. This system is the only investment that will pay itself off 5-8 times over its lifetime without you having to move a finger. It is just sitting there producing for you.
Also, unlike a car or a vacation, we are not asking our clients to get invest in something new. Our clients are already paying for electricity, always have and always will. We are giving them an option to use the money they are already spending and invest wisely into something that will benefit them tremendously.
