Our new Solar System

[Rudy Vey]

Here are the first pictures of our Solar system.
It is really fascinating seeing your electric meter run backwards!
It was installed on Monday, Wednesday morning I took the pictures.
The inverter shows how much electricity was created, in total and for the day and in how many hours. It also shows how much lbs. of CO2 gas was saved, i.e. not created by burning fossil fuel. Wednesday morning, we had some 30 lbs saved, today we are well over 240 lbs.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Very nice Rudy!! I have been trying to talk people into going Solar for a while now!

 

[DavyRay]

I like to see meters running backward. Nice installation!

 

[maxman]

That's cool. My buddy runs solar at his camp. It's pretty neat to see all the gizmos that make it work.

 

[J2010]

Very cool! Nice looking house too. I've always liked stone and or brick exteriors.

 

[Luc]

That's pretty cool!

I thought it was about the other solar system...

 

[DE Shaver]

Very impressive solar array. How much did it cost to install?

 

[BladeRunner001]

Hi Rudy,
Great solar panels ...I love it!! Do you also have it on the other side of the roof? Did State subsidize some of the costs of installation?

 

[_JP_]

What is it, about 20 years to recover the cost of installing a solar system?

 

[Rudy Vey]

Very impressive solar array. How much did it cost to install?

The system was free of cost for us - bless NJ for once - in certain areas where PSE+G is the provider!
Here is how it goes:
The cost of the system is about $50k, all included. The cost will split in:

approx 20% paid by NJ Clean Energy directly to the installer (Sun Saver Solar:
http://sunsaversolarsystems.web.officelive.com/default.aspx )

approx 30% paid by a Federal Tax credit

approx 50% with PSE+G SREC loan program (in principle the loan given by PSE+G will be re-paid with SREC's - Solar Renewable Energy Credits

PSE+G is our local provider. They have a loan program, with funding running out by 12/31/2011. We were lucky to get the NJ State funding before it was drastically lowered. The Fed Tax credit will be running until 2016 or 2017, I think.

We were very lucky to get this as several requirements needs to be fulfilled.
The house should face south, and there should be no obstruction of trees or else. The roof of the house should have at least 10-15 years of use left. Also, the roof pitch is important.
Our initial meeting with Dan Hicks of Sun Saver Solar was very positive, as he inspected the roof and did the needed measurement in regards to obstructions that may interfere with the system (trees etc).
Then we applied for the State and PSE+G funding, which went through very fast. We were lucky to get the funding of NJ before it was set out and then lowered.
The system is adding value to your house, but it is tax exempt. The only thing that did not went smooth were the permits from our township, but they are known to be very difficult - btw, since this program is also Federal Gov funded, the townships cannot refuse the installation of solar systems.

 

[gaseousclay]

cool!

 

[mouscacha]

Wow! I've been looking into pv recently as well. Still have to send my electric bill to the salesman. See if I can get enough power. Unlike you, I live next to a bunch of trees.

 

[SRock]

I think solar is fantastic for the environment but it looks like crap. Not trying to rain on your parade at all because I think what you are doing for the environment is priceless but there just doesn't seem to be any way to make a solar set up look decent on a private home.

 

[craig87c]

Looks awesome! I've been pushing for my dad to try and get it at his house in Southern Louisiana, but there's no way Louisiana would pay for all of it like NJ does!

 

[KarthVader]

Very cool!!

 

[ouch]

Does it work when it gets covered in snow?

 

[instpasr]

I'm trying to SWMBO to buy into this, no way Ohio would pay for any of it though.

 

[raisindot]

Y'know, when I saw the thread name I thought this was about something else. Like maybe the new planetary model with Pluto demoted to a Kupper belt asteroid or the big hole in Uranus.



Jeff in Boston