Anyone have solar panels installed for their house? Is it worth it and what's the avg cost of it? Where do I find installers?

 

We did not do it on this house, however, we will likely do it on our next place. And instead of panels we are looking into the newer technology where the solar panel looks like roof shingles... this way it simply blends with the roof.

From what I've read the average cost is between $20k-$30k. I would suggest doing some searching online. You may also have some luck going into Lowe's or Home Depot and asking around as someone there may know some installers...

 

Something like this... http://www.oksolar.com/roof/ . There are nicer ones out there, but I found that quickly via google.

 

Interesting find, thanks!

From my short research, it seems like that it's relatively easy to find retailers, but not installers....

 

I have been looking into putting solar panels. Here is a good website:
http://www.imagineenergy.net/index.php

It is will give you cost estimates and approximate tax credits.

 

I wouldnt waste my money on them till they got more like 20-40% efficient, And cheaper

 

Thanks, will look into that site... seems like a good resource

 

Not that I doubt what you're saying, but care to explain a little bit more?

I'm still during my initial research on this, but seems like with tax advantages, government and state rebates/loans, it might be a good investment. Also if your area allows net-metering, you'll be 'selling' electricity to the electric company... of course these are the advantages on the surface and probably other things to consider... would be interested to see what your thoughts are

 

I have never seen any information on what it would cost to have those things taken off of a roof and reinstalled in the event that the roof needs to be replaced.

Any info on that?

How many years of service are expected out of the panels?

 

Definitely look into the possible tax benefits and grants from your state.

 

Hope this isn't true about all PV systems.

Seems kinda pointless to not have it power the power-hungry systems in your house.

How much does it cost, minus AC/HW heater, stove...to power a house? Probably not much.

Not much/$20,000 investment = I better be living in that house for a LOOOOONG time.

 

^ Not sure. I haven't done much research, however, last year HGTV had a show which spotlighted the technology I was talking about and they ran the entire house off of solar panels that looked like roof shingles. In fact, they had excess electricity, so they sold electricity back to the electric company.

Also not sure what the exact cost was, but the family that was spotlighted mentioned it would take ~7 years for them to recoup the cost but they were planning on living there indefinitely... so they were happy with that number. If/When the time comes and we decide to do this, I'll put in the appropriate research. But for now it's a lead for the OP to follow should he decide to.

 

Dont remember much of the details but it was just on the science channel the other night. They say half the problem is is solar panels are only able to collect a certain spectrum of light and its not very efficient.

I did find this

Comparison of energy conversion efficiencies

Photovoltaics

Silicon solar cell efficiencies vary from 6% for amorphous silicon-based solar cells to 40,7% with multiple-junction research lab cells. Solar cell energy conversion efficiencies for commercially available mc-Si solar cells are around 14-16%. The highest efficiency cells have not always been the most economical -- for example a 30% efficient multijunction cell based on exotic materials such as gallium arsenide or indium selenide and produced in low volume might well cost one hundred times as much as an 8% efficient amorphous silicon cell in mass production, while only delivering a little under four times the electrical power.

To make practical use of the solar-generated energy, the electricity is most often fed into the electricity grid using inverters (grid-connected PV systems); in stand alone systems, batteries are used to store the energy that is not needed immediately.

A common method used to express economic costs of electricity-generating systems is to calculate a price per delivered kilowatt-hour (kWh). The solar cell efficiency in combination with the available irradiation has a major influence on the costs, but generally speaking the overall system efficiency is important. Using the commercially available solar cells (as of 2006) and system technology leads to system efficiencies between 5 and 19%. As of 2005, photovoltaic electricity generation costs ranged from ~ 50 eurocents/kWh (0.60 US$/kWh) (central Europe) down to ~ 25 eurocents/kWh (0.30 US$/kWh) in regions of high solar irradiation. This electricity is generally fed into the electrical grid on the customer's side of the meter. The cost can be compared to prevailing retail electric pricing (as of 2005), which varied from between 0.04 and 0.50 US$/kWh worldwide. (Note: in addition to solar irradiance profiles, these costs/kwh calculations will vary depending on assumptions for years of useful life of a system. Most c-Si panels are warrantied for 25 years and should see 35+ years of useful life.)