topic Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice? in Community Chat

Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

bonnielu — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 12:58:46 GMT

Lots of "peddling" in the neighborhood for Solar Energy. Any advice. Might be a good thing. Of course we are in the woods. And we are not sure how many years we will be in this FAMILY home before they carry us out.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

evelyner — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:26:13 GMT

Yes, don't lease, if you are considering buy it.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

Nuttmeg — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:37:12 GMT

Your local utility company may have information about solar power on their site.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

CelticCrafter — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:39:52 GMT

Lots peddling it here too. A few homes have had it done.

For us, the panels would have to be on the front of house because that's where the sun is most of the day and I don't want them on the front.

My husband tells me it expensive to have installed and it would take us a very long time to break even.

What happens if and when you need a new roof?

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

151949 — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:34:42 GMT

We don't have it but many people here in Florida do.Almost everyone who has a pool uses solar to heat it.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

hckynutjohn — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:46:37 GMT

Only solar we have is the lights that line our curved driveway. We take them out during this time of year because of the snow. I will be long gone before solar is good enough and the priced in a range for middle class people here in the cold Midwest. Good luck with this.

hckynut(john)

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

Desertdi — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 15:09:02 GMT

I have a "casita".............too small to be "worth it". Drat........'cause I'm a tree-hugger(!)

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

Drythe — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:16:26 GMT

I have passive solar. My home gains heat this time of year because of the angle of the eves and the sun coming through large windows and shining on a brick floor. I can come home on a COLD sunny day and with no other heat my home will be @ 70 degrees.

The same eves were calculated to be an an angel to block the sun in the hot months.

Also, there are only 2 windows on the north side.

Of course, angling the eves and planning window locations has to be done when the house is built. I'm not sure I would add anything else at this point.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

bonnielu — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:21:04 GMT

Not going to do it. In the woods. Not enough sun. But is was something I wanted to explore since I am totally electric. I guess I am a GADGET QUEEN and I was very curious. Seems my neighbor is really interested. But in both our cases we could not even get Dish Network or Direct TV... too many trees. So that should tell us something.

We are fine with our Comcast.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

momtochloe — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:25:00 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@I have passive solar. My home gains heat this time of year because of the angle of the eves and the sun coming through large windows and shining on a brick floor. I can come home on a COLD sunny day and with no other heat my home will be @ 70 degrees.

The same eves were calculated to be an an angel to block the sun in the hot months.

Also, there are only 2 windows on the north side.

Of course, angling the eves and planning window locations has to be done when the house is built. I'm not sure I would add anything else at this point.

@Drythe I don't know where you live but it sure sounds fabulous as I would love your set up. How clever the folks were that designed your house, congratulations on a great purchase!

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

Drythe — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:34:04 GMT

@momtochloe wrote:
@Drythe wrote:
@I have passive solar. My home gains heat this time of year because of the angle of the eves and the sun coming through large windows and shining on a brick floor. I can come home on a COLD sunny day and with no other heat my home will be @ 70 degrees.

The same eves were calculated to be an an angel to block the sun in the hot months.

Also, there are only 2 windows on the north side.

Of course, angling the eves and planning window locations has to be done when the house is built. I'm not sure I would add anything else at this point.
@Drythe I don't know where you live but it sure sounds fabulous as I would love your set up. How clever the folks were that designed your house, congratulations on a great purchase!

@momtochloe

Thank you! I built the home, but worked with a man who specialized in building solar homes - I can't take much credit! He also had me include things like working transoms over the interior doors to promote both cool and warm air flow, as well as extra thick exterior walls, and a decorative but useful brick wall behind the gas fireplace which holds on the the heat and slowly dissipates it back into the home.

All things that can be done easily when building, require no maintenance afterwards, but are the dickens retro-fit.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

Shorty2U — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:12:02 GMT

My husbands sister and brother in law have solar. They had their home built with it but they also have a back up in case of course. They live in the middle of nowhere.

IF we could afford to get our home changed we would too. Hopefully some day.

Re: Solar Energy... Anyone have it? Anyone have advice?

MickD — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:54:12 GMT

We had solar put in about a year ago. It has cut our bill in half. We are getting a couple more panels soon as we want to pay nothing. We have enver solar and bought the panels. The rep had statistics specifically rated to our area as well as our electric bill info and he was right on in how much we'd save. Our electric bills were as high as 450 for a few months in the winter. The solar panels were under 10,000 so it is worth it for us.