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Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
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littlebeanz
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 1667 total posts
Name:
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Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
Anyone consider solar panels for their home...my brother sells them and we are considering them. After all the LIPA rebates they cost about 8k and you soposedly save 2 k a year so it pays for itself in no time...anyone have them, can you share how much money you save etc...can you really sell back some of the electric and make money?
Message edited 1/31/2011 2:40:10 PM.
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Posted 1/31/11 2:35 PM  |
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hdrd0411
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 1923 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
one of my friends just did this on their vacation home and they basically don't pay for any electricity and are able to bank some. We have been wanting to do it, but I am hoping to move in the next few years so not worth it. BUt we will do it on your next home.
We are very green family...
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| Posted 1/31/11 3:00 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
we are probably going to add solar panels on to our barn roof upstate when we have it done over (which will hopefully be this year)
I cannot wait. it will make me so happy. we try to be as "green" as we can be.
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| Posted 1/31/11 3:02 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
My DH would LOVE to do this, but the initial investment is a bit high for us right now.
But it's such a great idea!
We heat our home with an alternative heat source (pellet stove) and not only does it save us a TON of cash, it reduces our use of oil. (Pellets are made of recycled saw dust from construction sites, etc)
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| Posted 1/31/11 3:15 PM |
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littlebeanz
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 1667 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
I know I really want to do it, we are in the process of an extention so we are spending a ton on that right now...but for another 8 K it might be worth it....
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| Posted 1/31/11 3:30 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
We have a very large system on our house. 8100 watts. I've been on the Solar Tour, and I most likely will be again this year. Right now, we generate about 2/3 of our power. We've had a couple of negative months, where we sold back to LIPA. Since we only generate 2/3 of our power, by the end of the year, we obviously don't get any money back, but I'm hoping that once both DC are in school full-time, we'll be using less electric, and get closer to being a net-zero house.
In our area of the country, the ROI for solar is between 10-15 years, depending on the size of the system, and what sort of rebates you were able to get (the rebates now are less than they were 2 years ago when I got mine). I'm estimating my ROI to be about 12-13 years.
With an $8k system, you definitely won't be saving $2k a year, but you'll be saving a decent amount.
With my system, I generate around 6,700 kwh a year, and at an average of about 20 cents per kwh, I generate about $1,300 a year.
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help. I've done a ton of research, and I know almost every detail about my system.
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| Posted 1/31/11 3:48 PM |
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littlebeanz
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 1667 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
Posted by GoldenRod
IMAGE
We have a very large system on our house. 8100 watts. I've been on the Solar Tour, and I most likely will be again this year. Right now, we generate about 2/3 of our power. We've had a couple of negative months, where we sold back to LIPA. Since we only generate 2/3 of our power, by the end of the year, we obviously don't get any money back, but I'm hoping that once both DC are in school full-time, we'll be using less electric, and get closer to being a net-zero house.
In our area of the country, the ROI for solar is between 10-15 years, depending on the size of the system, and what sort of rebates you were able to get (the rebates now are less than they were 2 years ago when I got mine). I'm estimating my ROI to be about 12-13 years.
With an $8k system, you definitely won't be saving $2k a year, but you'll be saving a decent amount.
With my system, I generate around 6,700 kwh a year, and at an average of about 20 cents per kwh, I generate about $1,300 a year.
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help. I've done a ton of research, and I know almost every detail about my system.
oh thanks, i didnt mean an 8 k system but thats what it comes to after the rebates...this company gives you the money for the rebates up front then your rebate check goes to them....thanks for all that info....do you have a large house?
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| Posted 1/31/11 3:51 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
Posted by littlebeanz
Posted by GoldenRod
IMAGE
We have a very large system on our house. 8100 watts. I've been on the Solar Tour, and I most likely will be again this year. Right now, we generate about 2/3 of our power. We've had a couple of negative months, where we sold back to LIPA. Since we only generate 2/3 of our power, by the end of the year, we obviously don't get any money back, but I'm hoping that once both DC are in school full-time, we'll be using less electric, and get closer to being a net-zero house.
In our area of the country, the ROI for solar is between 10-15 years, depending on the size of the system, and what sort of rebates you were able to get (the rebates now are less than they were 2 years ago when I got mine). I'm estimating my ROI to be about 12-13 years.
With an $8k system, you definitely won't be saving $2k a year, but you'll be saving a decent amount.
With my system, I generate around 6,700 kwh a year, and at an average of about 20 cents per kwh, I generate about $1,300 a year.
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help. I've done a ton of research, and I know almost every detail about my system.
oh thanks, i didnt mean an 8 k system but thats what it comes to after the rebates...this company gives you the money for the rebates up front then your rebate check goes to them....thanks for all that info....do you have a large house?
I figured you meant $8k after LIPA, State and Fed rebates. That's a much smaller system than mine, so of course how much you generate will be less.
Here's my thread from almost 2 years ago with the panels on the roof:
http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?&P=1&ID=411882&Highlight=solar#P4977422
If you do a search in here for "solar", under Homes section, with the username "goldendrod", you'll see tons of posts I've made talking about how much power I've made, how much I've saved, etc.
(Or you can just click this link, which is the search I just described above:
Solar panel posts by Goldenrod )
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| Posted 1/31/11 4:13 PM |
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littlebeanz
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 1667 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
Thank you so much..im trying to get greaner...LOL
any other tips...do you use all natural cleaners etc???
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| Posted 1/31/11 4:42 PM |
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hdrd0411
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 1923 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
I don't use natural cleaners but we have a green cone so we compost our food scraps, have a leaf and grass clipping composter also. Collect rain water to water our garden, use g diapers sometimes, have a dual flush toilet (recently added adapter) so that you use less water for pee than poop. Have some sort of cover for our central air that cools the coils so you use less energy, my husband bikes to work on occasions, and has a hybrid, we bring our own bags food shopping, we also have a solar oven we use in summer.
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| Posted 1/31/11 11:06 PM |
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littlebeanz
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 1667 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
Posted by hdrd0411
I don't use natural cleaners but we have a green cone so we compost our food scraps, have a leaf and grass clipping composter also. Collect rain water to water our garden, use g diapers sometimes, have a dual flush toilet (recently added adapter) so that you use less water for pee than poop. Have some sort of cover for our central air that cools the coils so you use less energy, my husband bikes to work on occasions, and has a hybrid, we bring our own bags food shopping, we also have a solar oven we use in summer.
wow! 
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| Posted 2/1/11 5:24 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Any really "Green" mamas out there? SOLAR PANEL?
I've done a lot of big "green" projects during our reno. All the paint in the house is 100% zero VOC paint (not the "claimed" no VOC paint from BM). Soy-based wood stain and clear coat on all of the wood trim. Our carpets are corn-based, the hardwood floors are bamboo from a sustainable farm. Dual flush toilet. Electric lawn mower, leaf blower and weed trimmer.
CFLs and LED lights throughout the house. Exterior sconces on timer that adjusts itself based on the shift in sunrise/sunset.
I'm also trying to do a lot of easier/cheaper green tasks. Vinegar is awesome. Great for cleaning surface in the house, and also great for killing weeds outside (plus, you can get your DC to do the spraying, since it's basically salad dressing...   )
I'm hoping to get a rain barrel or two for watering stuff. Haven't rushed into it, since right now, I don't fertilize or water anything on the property. Partly to save resources, but also to save my time and money. More fertilizer means more cutting and maintenance... 
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| Posted 2/2/11 9:42 AM |
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