Selfsufficientish.com

A couple weeks ago, my wife and I had a significant photovoltaic system installed on our home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I shot it on video and uploaded the video to YouTube... you can see it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHCrdtIvD3I

We don't have it officially running just yet, as the local utility company requires a new meter before we can permanently fire it up. If all works out, that will happen in a week or two. And we know that the roof is still partly shaded -- we have a tree service coming in to remove the offending trees later this week. I hope!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video!

Bob Kovacs
www.bobkovacs.com

Hi Bob and welcome to Ish.

Great video - very enlightening. Must have cost a fortune! Will it provide most/all your electricity needs?

Dear bkovaks,

Wow! Lovely to see such an efficient team working. Keep us informed as to how well it goes please.

Love and Peace
Jim

Green Aura wrote:Hi Bob and welcome to Ish.

Great video - very enlightening. Must have cost a fortune! Will it provide most/all your electricity needs?

Thanks for the nice comments!

At 4.2 kW (peak), the system will generate more power on a sunny summer day than we use. However, the house is completely electric, including water heater, water pump (there's a well), air conditioning and the usual assortment of appliances. We're pretty frugal and don't squander power, so we expect that the system will allow us to run the A/C without spinning the meter in favor of the electric company. Once the water heater trips on, all bets are off.

The system cost around US$32,000, but the federal and state governments pick up about half of that. Our out-of-pocket expenses will be about US$16,000. Between the electricity savings and a modest "renewable energy credit" we get paid by the power company, I'm expecting payback to be in 6-7 years. Not fantastic but worth the investment. Also, The system probably adds at least $10,000 to the value of the home, so we should get most of our money back if we ever sell the house.

Question for the forum: Would you be willing to pay more for a house that has a well-engineered and properly integrated photovoltaic system? Do you think that Average Joe Homeowner is willing to pay more for such a system?

Bob Kovacs
www.bobkovacs.com

Mmm, difficult one that. My immediate thought was yes but there are so many other factors in house buying that I'm not really sure.

We're all electric here too. But I'm guessing we get less sun than you do. We're currently waiting on a (hopefully) nice man who's going to come and do an energy audit, tell us how we can save power (my family are not so frugal) and what best we can install in the way of renewables (and what grants we might be eligible for). I don't think we'll get half

As for payback, I don't worry too much about that - you wouldn't expect payback on any other purchase you make to improve your home/environment - I reckon the nuclear industry has spread this to scare us all off getting renewables

Dear bkovacs,

In the days when dinosaurs ruled the earth (1970s/early 80s) double glazing began to become a standard fitting on new build. Many older properties began to fit double glazed units and were told that they would never see a return on their money. Now, however, if double glazing isn't fitted it is used to negotiate a house price down when selling. By analogy I see the same thing happening with solar power as more properties become fitted and energy prices rise.

Love and Peace
Jim

jim wrote:Dear bkovacs,

In the days when dinosaurs ruled the earth (1970s/early 80s) double glazing began to become a standard fitting on new build. Many older properties began to fit double glazed units and were told that they would never see a return on their money. Now, however, if double glazing isn't fitted it is used to negotiate a house price down when selling. By analogy I see the same thing happening with solar power as more properties become fitted and energy prices rise.

Love and Peace
Jim

Good point Jim!
bkovacs....makes our little home made system look very silly! But I guess needs are what determines the size of a system...in Portugal it is VERY hard to get anything tied to the grid without so much paperwork we would drown! So it is just big enough for our minimal needs when we are out there! Great video, maybe you could flog it to them for a publicity tool!
Look forward to hearing how it all works out.

ruth56 wrote:

jim wrote:Dear bkovacs,

In the days when dinosaurs ruled the earth (1970s/early 80s) double glazing began to become a standard fitting on new build. Many older properties began to fit double glazed units and were told that they would never see a return on their money. Now, however, if double glazing isn't fitted it is used to negotiate a house price down when selling. By analogy I see the same thing happening with solar power as more properties become fitted and energy prices rise.

Love and Peace
Jim

Good point Jim!
bkovacs....makes our little home made system look very silly! But I guess needs are what determines the size of a system...in Portugal it is VERY hard to get anything tied to the grid without so much paperwork we would drown! So it is just big enough for our minimal needs when we are out there! Great video, maybe you could flog it to them for a publicity tool!
Look forward to hearing how it all works out.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to learning how it works out, too. At the moment, I'm getting a little impatient for the new electric meter to be installed, although I was told it would probably be next week. We are having a string of hot, sunny days and I hate to not be generating power at the peak time of year.

All the guys on the installation crew were eager to see the video, so I sent a link to the company. They are delighted with it and did say that they would use if for marketing.

Bob Kovacs
www.bobkovacs.com

Just wanted to let the forum know that the new digital electric meter was installed a couple days ago, so we are now generating power. YAY! So far, the highest power output I've seen from the system is 2,837 Watts, but the day was slightly hazy.

Bob Kovacs
www.bobkovacs.com