thank you sir! yes, they are already on all solar power but what's interesting is that they are getting ready to move to a new property and build a house, ponds, gardens, all the stuff to live offgrid so it will be an ongoing project that we get to witness.
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Has she said anything about how she's going to connect to the internet off the grid? It seems like we've currently got means to do virtually everything else, other than surf the web without an Internet Provider. If she can do that, I'm in. :) It would be a tough sell to my wife to go do even some of the rest, although if we can save some money at some point, she might be willing. Problem is always the cost up front verses the actual cost savings of either electricity or gas, etc.
well they are already living totally off-grid and everything, including wter for showers is solar powered, they have batteries and propane for cooking if they have to have it so it's pretty amazing. I forgot how she is connected online but it's solar powered somehow!
no way for me, I like long hot showers!
I'm sure there's a way for you to have your long hot showers, just not sure how long everyone else might have to wait to get theirs. :)
It's a pretty enticing thing, I know. I'd probably be there if my wife didn't think the idea was crazy. She'd like not paying for things, though, but not the cost of the set up.
yes I've heard that solar was crazy expensive. but once you have it that's it, one time cost.
Well, it really depends on the quality of the material the solar panels are made of, and how efficient they are at taking the sun and generating power. If they last five to ten years, you'll be replacing them. I'm not sure how long they last, but I've heard that they don't last as nearly as long as a roof might. That means you're probably losing out on power over time. And of course, you've got to live in an area where you have plenty of sunshine year round.
Then, you have to have something to convert the energy from the solar panel to I think DC, or whatever gets stored in the big car or boat batteries, and then run things off the batteries. Unfortunately, it's not a simple process of sunlight to outlet.
So, over the course of a 40 year period, you could be changing out panels on your roof three to four times. Electricity is still inexpensive enough in our area anyway, that it would take quite a while to pay off through usage what you lay out in set up. I can't remember what it was exactly, but it was something like fifty or so years. Plus, you have to have a whole bunch of solar panels and batteries if you want to offset all of your energy usage, or you 'll need to cut way back on it. Most smaller operations are only supplementing their electricity usage, and here, that primarily only happens during the summer months.
solar sucks. lol. that's my version of what you just said! yeah I knew thee were batteries and stuff to fool with but I thought the panels were supposed to last longer than that, but then I haven't researched it at all either.
After reading what you said, why would anyone want solar?
it sounds terrible! but hopefully the technology is improving rapidly.
Well, I probably should have looked this up. I went off of what I learned from some time ago, which means it could have been years ago.
So, let me update us both.
Okay, so according to this one article, solar panels are now under warranty from 20-25 years, with the potential of them lasting longer, perhaps from 30-40 years. You want to be replacing them when they start operating below 80% efficiency. They apparently usually lose about 0.4% to 0.5% a year.
That's better.
Now, according to some estimates, and this could be mixing apples and oranges, these solar kits can cost up to $25,000 (which I don't know if that includes installation or not).
Based on a 25 year life span and $25,000 for all of itβpanels, converters, batteries, what have you), you're talking about $1,000 a year. If you're creating enough energy with that amount of equipment (that I don't know), then if your monthly average electricity costs are around or near $84, then essentially you're breaking even. Your hope then would be that the solar panels and other equipment last longer, so that you end up with a cost savings.
The problems to work through are still what kind of efficiency of solar panel are you getting for that price, what all, including installation, is included, and then, how much sun do you get throughout the year so you're generating enough electricity.
Plus, what happens to the solar panels when they do get replaced. They don't look all that biodegradable to me, and according to things I just read, they're not really recyclable yet, but they're promising that the technology to do it is coming.
So, basically, you're throwing solar panels away. Or your redneck friends are using them to charge their cell phones and ham radios. :)
Fine and good, but in 25 years or so, if everything even lasts that long, what's technology going to look like?
Are you going to want to buy something else because they're more cost effective and efficient?
So, I was wrong about the potential life of the solar panels, but I'm still not going to run out and buy them. Not here.