Has anyone else noticed the solar panels on the fire house? They pretty much cover the roof on the East side of the building.

Quoted from Alva White

Has anyone else noticed the solar panels on the fire house? They pretty much cover the roof on the East side of the building.

Yes - hard to miss them.  Monolith has been putting solar panels up all around the area.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Yes - hard to miss them.  Monolith has been putting solar panels up all around the area.

Yep, taxpayers pay to put then on government buildings but taxpayers have no money left to put them on their own houses in order to save money.  Most people don't have such lavish incomes (lavish pensions courtesy of the taxpayers) to put them on their own homes.   Many can't even afford a new furnace after the dems steal from them.

a friend of ours lives in princetown. they said something about princetown selling power to the residents???
I don't know the details....anybody know?

Quoted from bumblethru

a friend of ours lives in princetown. they said something about princetown selling power to the residents???
I don't know the details....anybody know?

I'm not exactly sure how that works either. I do recall reading of some homeowners with solar arrays selling power back to the power companies, so I suppose the fire houses could do the same. I'm curious as to how long it takes for something like that to pay itself off.

There are two main ways to get solar systems on your roof. One is you buy the system outright and reap the rewards while paying off your investment over time. The ROI (return on investment) is based on how much sun you can capture and electricity you can produce. For example if you house is Southern facing and have no trees blocking you panels for the entire day the ROI is much faster than a house either not ideally lined up or has obstructions. A coworker of mine have a system and the ROI is around 10-15 years, but they have replaced their lighting and appliances for the most energy efficient available therefor reducing their consumption and allowing them to recoup the cost of the system quicker. They sell power to the grid when they are not home or not using all they are producing (grid tied system) as part of their ROI.

The second way is to rent/lease the system from the panel manufacture or installer. They sell the power to the grid and you purchase your power from them at a reduced rate. Again this depends on the amount of energy you do/can produce. This might be the arrangement from Monolith. If you have a business and a large roof clear of obstructions you can get yourself power at a reduced cost and lower your overhead.

Quoted from RPEGCL

There are two main ways to get solar systems on your roof. One is you buy the system outright and reap the rewards while paying off your investment over time. The ROI (return on investment) is based on how much sun you can capture and electricity you can produce. For example if you house is Southern facing and have no trees blocking you panels for the entire day the ROI is much faster than a house either not ideally lined up or has obstructions. A coworker of mine have a system and the ROI is around 10-15 years, but they have replaced their lighting and appliances for the most energy efficient available therefor reducing their consumption and allowing them to recoup the cost of the system quicker. They sell power to the grid when they are not home or not using all they are producing (grid tied system) as part of their ROI.

The second way is to rent/lease the system from the panel manufacture or installer. They sell the power to the grid and you purchase your power from them at a reduced rate. Again this depends on the amount of energy you do/can produce. This might be the arrangement from Monolith. If you have a business and a large roof clear of obstructions you can get yourself power at a reduced cost and lower your overhead.

Wow, thanks for all of that. It does make sense to convert. Especially if you're a younger home owner. Of course I do wonder just exactly how you replace a roof that's under one of those arrays. Do you have to have the company come back to remove the panels so the roofing can be replaced? And how much weight does one of those arrays add to a buildings roof. Does the roof framing need to be beefed up? Just curious really.

My understanding is the Monolith owns the panels.  It pays to put them up and maintain them.  They also own whatever power is generated over and above what the building actually uses.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

My understanding is the Monolith owns the panels.  It pays to put them up and maintain them.  They also own whatever power is generated over and above what the building actually uses.

Now that's interesting. Any idea if that's how it's done for a private home owner?

Quoted from Alva White

Now that's interesting. Any idea if that's how it's done for a private home owner?

Not sure.  I haven't looked into it.

Yes, homeowners can get in on the Monnolith type deals by the solar suppliers.  However, the devil is in the details of the contract with the solar provider.  I am in the building industry and have seen my clients contracts from these suppliers where you can get one removal and instillation of the panels during your 30 year or 20 year lease but if you need more the homeowner pays for it.  The short is make sure your roof is new but also know it will probably void your roof warranty when the solar provider fastens through your new roof shingles.  As far as what you pay for electricity from the panel supplier you need to look at that too as you are getting a prorated savings.  The better contracts base it on the market value for kilowatts over the life of the lease and some lock the savings in based on the date you sign the contract.

Quoted from gaiaworshipper

Yes, homeowners can get in on the Monnolith type deals by the solar suppliers.  However, the devil is in the details of the contract with the solar provider.  I am in the building industry and have seen my clients contracts from these suppliers where you can get one removal and instillation of the panels during your 30 year or 20 year lease but if you need more the homeowner pays for it.  The short is make sure your roof is new but also know it will probably void your roof warranty when the solar provider fastens through your new roof shingles.  As far as what you pay for electricity from the panel supplier you need to look at that too as you are getting a prorated savings.  The better contracts base it on the market value for kilowatts over the life of the lease and some lock the savings in based on the date you sign the contract.

Ah, great information. Since you are in the building industry, do you happen to know how much extra stress if any the solar arrays add to a buildings framing.

Does solar energy sold back to power companies get calculated as income to the homeowner?  I can't see the government not taxing sunlight converted to energy.  

Quoted from Alva White

Ah, great information. Since you are in the building industry, do you happen to know how much extra stress if any the solar arrays add to a buildings framing.

Check out these solar "shingles"
http://www.dowpowerhouse.com/leasing/?gclid=CJLDpJbQ_L8CFYZaMgodbykA0w

check out tax incentives
http://www.astrumsolar.com/sol.....mp;mp_mt=p&pdv=c