November
2009
How much do solar panels for your house turn back your meter during the day?
I was thinking on buying some solar panels but I wanted some real life first hand knowledge.
It really depends on your usage habits, and the size of the system installed. For instance, if I got a modest-sized solar array, then said, "Woo-hoo, now I can run the A/C all summer and electric heaters all winter!" then I might never turn the meter back.
Now for the data points. In August 2008, we had a net consumption of -214 kWh for our house (that is, the meter was turned back 214 kWh). That’s the summer, of course. In January 2008, the dead of winter, we used a net 331 kWh. Other months are between these two extremes. Over the course of a year, it balances out to about zero kWh used. But again, if we changed the size of the system only slightly, or altered our usage patterns only slightly (say, it was a very cold winter), the answers would be different.
If you want to see our bill in detail, send me an email.
1 whats your daily average use
2 whats the output of proposed panels
3 how r they mounted [efficiency]
4 amount of sun your area gets..
google/yahoo solar energy….epa energy….solar panels…us weather service number of sunny days
u got the web…surf it!!
References :
It really depends on your usage habits, and the size of the system installed. For instance, if I got a modest-sized solar array, then said, "Woo-hoo, now I can run the A/C all summer and electric heaters all winter!" then I might never turn the meter back.
Now for the data points. In August 2008, we had a net consumption of -214 kWh for our house (that is, the meter was turned back 214 kWh). That’s the summer, of course. In January 2008, the dead of winter, we used a net 331 kWh. Other months are between these two extremes. Over the course of a year, it balances out to about zero kWh used. But again, if we changed the size of the system only slightly, or altered our usage patterns only slightly (say, it was a very cold winter), the answers would be different.
If you want to see our bill in detail, send me an email.
References :
Joe, it depends on the other influences upon the solar panels. You will have to ask or find information from technical panel installers in your area for accurate knowledge. Even if you can not turn back the meter you will still save $ by using solar cells.
Spartawo…
References :
It will vary by location, time of year and energy usage. I have a 2000sf 2 story home. I was using about 45 kwh per day. My panels in the summer generate about 90% of my usage and in the winter about 75% of my usage. I have a 3.74kwh d/c system it cost $26K, but I only paid $16K because of my utility rebates. If I had waited I would have received an almost $8K fed tax credit (I only got $2K). It was estimated I would break even in my 6th year, due to massive rate increases that were just approved it will break even no later than my 5th year. I will get free energy for the next 20 years and will be insulated against further rate increases.
References :
You can see how many solar panels you need to power your house, and potentially sell back to the grid at http://www.altestore.com/store/calculators/on_grid_calculator/.
However, most people don’t get systems that big, they get smaller systems that simply reduce their electric bill. You can even start relatively small and and on in the future.
Take a look at some kits here at http://www.altestore.com/store/Kits-and-Package-Deals/Grid-Tied-Systems/Alt-E-Designed-Grid-Tie-Packages/c1087/
Check with your local utility company to see what their net metering policy is. Some companies pay "avoided cost", which is the wholesale price they buy power at. Others pay you what you pay them. Municipals and co-ops aren’t required to let you tie in, some may, others may not.
References :
AltE Store - http://www.altestore.com/store/
It depends on how much sun you get for that day. Your money would be better invested in a geothermal system.
References :
http://geothermalspecialists.net