SOLAR
- Thread starter Taco Loco
- Start date
Oswego
n00b
My only $0.02 - Buy American made panels. Much higher QC controls on the glass. We have had 108,000sqft on our roof at work (Net zero company) for over 5 years with zero failures. They all degrade and lose efficiency over time so keep a keen eye on warranty periods and efficiency loss ratios for 5-10 years down the road.
Oh and whatever you do - don't fall into the "free solar" trap companies offer where they basically finance it for you but you never have ownership.
Banks will give low rate loans for home improvement to buy it yourself and you can write off the interest in most states.
Oh and whatever you do - don't fall into the "free solar" trap companies offer where they basically finance it for you but you never have ownership.
Banks will give low rate loans for home improvement to buy it yourself and you can write off the interest in most states.
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Mauzer
Pitter Patter. Lets Get at Er
Only if you use a home equity loan (not a personal loan) and only if you itemize on schedule A... but you do get a 30% rebate (IRS Form 5695). No state income taxes in the Republic of Texas!
Taco Loco
Tired and Lazy, married to ‘The Laundry Fairy’
Oswego
n00b
Oh yea and if your not looking for "off grid" type power, only using solar to save $$$, and your local utility will pay you for the power - skip batteries all together. Just back feed into the power company when you have excess. Batteries are a total waste of money if your local utility pays you enough for the power and your not worried about total self sufficiency. We saved hundreds of thousands here at work that way. Batteries are very expensive and don't last forever (typically the weakest link in the set up so long as longevity goes).
Taco Loco
Tired and Lazy, married to ‘The Laundry Fairy’
That's my plan, what I read was try to keep it equal
Mauzer
Pitter Patter. Lets Get at Er
You can deduct the interest on the home equity loan as mortgage interest, but this is only advantageous if you itemized on Schedule A. You CANNOT deduct interest on personal loans, and you CANNOT deduct interest on a home equity loan if you don't use the funds to make improvements to your home (energy efficient improvements qualify). You also get a 30% rebate of the total cost (you actually paid in the year of reporting) on Form 5695. This is a nonrefundable credit so it will reduce your liability but will not "give you" a refund, it can only reduce your liability to zero.
EDIT: Just checked and the credit carries over, so if you spend $10k on solar its a $3k credit but if your tax liability is only$2k it will reduce your liability to zero and $1k will carry over to the next year. (Simple numbers)
"This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction."
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Oswego
n00b
Taco Loco
Tired and Lazy, married to ‘The Laundry Fairy’
Thanks!
Mauzer
Pitter Patter. Lets Get at Er
love the disclaimer!
In short - hire Mauzer
When you make your living working with people's money AND the Federal Government...you learn to always CYA
Taco Loco
Tired and Lazy, married to ‘The Laundry Fairy’
Some of the Americana panels are assembled in USA, knowing where they get the glass from is a different story
Oswego
n00b
Difference between "made in US" vs "assembled in US from foreign components". If you're getting quotes from people tell them you want all US made solar panels. If they can't tell you where their products are from - I'd lose their phone number.
Typical price comps from China vs US panels
Where Are Solar Panels Made? | EnergySage
This will blow your mind when talking about putting China glass on your roof.....
USGNN.com - The architectural glass industry's leading news source.
FWIW - the panles we have on our roof are from Sharp. 100% US made, but the money goes back to Japan. Either way Japan has MUCH higher QC than China does. China's crap glass gives my entire industry a bad rep. All the glass that blows up and falls out of buildings is typically linked back to their poor QC.
Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
We looked into solar a few years back. Had 4 companies come out to give me a quote. 4 companies varies in size from 7k to 14k watts... 4 companies varies in price per Kw from $3.50 - almost $7.00. 4 companies varied on which roof side was optimal. So in short I took them all to know "jack shit" and just wanted to sell me something. The one I did "think" was the most correct was also the most $$. Guy knew his shit and his panel placement made the most sense. Then I looked into which power providers had net metering... you know so when my house is empty during the day and I'm getting full sun and putting power back into the grid... I want credit for that. Good luck finding one. One ones around here charged a SHITLOAD (like 4x) for the power you did consume off the grid. I decided I would stick with my current provider, 3300 sq ft house, sits at 72 during the day and 68 at night. Bill this month was about $125. Spending $20k on a solar setup at $125 a month for the hottest months was going to take a long time to get an ROI.
Taco Loco
Tired and Lazy, married to ‘The Laundry Fairy’
11k of that, markup and maybe more is labor...
Only way to make ROI around here is do the work yourself, only hire Master Electrician for meter hook up to pass the power company inspection
Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
Do yours and when its done you can come supervise mine. 
TacoXpo
HOAX DENIER
...and in my business (the second most litigious) we have to cover our asses with steel. Ask Dyob. I think he heard me say it a few times... I'm not a lawyer and I do not have a license in your state so ask your Lawyer.