tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920254569331852957.post7744451459464965275..comments2009-02-25T12:13:45.032-08:00Deep Patelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334197609414361559noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920254569331852957.post-32401979043669901282009-02-25T12:13:00.000-08:002009-02-25T12:13:00.000-08:00I found this nice calculator on Sharp's website:<BR/>http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/solar_financial_benefits/1,,1-1,00.html<BR/><BR/>This calculator takes into account your particular rate plan (someone had to compile a big database to do that!). Well done, Sharp!<BR/><BR/>Even though I live in Phoenix (very abundant sunshine), using an assumption of $6,000/kwh (lower than this blog and probably lower than I can get for an all-in price), the payback is 20+ years, likely about the life of the system. Those doing the econ should keep in mind if they are staying with the grid, they need to separate out items on their bill that do not change regardless of how much electricity they consume (these are roughly half my bill, including a enviro fee, a meter reading fee, and about 10 other fees). Those fees are going to stick to your bill like hungry ticks and no solar system is going to reduce them, at least not where I live.Katihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12186413169372261063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920254569331852957.post-89993821593585732632008-07-24T09:48:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:48:00.000-07:00mattress,<BR/><BR/>yes our calculations are correct. <BR/><BR/>thanks for replying to the calculation post. I want to commend you taking time to do your own calculation. I have a some feedback and questions. lets dive right into it. <BR/><BR/>The square meters depends on a couple factors including solar panels efficiency rating, for example if you used a 12% efficency in your calculation, you might want to try a high efficency solar panel such as the Sanyo solar panels which are 22% efficient, you can cut the surface area required in half. <BR/><BR/>As for the 60k total cost you have came up with:<BR/><BR/>1. Did you subtract federal / state incentives (if any) from the final cost?<BR/><BR/>2. how many kWh (kilowatt hours) are you using per day?<BR/><BR/>3. how are you being charged by the utility company per kWh? are you on a time of use rate, where you pay a higher rate during peak hours?<BR/><BR/>4. what is your current cost per kWh going through your utility company.<BR/><BR/>If you are on a time of use rate, its better just to design a solar power system that just eliminates your peak hour usage, which you will see a significant drop in your electric bill. <BR/><BR/>You can also use a staged approach, putting up 1kw of solar up at a time until you cover your entire electric bill. Solar power is scalable meaning you can add on more solar panels to your system as your budget increases and prices come down in the future. You don't have to eliminate your bill all at once...a little at a time can get you to your ultimate goal of complete elimination of your bill.Deep Patelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334197609414361559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920254569331852957.post-81637274796818376432008-07-24T07:18:00.000-07:002008-07-24T07:18:00.000-07:00apparently a solar power system covering my electricity usage would cost me nearly $60 grand. and I'm not even sure I have the roof space for 51 square meters worth of panels, this seems rather crazy expensive to me, more than other estimates I've run, are you sure your calculations are correct?mattresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048201308586098436noreply@blogger.com