Stymied???

I just had Mike from Electricity Wise Solutions on my roof today.

For just over 20 grand after the 30% Federal rebate, I could have 26 solar panels on my roof in about 8 weeks generating about 6.5 kw on the average day.

The pay off is just about 3.5 years.

I'm going for it.

Heck...I might even have central air installed.

Fuck WAPA...let them go bankrupt and the sooner the better.

I don't think you will be running central AC on 6.5 Kw system.

Lol @ Alana and Jamison. Good laugh.

I don't think you will be running central AC on 6.5 Kw system.

Knowing absolutely nothing about solar panels and how many it takes for the power they generate, is that amount of money to have 26 solar panels generating 6.5 KW a good deal and what exactly will 6.5Kw run in terms of household appliances? Why you can't run an A/C?

I have friends that installed panels here in STT and both sets said WAPA was a nightmare to deal with in getting permissions, etc. and it took way longer than the 8 weeks vicanuck mentioned.

If I had a spare $20K, I might consider it even tho I be worried silly during storms about having them damaged and then what?
You have no power just like when WAPA is offline?

I just had Mike from Electricity Wise Solutions on my roof today.

For just over 20 grand after the 30% Federal rebate, I could have 26 solar panels on my roof in about 8 weeks generating about 6.5 kw on the average day.

The pay off is just about 3.5 years.

I'm going for it.

Heck...I might even have central air installed.

Fuck WAPA...let them go bankrupt and the sooner the better.

Does that $20+K get you a grid-tie, off-grid or hybrid grid-tie with battery backup system?

Cheers

Grid tie but we have a big diesel generator already.

A/C systems are so energy efficient now that I doubt there would be a problem.

The point is...reduce WAPA reliance as much as possible as fast as possible.

I don't think you will be running central AC on 6.5 Kw system.

Knowing absolutely nothing about solar panels and how many it takes for the power they generate, is that amount of money to have 26 solar panels generating 6.5 KW a good deal and what exactly will 6.5Kw run in terms of household appliances? Why you can't run an A/C?...

... If am not mistaken, you calculate 80% of the power system's maximum capacity... The 20% cushion is so that you do not run the system at full capacity and it can handle spikes from the refrigerator, a/c compressor, water heater, etc... Then you add up the wattage of all your major appliances and that will give you an idea if you can run everything or what to run and when...

The company that designs and installs will gladly calculate it for you, because they actually HAVE to... 😎

We ran 5K gennies in Iraq. We had seven to ten AC's plus dozens of laptops etc. It took the load just fine. So a 6.5 should do the job. The cost of fuel on the other hand....

Sorry somehow I was thinking generators. That'll teach me to pay attention. 😛

Thanks Rowdy802 for the response.
Can you lease to own?
Any companies doing that here and would it be worthwhile vs monthly cost of WAPA?

The banks in the VI are all offering "Green Energy" loans at outrageous 8%+ interest rates.

It would be much cheaper to get a home equity LOC, if you have any equity.

Rowdy802, I assume the 802 is because you are from Vermont? I'm from St. Albans. Where were you from up here?

The current residential rate is 50.8 cents per kilowatt and commercial is 54.8 cents per kilowatt. The WAPA home page has the current rate info at the bottom of their page.

http://www.viwapa.vi/Home.aspx

Thanks Rowdy802 for the response.

You are welcome...

Rowdy802, I assume the 802 is because you are from Vermont? I'm from St. Albans. Where were you from up here?

LOL... Nope, I am not from or in Vermont... nice place though.. When the Hovensa Refinery shut down, I moved to Texas... But my trade makes me travel quite a bit.. I've been working in Utah for the past 6 months... Winter in Salt Lake City has been a bit mean..

Interestingly, I am writing from the Miami Airport waiting form my flight to go to STX... Yay!!! It will be short trip, but I plan to enjoy it as much as I can..

As for the topic, the VI Government has reacted very slow to the realities of the type of fuel the use... I for one believe that alternative energy, even when it seems expensive, will pay itself quite well and fairly fast... I've met people with a hybrid house where a small section is still connected to the grid, and the section that consumes more has alternative energy.. In case one fails, the have an option...

Here's an article I came across this morning that may be helpful to us re:5 Ways to Take Advantage of the Federal Energy Tax Credit

http://www.care2.com/causes/5-ways-to-take-advantage-of-the-federal-energy-tax-credit.html

Rowdy,

Would you be willing to elaborate on the 'hybrid house' setup that you mentioned? It sounds like an option worth exploring.

Thanks!

Rowdy,

Would you be willing to elaborate on the 'hybrid house' setup that you mentioned? It sounds like an option worth exploring.

Thanks!

Probably what's referred to is the common practice of many homeowners here to initially install roof-mounted solar panels to heat their hot water. It's a relatively inexpensive way to start up the process of getting off the grid.

Rowdy,

Would you be willing to elaborate on the 'hybrid house' setup that you mentioned? It sounds like an option worth exploring.

Thanks!

It is not a new concept but it works for some people... What they do is evaluate the areas with the highest consumption...Then, instead of going with an alternative source for the whole house, they install a slightly smaller system and use alternative (wind and/or solar) power for said sections of the house... The rest of the household, with the lower consumption, remains connected to the local power grid.. In case the alternative source runs into a problem, a transfer case is installed to switch alternative source section back to the grid... Last but not least, a diesel or gas generator is also installed as the final back-up for the complete household in the event of possible power outages...

A couple of home owners I spoke to said they were paying about $30 a month to the power company... Of course, the savings would go to help pay for the upgrade to alternative power...

That's our plan: to get the fridge, computer, tv and a few lights and plugs off the grid with a 3 day reserve capacity. Running water and doing laundry can remain tasks for WAPA power because they are not critical or sensitive. We already have solar hot water.