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I actually talked about this in a previous comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25283461 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25283461
by sxates 5y ago
I actually talked about this in a previous comment:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25283461 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25283461
- enraged_camel 5y ago>> Of that $15k, $4.3k was for the panels themselves, $2k for the inverter, $1k for mounting hardware, and $8k for installation. What about on-site battery? In any case, $15k is still a bit too steep for me, not because I can't afford it but because I want something that'll pay for itself in less than 5 years. My electricity bill is about $150/mo. so a solar roof doesn't make sense financially, even if I'm able to sell the excess to the grid.
- sxates 5y agoWhy is the 5 year payback critical, as opposed to 7 or 8? You're still coming out ahead.
- CydeWeys 5y agoTime value of money, opportunity cost, etc. An investment that merely pays for itself in a large number of years is a bad investment. An RoI of 5 years is a decent rule of thumb to use.
- echlebek 5y agoIf you view it as an improvement to your home, which increases your home's value, then it can make more financial sense than if you only look at the pure electricity savings.
- PragmaticPulp 5y ago> What about on-site battery? Typical systems don’t have a battery, nor do they need one. The grid is used as the battery. An off-grid solar installation is significantly more expensive.
- enraged_camel 5y agoWell, I live in Texas, and as we recently saw, our grid isn't very reliable. So it would be great to have the ability to not rely on the grid.
- Dma54rhs 5y agoHeat water with it during the day, if you live in colder climate you can use it for heating as well, but that would mean of course having proper radiator system installed.