Residential Solar PV

Single-Family Residence - November 2011

Early Melrose Solar Adopter

Quick Facts

Average Annual Savings

$600

Energy Needs Met

25% to 49%

of electricity

Property

Owner:: Jim Donohue
Type:: Single-Family Residence
Address:: 31 Gooch Street, Melrose, MA 02176
Size:: 2,500 sq ft
Energy need met:: 25% to 49% of electricity

Technology

Type:: Solar PV
Installed:: November 2011
Size of System:: 4 kW
Purposes:: To generate electricity

Financial Details

Annual Savings:: $600
Own or Lease:: Prepaid Lease

Professionals & Suppliers

Installers:: Solarcity
Financing:

What You Need to Know

Description:

Although a prepaid lease is not the most financially beneficial way to finance a solar installation, with an upcoming kitchen renovation it was our only option at the time and we didn't want to put it off. In addition, as a two-working-parent family of five, we didn't have the time or wherewithal to work through all of the logistics of ownership. When something goes wrong, SolarCity knows about it before we do and they contact us to let us know when they are sending someone on site for repair.

Maintenance Requirements:

Because SolarCity owns our system we don't have to worry about maintenance which is great for our busy family.

Efficiency or Sustainability Improvements:

Since we bought our vintage 1880 Victorian home in 2002 we converted to natural gas and installed a new high efficiency furnace, replaced our 80 gallon electric hot water tank with a gas-powered on-demand heater that is attached to the wall, installed insulation everywhere we needed it, renovated (rather than replaced) our windows to get them fully functioning, and replaced the old wood shingles with an inch of rigid board insulation under Hardie fiber cement siding. Most of the lighting in our house is LED.

My Motivation:

Once we accomplished major energy efficiency upgrades, installing solar PV was the icing on the cake. It didn't make sense to go solar until we got our consumption down.

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