Solar PV @ Clay St

Residential - April 2013

It appears that I won't be paying for electricity any time soon.

Quick Facts

Average Annual Savings

$852

Energy Needs Met

100%

or more of electricity

Net Investment

$11,148

Return on Investment

7.6%

Property

Owner:: Ken Bader
Type:: Residential
Address:: 127 Clay St, Cambridge, MA 02140
Size:: 1,872 sq ft
Energy need met:: 100% or more of electricity

Technology

Type:: Solar PV
Installed:: April 2013
Size of System:: 4.41 kW
Monitor performance:: https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/login
Purposes:: To generate electricity

Financial Details

Gross Cost of System:: $19,454
Value of Rebates:: $3,528
Value of Tax Credits:: $4,778
Net Cost of System:: $11,148
Annual Savings:: $852
Own or Lease:: Cash Purchase

Professionals & Suppliers

Products:: Canadian Solar Inc.
Installers:

What You Need to Know

Description:

The system is 18 Canadian Solar CS 245 with the Enphase 215.

Maintenance Requirements:

I don't believe any maintenance will be required. I haven't had any problems yet, but it was only installed a month ago. In any event, the products are warrantied for 25 years.

My Motivation:

I was motivated by the desire to reduce (actually, eliminate) my future electricity costs and to benefit the environment.

Advice:

I would take full advantage of local resources during the "investigation" phase of the purchase. I found the Cambridge Energy Alliance and Energy Sage to be hugely helpful in guiding me through the process.

Experience with Installer:

Real Goods Solar did a terrific job on the installation. They were completely professional and accessible throughout the entire process. My contact person in Colorado, while always pleasant and eager to assist, was not always well enough informed to answer my questions, however.

Additional Notes:

I initially had four proposals. Three promised that my system would generate 100% of my electricity needs; Real Goods initially proposed a system that would have provided only 65%. Energy Sage went through the numbers and decided that Real Goods actually had the most efficient system and that I should ask them to improve their proposal to 100%. Real Goods did so, and that's why I went with that company.

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