$3,450
$22,500
32%
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Our solar panels have been a critical component of getting our home to a zero carbon footprint.
$3,450
$22,500
32%
Property
- Owner:
- David G.
- Type:
- Single-Family Residence
- Address:
- Dover, MA 02030
- Size:
- 5,400 sq ft
- Designations:
- Zero net energy
Technology
- Type:
- Solar PV
- Installed:
- December 2016
- Size of System:
- 15 kW
- Monitor performance:
- https://www.greenzerocarbonhome.com
- Purposes:
- To generate electricity
Financial Details
- Gross Cost of System:
- $75,000
- Value of Rebates:
- $29,000
- Value of Tax Credits:
- $23,500
- Net Cost of System:
- $22,500
- Annual Savings:
- $3,450
- Annual Revenue:
- $3,750
- Own or Lease:
- Cash Purchase
- Additional Financial Notes:
- IRR (internal rate of return, fancy finance term for return on investment) is 9% after tax and with no volatility. Net present value (another fancy finance term that means how much money did you make) is about $23,000. the panels pay for themselves in about 8 years. It generates power at 8c per kWh, far lower than our utility which charges 22c per kWh. The second array generates power at 3c per kWh I have now installed a second array that pays for itself in about 6 years with a 17% IRR after tax.
Professionals & Suppliers
- Products:
- SunPower
- Installers:
- New England Clean Energy
What You Need to Know
Description:
15 kW system. 46 x Sunpower 345W panels through two Solar edge inverters mounted flat on a flat roof
Other Benefits:
We feel good about the lower carbon footprint as we replaced our furnace with a heat pump that is now driven by our zero carbon solar panels
Maintenance Requirements:
One panel was replaced under warranty and another one was re-wired under warranty. In the first year I shoveled snow off the panels but did not bother in the second year
Efficiency or Sustainability Improvements:
2 x Bosch 5 ton whole house heat pumps (ducted) State heat pump hot water tank Insulation on roof and ceiling of basement Loewen triple glazed windows and patio doors. u-factor is 0.2 - 0.25 or R-value of R4-R5 which is very good for windows All with FSC wood
My Motivation:
To get to a zero carbon footprint and make money doing so. See the whole story here: www.greenzerocarbonhome.com
Advice:
I bought the first array on my own after doing a ton of research. I bought the second array through the Energy Sage comparison tool. I found it very good as i got 4 bids and they were all compared on the same financial basis including calculating the cost per kilowatt hour, IRR, and payback period.
Experience with Installer:
NECE was very good. Expensive but they had good technical people and good administrative people which is actually vital as you need permits from everyone, and forms galore.
Additional Notes:
With the extra insulation, triple-glazed windows and heat pumps I have reduced the energy use of my house so much that I can generate all that energy form solar panels on my roof. This gets my house to a zero carbon footprint. I am making money on it too. I have written a book about the whole process so that I can spread the word. You can read about it here: www.greenzerocarbonhome.com
Open House Info:
you can email me at dgreen@greenzerocarbon.com
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