01-21-2006, 08:24 PM
Aloha Everyone,
I have been contemplating Solar energy for our home in Hawaii and after considerable research I've decided not to do it.
It seems I was born with practicality genes from both sides of the family. If our pocket was limitless I would, out of environmental consciousness do this any way, but the $'s don't add up to make it a practical and economical solution for us.
Living in a state with 35 million plus population and in an area whose solar radiation averages twice the amount to be expected in Mt. View, Hawaii, the state and utilities subsidize solar at 50% to encourage this resource.
I have asked Protec for an estimate on a 2.4 KW system, parts and labor estimate and still haven't had a response. That being said I do know that in California a 2.4KW system parts and labor will cost close to $1,000.00 a Watt. So 2.4 KW times 1,000 equals 24,000 watts which equals $24,000.00 for this system. Less the 50% rebates in CA that system would cost us $12,000.00 here.
Now I'm sure there will be a Hawaii cost for this system in excess of the CA price of $24,000.00 less the HI rebate of $1500.00.
The utilities in CA can afford this size rebate as they will eventually benefit from the power generated on private residences to provide power to new population influx, and take the drain off the system. The economies of scale make it profitable for them to do this in CA.
So the link shows I would create only 1/2 the solar energy in HI than would be generated in CA. So I would pay more on island and get almost 1/2 the energy. Not our solution I'm afraid, but hope it works for others!
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/
bluebook/
mella l
Edited by - mella l on 01/22/2006 13:02:06
I have been contemplating Solar energy for our home in Hawaii and after considerable research I've decided not to do it.
It seems I was born with practicality genes from both sides of the family. If our pocket was limitless I would, out of environmental consciousness do this any way, but the $'s don't add up to make it a practical and economical solution for us.
Living in a state with 35 million plus population and in an area whose solar radiation averages twice the amount to be expected in Mt. View, Hawaii, the state and utilities subsidize solar at 50% to encourage this resource.
I have asked Protec for an estimate on a 2.4 KW system, parts and labor estimate and still haven't had a response. That being said I do know that in California a 2.4KW system parts and labor will cost close to $1,000.00 a Watt. So 2.4 KW times 1,000 equals 24,000 watts which equals $24,000.00 for this system. Less the 50% rebates in CA that system would cost us $12,000.00 here.
Now I'm sure there will be a Hawaii cost for this system in excess of the CA price of $24,000.00 less the HI rebate of $1500.00.
The utilities in CA can afford this size rebate as they will eventually benefit from the power generated on private residences to provide power to new population influx, and take the drain off the system. The economies of scale make it profitable for them to do this in CA.
So the link shows I would create only 1/2 the solar energy in HI than would be generated in CA. So I would pay more on island and get almost 1/2 the energy. Not our solution I'm afraid, but hope it works for others!
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/
bluebook/
mella l
Edited by - mella l on 01/22/2006 13:02:06
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
Art and Science
bytheSEA