solar or wind set up, anyone else recently get it?

[dirk1609]

Another Helco hater!

Thinking of getting a solar or wind set up. Anyone else recently do either? Looking for costs, who you used and what you are getting out of it. Our average KWH use per month is around 250. That's around $100.00 now but over the next three to four years I assume Helco will find a way to make that cost $1000.00 or more. I keep checking my outlets for gold or diamond dust leaking out but haven't noticed any yet. We are ridiculous about conserving and we still get over $100.00 a month bills. We shut everything off with surge protectors at night, unplug things not in use, have a completely gas stove it doesn't even have a clock, we have a solar hot water heater, we only water plants with gravity feed, we don't have the UV filtration set up. Its crazy! I cant imagine what a family of 4 with air conditioning is paying. Any help out there with solar or wind? We are in Ocean View, I know we are not in Puna but this is the best Web Board on the island and has help the most.

[Carey]

This forum thread was pretty good:
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3841&SearchTerms=pacwind
(Pacwind generators were installed by Jay Leno on his garage (auto warehouse) recently.)

[Hotzcatz]

Chat with the Solar Works folks in the shopping area at the bottom of your subdivision. They have been around a long time and know just about everything you could want to know about solar in HOVE.

[Little Bill]

Does Helco offer any incentives for using a solar system, such as, power buy back, when you make more power than you use? Could one get any local tax breaks on the BI for installing a solar system?
Thanks.

[Guest]

There is a proposal on Oahu to give rebates.

The measure passed the city's budget committee yesterday with a full council vote scheduled for March 19. It would give owners of single homes or duplexes a $300 credit on their property taxes and go into effect next July. Residents already have incentives for installing the units, including a $1,000 rebate from Hawaiian Electric, a 30 percent federal tax credit and a 35 percent state tax credit.

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Today in History:
A man sets fire to his sport utility vehicle after driving it into the ticket lobby of Kahului Airport, Maui, Hawai'i, 2004

[Carey]

HELCO does buy back grid tied, but only to what you use per month - no checks for producing more than you use . I have heard that the meters are not real nice to the consumer....but that is just rumor, do not have any hard facts.
There are usually tax incentives, both fed. & state, but vary by systems & when you are installing (2006 there was even 0% interest offered by some institutions....)

[dirk1609]

Thank you for your help. Ill give solar works another shot. I sent them an email long ago and never received a response. I went in there a year or so ago and no one was interested in helping that day.

[Daniel]

We just added a wind mill to our setup over here in hpp last week. Mostly to take advantage of windy and cloudy days or windy nights. Its basically a supplement to our PV array. It can be seen from the road if you're in the area. We're on 32nd between maku'u and Paradise, makai side. Look for a white fence, you can't miss it. The wind mill is green and stands about 34' tall.

Daniel R Diamond

[gtill]

How is the noise level for your new windmill?

Awhile back, an old fashioned multibladed prop with a big flat tail(classic farm photo) was judged the most productive windmill in the state, it pumped the Kahuku shrimp farms forever and still does!

[Daniel]

Its very quiet. Similar to leaves blowing on a tree. Its been turning a lot on these breezy last few days. I find it fascinating to watch, even though it just goes round and round.

Daniel R Diamond