Lee Gustafson, owner of Net Zero Renewable Resources LLC explained why he pays no electric bill to a crowded room at the Springfield Public Library last Wednesday.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/solar-talk-springfield-library
Solar Talk at Springfield Library
Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 1:53pm
By BY KATY SAVAGE The Shopper
SPRINGFIELD, VT -Gustafson, Net Zero, solar energy, solar panels, Lee Gustafson, Audience members, carbon footprint, Net Zero Renewable, Springfield Public Library, water solar panels, solar energy users, percent tax credit, net positive impact, unique energy needs, inch hail storms, limited sunlight, net worth, energy efficiency, Vermont, lightening protection, Resources LLC, lifestyle changes, term investment, back-up source, wood stove, Vermont averages, tax liability, Wednesday s meeting, wind turbines, family business, electric company, watt, systems, money, time, home, snowstorm, cents, owner, room, power, Self-sufficiency, advantages, customers, value, prices, government, State, Arizona, Alaska, generator, event, goal, electricity, wires, house, household
- See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/solar-talk-springfield-library#sthash.lGLRx6vy.dpuf
It's an "investment". Always love to hear that. But then the "investment guru" always fails to address what the Return on Investment or Payback Period actually is. Wanna bet he's got a generator back-up?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Mother Earth news, payback is generally one to two years:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.motherearthnews.com/energy-matters/dispelling-the-myths-of-solar-electricity-energy-payback.aspx#axzz2MBNfdhsn
And why shouldn't he have some sort of backup?
Once again Chuck you cite an article that has nothing to do with anything. The payback period for someone to invest in a solar system is not what the article is talking about. It is talking about the energy it takes to manufacture a solar system. It isn't about the additional costs one incurs in buying a system and off-setting those costs with cheaper power.
ReplyDeleteCan you back your statement up with quotes? I don't think we read the same article.
DeleteChuckles, it is the article that you posted, moron. Try reading it before you post nonsense. The article explains that it takes the solar equipment running almost two years to produce enough power to equal the power used to manufacture the solar equipment. Has nothing to do with the costs and breakeven points for people who go solar.
DeleteChuck is just a liberal hack that spews propaganda. Don't worry, none of us take him seriously, but we all pray for his eventual healing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and what is it you spew for except negativity?
DeleteAnd what do you spew besides what you are told to spew as the town shill?
DeleteAnd exactly who is telling me that it makes sense to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and that over time solar is cost effective because the sun is a free virtually inexhaustible source of fuel? Are you a shill for OPEC or the oil companies?
DeleteJack , all well and good but there are very few that can afford to spend this type of money for a return over such a long time. Most folks that are true Vermonters can barely afford the basics let alone the extras .I realize it makes sense in the long run but as I said before it really isnt a realistic option for the vast majority.
DeleteWhich is why it makes sense for the State to provide assistance in the conversion.
DeleteNo Jack it doesnt, That money needs to come from somewhere and it is the poor taxpayer who ends up paying. Liberal minded folk like you think money grows on trees, it doesnt.
Deleteto 4:52 AM, below: I happen to know someone who's fully solar for electric power, and he's pro-rated payback for 20 years at $8 a month. His last electric bill was $27.
DeleteChuck,After researching with two seperate companies before we built our very energy efficient home three years ago that there was no way we could have saved money by going solar. Even with tax breaks the payback was going to be at least 18 years (yes that included projected rate hikes)that was not costing in any maintenance either. Our electric costs have averaged 81.57 a month in the 39 months since we moved in.We have averaged a 573 gallon total propane usage a year (in floor heat,gas stove and gas hot water) We have 1396 SQ.foot home with triple pane windows .I am now close to sixty years old and have no desire to pay more than my share of money to a power companyeither but the conveniencefor us to be able to not worry about power usage during the day outways any "gains"being off the grid may have provided. Our family (three of us plus dog and chickens)who are all highly educated couldnt prove to ourselves that "alternative energy" was going to provide the zero cost(For us anyway) option that was being promoted with the technology that is available to us as recently as four years ago when we built.
DeleteNo we didnt contact Lee`s company . However we did speek with very professional companies that are well regarded in the industry. Neither could show us the savings where it would payoff in our lifetimes (unless we live to be much older than the average)
Spelling correction for my post above .......speak instead of speek .....sorry
DeleteAnonymous at 6:20: Thank you for the great information! Did you at any time factor in the likely future cost of electricity, or did you use present costs?
DeleteNo, he didn't factor in the "future cost" of electricity, Chuckie Boy, nor did he factor in the "future taxes" to be levied on solar customers when the government realizes there's a revenue shortfall being caused by "off grid domestic extremists"!
DeleteHey, 6:40~~ When windmills were first adopted in Europe, landlords tried to impose a wind tax. It fell through when the peasantry said, "We'll pay the tax when you produce the wind."
DeleteActually we did factor in future costs of electricity,the whole thing just plain didnt make any "money"sense once we sat down and figured in everything.No matter how we figured it ,we couldnt make it work economically.Trust me we wanted to go that route but......nope.Wouldnt work for us.
DeleteChuck if the investment return period is two years then your electric bill is a 1000 dollars a month?
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to inform you that the major majority of true Vermonters cannot afford to put in this type of system.
The numbers just dont add up.
Even the owner of the company says it is expensive .
If it was such a good deal everyone would be doing it .
The trick is not having electrical service from the street to your home in the first place. Apparently that is what this speaker did. Fact is, even if you don't use a nano-watt of electricity from the grid, you'll still pay them dearly for having the 'capacity' to deliver to your home as log as their wires are connected to it.
Delete