OffGridBunker
01-21-2009, 10:55 PM
I recently installed a solar electric system to completely power my house, and I have to say I'm glad I took my money out of my retirement funds to do it (the stock market crashed a couple of weeks after that).
It's also changed my life completely, the lifestyle of being independent from utilty companies is MINDBLOWING, like it should be illegal.
So it may not sound frugal on first pass, but it takes a long-term investment mindset (I also have to say that I checked prices right before I posted this, and solar panel prices are dropping faster than I would of thought, or I would have waited till now).
Anyway, the way I did it was not call up a local installation company. *First, I bought the system from a low cost distributor (http://wholesalesolar.com), after shopping around for the best prices, AND asking them if that was their best price. *They dropped their price after I pushed hard. *Then I found an electrician who had done several systems, and a clever roofing fellow I know.
The electrician whined about not getting his usual markup on the components, but he still took my money! *It's similar to how I played my contractor for a kitchen remodel, I didn't let him build the new cabinets, I went out and found the cabinetmaker myself and saved $4000.
With the solar system, I saved $7000. *If I had known the feds were going to raise the incentives (formerly capped at $2000, now a straight 30%), I would've waited.
Bottom line, don't pay retail, and now's a good time to get your own power plant on the roof! *Quick! Before the government or the utilities take back the incentives!
Anybody else done this? *I get tickled seeing how my retirement money was spent locking in utility rates for the next 50+ years (estimated system life). *Especially with rates goin' up every year 10% or more in my area.
Anybody else done this? *I'm still on an emotional high.
It's also changed my life completely, the lifestyle of being independent from utilty companies is MINDBLOWING, like it should be illegal.
So it may not sound frugal on first pass, but it takes a long-term investment mindset (I also have to say that I checked prices right before I posted this, and solar panel prices are dropping faster than I would of thought, or I would have waited till now).
Anyway, the way I did it was not call up a local installation company. *First, I bought the system from a low cost distributor (http://wholesalesolar.com), after shopping around for the best prices, AND asking them if that was their best price. *They dropped their price after I pushed hard. *Then I found an electrician who had done several systems, and a clever roofing fellow I know.
The electrician whined about not getting his usual markup on the components, but he still took my money! *It's similar to how I played my contractor for a kitchen remodel, I didn't let him build the new cabinets, I went out and found the cabinetmaker myself and saved $4000.
With the solar system, I saved $7000. *If I had known the feds were going to raise the incentives (formerly capped at $2000, now a straight 30%), I would've waited.
Bottom line, don't pay retail, and now's a good time to get your own power plant on the roof! *Quick! Before the government or the utilities take back the incentives!
Anybody else done this? *I get tickled seeing how my retirement money was spent locking in utility rates for the next 50+ years (estimated system life). *Especially with rates goin' up every year 10% or more in my area.
Anybody else done this? *I'm still on an emotional high.