A Glimpse Of Tomorrow Today

[Jack Klarich]

I have doubts lecricity will become cheaper

If more things run on it chances are high they will figure a way to increase the cost

Not to mention the government will add in their stupid sur charges

[FuzzyWuzHe]

One on my customers just converted his house to solar late 2017. Smaller, retirement size home for him and his wife. December 2018 he got a check for the power he sold to the grid for $350. No electric payment for all of 2018.

I pay $42 a month for electricity (budget plan, they adjust it every may). Water and natural gas is the bulk of my utility bill. So $504 a year, add $350 and you have $854 savings a year. It cost my customer $22,500 to convert to solar. So if I paid that, it would take me 26.3 years to break even. I asked my customer if he would live long enough to break even, he told me, "Nope, I did it so I could put a bumper sticker on my SUV (2017 Ford Expedition) That said, "My house is solar powered, so get off my back."" ... must be nice to be able to blow that kind of money.

If I converted hot water, clothes dryer, stove and furnace to electricity, maybe I could save a lot more, because like I said, gas is the lion's share of the bill. But I would also have to spend $$$ to do conversions on those other 4 things to electricity.

I'm guessing unless you are young enough to live long enough to recoup your money, it's not worth your $$$ to convert.

So let's talk saving the planet. I'm convinced that if the entire US was to have a 0% carbon footprint, global warming, climate change or what ever else you want to call it would march merrily along. The rest of the world doesn't want to play (there are exceptions) ... remember the Beijing simmer olympics.

Not being political here, just logical. I read somewhere that the huge solar farm in southern California is a minuscule amount of power generation needed to power California. Until technology catches up with our desires, it's just not cost effective. So ... Having said that, should we spend $$$ to get there ... sure, but we need to accept that like all technology, it will take lots of time for it to be perfected and become cost effective. ... drop the mic.

[David357]

If the world needs to bend to a new idea, this would be a nice one. Surely, the future needs flying cars.

Concept Flying Car

[FuzzyWuzHe]

If the world needs to bend to a new idea, this would be a nice one. Surely, the future needs flying cars.

Concept Flying Car

Okay ... now I'm really scared ... Mom flying and texting .... ... although ... since Alan don't fly, I'd be safer ... with my luck, she would crash on me.

[1dn5up]

One on my customers just converted his house to solar late 2017. Smaller, retirement size home for him and his wife. December 2018 he got a check for the power he sold to the grid for $350. No electric payment for all of 2018.

I pay $42 a month for electricity (budget plan, they adjust it every may). Water and natural gas is the bulk of my utility bill. So $504 a year, add $350 and you have $854 savings a year. It cost my customer $22,500 to convert to solar. So if I paid that, it would take me 26.3 years to break even. I asked my customer if he would live long enough to break even, he told me, "Nope, I did it so I could put a bumper sticker on my SUV (2017 Ford Expedition) That said, "My house is solar powered, so get off my back."" ... must be nice to be able to blow that kind of money.

If I converted hot water, clothes dryer, stove and furnace to electricity, maybe I could save a lot more, because like I said, gas is the lion's share of the bill. But I would also have to spend $$$ to do conversions on those other 4 things to electricity.

I'm guessing unless you are young enough to live long enough to recoup your money, it's not worth your $$$ to convert.

So let's talk saving the planet. I'm convinced that if the entire US was to have a 0% carbon footprint, global warming, climate change or what ever else you want to call it would march merrily along. The rest of the world doesn't want to play (there are exceptions) ... remember the Beijing simmer olympics.

Not being political here, just logical. I read somewhere that the huge solar farm in southern California is a minuscule amount of power generation needed to power California. Until technology catches up with our desires, it's just not cost effective. So ... Having said that, should we spend $$$ to get there ... sure, but we need to accept that like all technology, it will take lots of time for it to be perfected and become cost effective. ... drop the mic.

Back in the 70’s here , solar was big for just heating hot water to shower with 100 gallon storage tanks. Took 20 yrs to brake even providing the panels didn’t freeze and split ! Only knew of a handful of customers that made it thru the whole transformation.

[bikerbillone]

Good post #42 Fuzz, reality check.

[DK Custom Products]

One on my customers just converted his house to solar late 2017. Smaller, retirement size home for him and his wife. December 2018 he got a check for the power he sold to the grid for $350. No electric payment for all of 2018.

I pay $42 a month for electricity (budget plan, they adjust it every may). Water and natural gas is the bulk of my utility bill. So $504 a year, add $350 and you have $854 savings a year. It cost my customer $22,500 to convert to solar. So if I paid that, it would take me 26.3 years to break even. I asked my customer if he would live long enough to break even, he told me, "Nope, I did it so I could put a bumper sticker on my SUV (2017 Ford Expedition) That said, "My house is solar powered, so get off my back."" ... must be nice to be able to blow that kind of money.

If I converted hot water, clothes dryer, stove and furnace to electricity, maybe I could save a lot more, because like I said, gas is the lion's share of the bill. But I would also have to spend $$$ to do conversions on those other 4 things to electricity.

I'm guessing unless you are young enough to live long enough to recoup your money, it's not worth your $$$ to convert.

So let's talk saving the planet. I'm convinced that if the entire US was to have a 0% carbon footprint, global warming, climate change or what ever else you want to call it would march merrily along. The rest of the world doesn't want to play (there are exceptions) ... remember the Beijing simmer olympics.

Not being political here, just logical. I read somewhere that the huge solar farm in southern California is a minuscule amount of power generation needed to power California. Until technology catches up with our desires, it's just not cost effective. So ... Having said that, should we spend $$$ to get there ... sure, but we need to accept that like all technology, it will take lots of time for it to be perfected and become cost effective. ... drop the mic.

Good post #42 Fuzz, reality check.

Not everyone lives in Fuzzy's reality.

We are all electric...no gas, and our water come out of our well, which is pumped out with electricity.

Our electric bill runs between a low of $200 a month, to a little over $400 a month, averaging out to about 3700.00 a year, and we are lower than many in our area.

I know a lot of folks that run $300 to $700 a month on the electric bill...that is probably more typical on a 2000-3000 sq. ft. house in the area.

SO...now apply those numbers to those kinds of electric bills and you see that it can start making sense.

I'm not saying we could run on a $22,500 system...but some quick math, even if it cost $30K

30,000 divided by 3,700 = 8.11 years

I think costs for solar systems will go down over the next few years, and, no doubt, my electric bill will continue to rise, as it has over the last, well, forever. lol

As a side note, we had a Customer from Norway visit us a few years back. They are BIG into geothermal, which, when he explained it, sounded like a very interesting energy alternative.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

I have doubts lecricity will become cheaper

If more things run on it chances are high they will figure a way to increase the cost

Not to mention the government will add in their stupid sur charges

I think it's going to get cheaper and cheaper to make your own electricity.

Kevin

[hogcowboy]

We have gone to solar after our wind turbine stopped working. Wind is worthless. We broke even but just barely with that piece of junk. So we next went with a $50,000 solar array. Estimated return was to be 10 years but only because about one third could be written off. It isn't cheap by no means. Nevertheless we do see just how much more it's worth. What we see is every single new home should have one side of that home's roof done with solar. Make it a law, if nothing else because people won't do it unless they are forced. And every single remodel that evolves the roof should have solar added. We could reduce our electricity usage dramatically.

It's too bad it costs so much, but it's a very good way to reduce your monthly bills. We now see how people can actually live off grid. We have just added another $25,000 array. We could live off the grid now. However we won't just yet. Our next expense will be to somehow store our excess. We are fortunate that our coop energy source has a 1 for 1 buy back. That is the only reason we have not gone further. What we have now, and look how much it cost, gives us zero electric bill and we have not changed our power consumption one bit. However look how much it cost. The average person could not do this. We were only able to do it by taking out farm loans with very low payments. But the amount it reduced our power use made those payments for the most part. It wasn't everything but close. But it was certainly a gamble.

We are just glad it's working. I would not recommend anyone to do it like we did but it worked for us. Or I should say is working for us. We still have the last array to be paid for. This has been a 10 year gamble going on 15. But yes, solar works and works well. And they are producing better. Our last array which is half the size as the first, nearly produces the same as the first. That's how much they have changed in 10 years. They will soon be able to produce power by moonlight. They already produce on heavy over casts rainy days. So more proof they are producing better. Much better. That's why forcing all new construction to have solar would be extremely wise. And we do not have one share of stock in any solar company. That's just how much we can see the benefits of solar is all I'm saying.

[peteg59]

^...I believe Commiefornia requires solar on all new constructions.

Not sure I'd buy into forcing one to install solar on new builds, but it does sound like great technology once the bugs are worked out. Namely eliminating battery maintenance for storage grids.

Glad to hear its working for you Hcboy...

[DK Custom Products]

^...I believe Commiefornia requires solar on all new constructions.

Not sure I'd buy into forcing one to install solar on new builds, but it does sound like great technology once the bugs are worked out. Namely eliminating battery maintenance for storage grids.

Glad to hear its working for you Hcboy...

Yeah, when we lived off the grid for 3 years the battery maintenance was about 1 hour a month.

I think, now with lithium, the maintenance is near zero...but cost needs to come down some more.

Batteries have a 10 year warranty, panels 25 years...so it is getting there.

Kevin

[David357]

Concept: ATV

[Retired Army]

Nothing like having the aftermath of a midair flying car coalition fall on your home.

[Lee H. Mann]

One on my customers just converted his house to solar late 2017. It cost my customer $22,500 to convert to solar. So if I paid that, it would take me 26.3 years to break even. I asked my customer if he would live long enough to break even, he told me, "Nope, I did it so I could put a bumper sticker on my SUV (2017 Ford Expedition) That said, "My house is solar powered, so get off my back."" ... must be nice to be able to blow that kind of money.

The bumper sticker was probably only a couple of dollars !!!

[rhino 2]

Nothing like having the aftermath of a midair flying car coalition fall on your home.

I'm still ticked off at Popular Science and Mechanic Illustrated Magazine for mot keeping their word...

, Because back in the 50's/60's they the Magazines promised us that by the year 2000 we all will be commuting to work in Flying Cars............

[David357]

Strap yourself into this "self righting" monster 2 wheel ATV.

[1dn5up]

Looks like a laughin insodent will happen when stopped

[David357]

Looks like a laughin insodent will happen when stopped

That's what the large "hydraulic quad pod" is for that is located in front of the rear wheel.

Still, this is one nasty looking machine....

[David357]

Concept: Bicycle of the Future

[David357]

Inner City concept vehicle by Sean Seongjun Ko. This back-to-the-future type of carriage is a sustainable, zero emission car..