Why We Went Solar

When we built our home ten years ago, I asked our builder about installing solar for our electricity needs.  He poo-pooed that idea and did his best to make me feel like an ignorant California greenie fruitcake.  I dropped it.  I wanted the house built more than I wanted solar.  I always regretted not standing my ground and insisting on solar.  It just seemed to make sense from, yes, a green standpoint but also because we live in on the edge of the desert in sunny Southern California. 

Fast forward to last summer.  Solar panels started popping up on roof tops all over our community.  When I had researched solar energy in the past, the cost had been prohibitive.  We certainly didn't have $30,000 laying around for that.  But, with all the rebates and credits available it was suddenly affordable. 

I talked to some of our neighbors who had made the switch.  They were almost giddy with pleasure at watching their electricity gauge run BACKWARDS.   They said the rebates covered their upfront costs.  So, I took a survey to measure our usage against the cost and it penciled out to be a wash -- or slightly better. 

Our regular electricity bill has averaged $170 per month.  We hardly ever use our air conditioner and are relatively frugal with our appliances and lights and such.  However, we have one of these:

We use solar to heat the pool, but it still requires a lot of electricity to run the pump.  And, we have one of these:

This is our "pond."  It is a huge stock tank filled with water and a smattering of goldfish.  It is the water source for the horses and donkeys.  To keep the water sparkling clean, it has a very strong pump, large filter, and UV clarifier to zap all the nasty bacteria.  All that equipment runs 24/7.   The horses love the water.

Winston: This hotel has great food and water.  I hope I get to stay a long time.

Jackson: It's the Hotel California.  You can check out but you can never leave.

Me: Jackson!  Don't go freaking the poor boy out.  Go away and take a mud bath or something.

Are you done taking pictures?  It's dinner time for Pete's sake!

 There are a number of ways to structure solar installation and maintenance.  You can buy it outright and go completely off the grid or do what we did.  We generate electricity from our system whenever the sun shines.  Any excess not used by us, we sell back to the electric company.  We buy electricity for the dark and rainy hours from the electric company and we get a "net" bill from them each month.  We should net close to zero.  Maybe a credit some months, maybe a $5 payment others.  We will be making payments on the solar system for fifteen years at $150 per month.  That price includes maintenance and repair of the system.  If we sell the house, the payments go to the buyer.  Of course, we have no intention of doing that but in case you wondered, now you know. 

At the end of the day, my electricity bill is pretty much the same.  But instead of buying electricity, I'm making payments on a green energy source.  Our down payment was our rebate money.  So, no up front cost to us at all. 

I'll leave you with tonight's sunset which is typical of what we see.  We don't get much "weather"; no clouds to catch the sun's rays and bounce them around the sky in a spectacular show of color.  In fact, if we get an orange sky we immediately think "Fire!!" 

Not that I'm complaining.  It was 70F today -- not bad for January.  (and not typical but I'll take it -- and all the electricity we made).