If the tech is there, when I pay off the house in a few years I'd really like to go solar for all my electricity. Has anyone done this, especially in MA?
If this is do-able in five years and the tech has advanced, I'd like to buy an electric vehicle and stick it to the oil companies.
I'm still in the beginning stages of research and maybe you can all help me if I have missed something. I'm thinking replace the roof, then put panels on it for my elec needs. I have a 1600 sq ft dutch gambrel with a very large south-facing roof surface area on a half acre.
Main source of heat is the wood stove. In the last 3 years, I seem to peak at 650-700 kWh for July.
1) What's the tech like (and cost) for battery storage to power my house at night? I know that some people move their unused power back to the grid. Is it one or the other or can you fill the batteries then sell the extra power (say during the summer when the sun is most intense) back to the grid?
2) Is there some sort of defroster/heater that takes care of snow accumulation after a storm or do people use a roof rake or none of the above?
3) Anyone taken advantages of either federal or MA state tax credits or some other kind of incentive that exists?
4) I'd like to use my current provider, National Grid, as my power back up if something does break due to storm damage or something unforeseen. Is this possible?
5) How are the warranties for the solar equipment and installation? I can do some basic home repair and upgrading, but I would definitely contract this job out.
6) Anyone totally solar and have you worked out when your realistic break even point is/was?
Thanks.
If this is do-able in five years and the tech has advanced, I'd like to buy an electric vehicle and stick it to the oil companies.
I'm still in the beginning stages of research and maybe you can all help me if I have missed something. I'm thinking replace the roof, then put panels on it for my elec needs. I have a 1600 sq ft dutch gambrel with a very large south-facing roof surface area on a half acre.
Main source of heat is the wood stove. In the last 3 years, I seem to peak at 650-700 kWh for July.
1) What's the tech like (and cost) for battery storage to power my house at night? I know that some people move their unused power back to the grid. Is it one or the other or can you fill the batteries then sell the extra power (say during the summer when the sun is most intense) back to the grid?
2) Is there some sort of defroster/heater that takes care of snow accumulation after a storm or do people use a roof rake or none of the above?
3) Anyone taken advantages of either federal or MA state tax credits or some other kind of incentive that exists?
4) I'd like to use my current provider, National Grid, as my power back up if something does break due to storm damage or something unforeseen. Is this possible?
5) How are the warranties for the solar equipment and installation? I can do some basic home repair and upgrading, but I would definitely contract this job out.
6) Anyone totally solar and have you worked out when your realistic break even point is/was?
Thanks.