Energy Select (Solar)

[itsbob]

We reached out to our original Solar installation company (21st Century Power, Catonsville) to install more panels on our barn. After planning install, configuring layout, I pushed back wanting all new panels on our barn, they insisted all new panels on the house.. finally they relented and told us never mind, we don't want to deal with your county. Enter Energy Select (Leonardtown), price was the same with the addition of an EV Charger, and they did a SMECO energy audit on our house.

They found what we already knew, needed a LOT more insulation in our attic (we had been planning it for years, but nobody gave us a round tuit). Total cost for insulation and exhaust fan(s) was $4800, after instant rebates from Maryland and SMECO it came to $1800.

Company came in and added baffles and 18 inches of additional insulation. We could feel the difference, and our upstairs heat pumps are running a LOT less.

Greg (Energy Select) is certified SMECO auditors and took care if everything for us, even pressure tested the house. They brought in the subcontractors and took care of rhe rebates.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

We reached out to our original Solar installation company (21st Century Power, Catonsville) to install more panels on our barn. After planning install, configuring layout, I pushed back wanting all new panels on our barn, they insisted all new panels on the house.. finally they relented and told us never mind, we don't want to deal with your county. Enter Energy Select (Leonardtown), price was the same with the addition of an EV Charger, and they did a SMECO energy audit on our house.

They found what we already knew, needed a LOT more insulation in our attic (we had been planning it for years, but nobody gave us a round tuit). Total cost for insulation and exhaust fan(s) was $4800, after instant rebates from Maryland and SMECO it came to $1800.

Company came in and added baffles and 18 inches of additional insulation. We could feel the difference, and our upstairs heat pumps are running a LOT less.

Greg (Energy Select) is certified SMECO auditors and took care if everything for us, even pressure tested the house. They brought in the subcontractors and took care of rhe rebates.

Was there a problem with your solar panels?

 

[1stGenSMIB]

Do you own the panels, or is the solar panel company leasing your roof space? I have an excellent south facing slope on my raised ranch, but I want to own the panels, and get the discount on the backfeed...and maybe a Tesla wall..

 

[itsbob]

Was there a problem with your solar panels?

Nope, 8 years in and not a hiccup.. we're at about 80% now, additional panels will put us at 125%.

Currently we get about 4 maybe 5 months with no bill.. now we'll get 12 months 0 bill and have some to sell back at the end of the year

 

[itsbob]

Do you own the panels, or is the solar panel company leasing your roof space? I have an excellent south facing slope on my raised ranch, but I want to own the panels, and get the discount on the backfeed...and maybe a Tesla wall..

We own 42 panels now, and buying an additional 22.

None of the leasing saved enough money to make it worthwhile..

 

[spr1975wshs]

We own 42 panels now, and buying an additional 22.

None of the leasing saved enough money to make it worthwhile..

That is what the fellow from Long Roofing told us today. Said unless you are a young homeowner, solor will not likely pay off.

We have a 10 year old QBH house, had a roofing estimate done.
Garret was professional, courteous, friendly and HONEST.

He said his manager would be disappointed, but he said our roof is in good shape.

 

[BadGirl]

Was there a problem with your solar panels?

We mostly are trying to add more panels to our barn to compliment what we already have on the house, and to also totally cover the barn electric usage plus the addition of an EV charger for an electric car.

 

[TPD]

We mostly are trying to add more panels to our barn to compliment what we already have on the house, and to also totally cover the barn electric usage plus the addition of an EV charger for an electric car.

Unless working from home during the day, won't solar panels to charge a car be useless? I need to stop in to see this setup. I have lots of barn roofs - maybe I can charge my bp tractors.

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[itsbob]

Unless working from home during the day, won't solar panels to charge a car be useless? I need to stop in to see this setup. I have lots of barn roofs - maybe I can charge my bp tractors.

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Monarch Tractor, the world's first fully electric tractor, driver-optional, autonomous tractor technology making sustainable farming economically superior.

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Actually the opposite, if we are working from home would be worthless (figure need a charge every 2 or 3 weeks).. if commuting, car would be plugged in at night and feeding from the grid, but with Net Metering that electric is free. We'd produce enough electric during the day to bank kWh for the night and probably the next 48 - 72 hours.

Being "agricultural" we can even produce 200% more power than we need, residential you aren't allowed to exceed 100%..

Current plan is to produce 125% of what we need for future needs, and maybe in the future converting gas appliances to electric.

 

[itsbob]

That is what the fellow from Long Roofing told us today. Said unless you are a young homeowner, solor will not likely pay off.

We have a 10 year old QBH house, had a roofing estimate done.
Garret was professional, courteous, friendly and HONEST.

He said his manager would be disappointed, but he said our roof is in good shape.

That is what the fellow from Long Roofing told us today. Said unless you are a young homeowner, solor will not likely pay off.

We have a 10 year old QBH house, had a roofing estimate done.
Garret was professional, courteous, friendly and HONEST.

He said his manager would be disappointed, but he said our roof is in good shape.

Our initial panels had an 8 year (or less) break even, we are enjoying nearly free electric now, winter still gets us as we don't produce enough to bank kWh for the fall and winter..

This will get us through the winter with no electric bill, and bank a few SRECs for a payout every year.

 

[itsbob]

Our initial panels had an 8 year (or less) break even, we are enjoying nearly free electric now, winter still gets us as we don't produce enough to bank kWh for the fall and winter..

This will get us through the winter with no electric bill, and bank a few SRECs for a payout every year.

AND of course, this is all based on current prices, I'm hedging electric rates will be soaring in the next decade or less. Once we commit to EVs gov't will start taxing the hell out of electric..I can see electric rates doing what gas is doing now.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Actually the opposite, if we are working from home would be worthless (figure need a charge every 2 or 3 weeks).. if commuting, car would be plugged in at night and feeding from the grid, but with Net Metering that electric is free. We'd produce enough electric during the day to bank kWh for the night and probably the next 48 - 72 hours.

Being "agricultural" we can even produce 200% more power than we need, residential you aren't allowed to exceed 100%..

Current plan is to produce 125% of what we need for future needs, and maybe in the future converting gas appliances to electric.

Oh man cooking on fire is 1000x better than electric, don't change a gas cooktop out.

 

[spr1975wshs]

Our initial panels had an 8 year (or less) break even

Even that wouldn't work for us as retirement and moving closer to family is only a few years away.

 

[itsbob]

Oh man cooking on fire is 1000x better than electric, don't change a gas cooktop out.

Don't think Tracey would ever let me do that..