solar energy (Frisco, Combine: HOA, home, water heater)

[Bob's Burgers]

Would it be wise to install solar panels if I live in Frisco?

[lh_newbie]

Wise - yes. A financial benefit? Not at current pricing.

[KantLockeMeIn]

Also consider hail damage. I'm not sure what size hail would be considered damaging to most panels, but it could be an expensive experiment if you're looking at PV solar.

Solar to pre-heat your water heater could be beneficial though.

[killer2021]

Not a smart move. Solar panels are still too expensive to give you any benefit. now if the panels were down to 1$/watt it would be a different story but at 5$+/watt I wouldn't bother. I think a wind turbine would probably provide more benefit, honestly but you have to deal with HOA laws so if you live in a suburban tract home your chances of getting one installed are virtually zero.

[Bob's Burgers]

would you recommend a tankless water heater?

[lh_newbie]

We have a tankless. We love it. Not only does it work well, but it also saves space (we gained a closet).

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by slowbill

Would it be wise to install solar panels if I live in Frisco?

Why bother? Chances are you should be able to choose green energy if that's what you want. All our power comes from nothing but windmills and solar panels. Costs a little more, but if you're tired of the pollution, oil wars, national dependence and skyrocketing prices, then give your money to the clean renewable companies. Combine that with a Chevy Volt and you'll never be bothered with the price of light sweet crude again.

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

Why bother? Chances are you should be able to choose green energy if that's what you want. All our power comes from nothing but windmills and solar panels. Costs a little more, but if you're tired of the pollution, oil wars, national dependence and skyrocketing prices, then give your money to the clean renewable companies. Combine that with a Chevy Volt and you'll never be bothered with the price of light sweet crude again.

Are you serious?

Only 2% of the energy on the Texas grid comes from wind/solar. They can sell you any kind of energy you want but can only deliver electricity from coal/nuclear/gas 98% of the time.

[killer2021]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

Why bother? Chances are you should be able to choose green energy if that's what you want. All our power comes from nothing but windmills and solar panels. Costs a little more, but if you're tired of the pollution, oil wars, national dependence and skyrocketing prices, then give your money to the clean renewable companies. Combine that with a Chevy Volt and you'll never be bothered with the price of light sweet crude again.

Well, IMO, right now oil and natural gas are still very cheap compared to alternatives. Once oil hits 200/barrel you will see a heck of a lot more development in renewable energy since wind energy will seem cheap at that time.

Hopefully with all the new eletric cars coming on line we can get a lot of people to stop using so much oil and use eccentricity instead. I know for sure I am going to purchase an aptera when it comes out in a couple years.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Are you serious?

Only 2% of the energy on the Texas grid comes from wind/solar. They can sell you any kind of energy you want but can only deliver electricity from coal/nuclear/gas 98% of the time.

When I moved here, my landlord directed me to this site:

Power to Choose

By entering my zip code, I got offers from 80 companies from which I could receive my energy. Many of them were 100% green. I chose a 100% green company and now give all my money to the green energy company.

If you want to get off the oil dependency, I suggest you do the same, and pass this link to everyone you think might also want to do the same.

You might also find it interesting that T Boone Pickens is spending 3 billion building windmills. More here:

http://www.pickensplan.com/index.php...930&page=white