Solar power

A few months ago we invested in a PV Solar Power system and a Solar Hot Water heater. Sufficient time has passed that I can now fully understand the benefits of each. Our CFE bill has plummeted as has our gas bill. I can highly recommend both as good investments for those living Lakeside and will be happy to share information based on our personal experience with any of you that wish to learn more about solar here in the land of abundant sun and high utility costs.

I am very interested in learning more. lay it on me!!

In a nutshell; My investment on my roof is paying me 14.7% return. Compared to the US at 1% an Mexico @ 4.5% it's fantastic. Our CFE bills have gone from $2800 pesos to under $300. I can't be as exact about our gas bill but it's dropped by about 65%.

Our latest CFE bill was $166 pesos. We have 2 refrigerators & a dishwasher. Also have a solar hot water heater. That bill makes me smile. We went locally through E Sun.

What was the approximate cost (installed) of your systems?

Less than $10,000 USD from E2 Energias.

We have 14/2.0kW panels and it was also somewhere in that $10K-ish ballpark. My husband is electrical minded, could have installed the entire deal but only helped with some of it.

http://guadalajarareporter.com/columns-mainmenu-94/pete-johanson-mainmenu-49/27664-solar-week-celebrated-at-lakeside-with-solar-home-tour.html

Ten grand is a lot of money. Depends on how long you figger you're gonna be around to enjoy the lower rate, 90 or 70. Save a bunch if you hit 90.

Now, a couple of questions: Some friends just spent the 10 grand (thereabouts) on their system in Villa Nova (no pool; two storey casa). They were told it would be a ten year payback. They are optimists around 70ish. Why do you figure less time for payback?

Second question: We saw a program on the telly recently about a huge solar installation in the desert.
The big thing was keeping the panels spotlessly clean for maximum efficiency, complete with a little robot constantly patrolling the rows of panels with a spray cleaner. What's the story on the cleaning issue?

I estimate my payback to be 5.5 years. I could have that money in CDs in the US paying 1%, or in CETEs in Mexico paying 4.5%. Investing in solar power is paying me 14.7%. It was a no-brainer for me. YMMV

David wrote:In a nutshell; My investment on my roof is paying me 14.7% return. Compared to the US at 1% an Mexico @ 4.5% it's fantastic. Our CFE bills have gone from $2800 pesos to under $300. I can't be as exact about our gas bill but it's dropped by about 65%.

$2800p -300p =2500pesos saved per billing X 6 billing periods per year= $15,000p saved. (Approximately $1,220 US Dollars.). 10,000 / 1220= 8.19 It will take just a little over 8 years (less once you figure in the gas savings) to see any return on your investment as long as there are no maintenance costs. If I’ve done the math correctly?

First of all, I get a return on my investment every billing period. ROI and payback time are two different things. My last bill was $175. My total cost for the PV system was close to $9,000 USD, the hot water was a separate transaction. Also, you should include the annual increases in cost from CFE which average 12%.

How much would you save if you turned out the lights when you leave a room... or keep more fresh than frozen food... turn down the temp in the swimming pool...
read a book instead of the Telle... Hhmmm...

I suppose there is a savings... and if you happen to have 10K laying around with nuthin better to do..

We cut our use from 1300 kWhrs in 2005 to 700 kWhrs in 2011. That's the first thing to do, figure out how to cut your consumption.

But how about that question about cleaning issues? I don't have a little monkey or a robot to head for the roof with a bucket or brush daily.

We's youngins and a particular case...2.5 years to pay for ours.

During the rainy season it's a non-issue. Prior to the rainy season our gardener hosed the panels down once a month.

I just went to the Scotia bank ATM near Walmart today and noticed that Jsun and Esun are now together. Really big store where Jsun used to be. They are having a free pancake lecture on solar alternatives this coming Saturday at LCS. I'll post the details in the events section tomorrow - had to take notes.

Jason is E-Sun ;o) He's expanded the store. He wrote Jsun on his business card as his name but the business has always been E-Sun.

David wrote:We cut our use from 1300 kWhrs in 2005 to 700 kWhrs in 2011. That's the first thing to do, figure out how to cut your consumption.

Even at those kWhrs aren’t you still paying DAC rate?

At 700 yes, now that we have solar we're in the Tarifa 01. One must stay under 500 per billing period to avoid DAC.

while the electrical rates there, comparatively speaking, are high and it can be a pain... balancing things out and all things considered, you are living a very good quality of life for very little... i'm gonna spend my 10k in some of them fine restaurants....

Party on!

If I buy a house I will look at a solar set-up for sure.

From what I've heard it's mostly people with swimming pools that are in the DAC rate. And given what I've seen some people quote as their bi-monthly payment, David do you have a pool? And even at the bi-monthly cost some people with pools are quoted it's still about what I was paying for my house in NJ without swimming poll and gone all day because I was working.

But when you retire costs are important and people with a pool definitely get a pay back for their investment. I am looking into solar hot water as soon as the rains stop. For electric the costs have already come down and my bill is not very high so I'll wait and hope costs come down more.