The panels have gotten a LOT cheaper too. About 10 years ago I was thinking of solar hot water instead of PV, the payoff was a lot sooner. These days you can overbuild PV and use an electric hot water heater as a dump load, so when you're making more power than you need you just dump it into making hot water and get the same payoff as doing solar hot water.
-Curt On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, 12:20:51 PM EDT, Karl Wittnebel via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: The panels keep getting more efficient so the payoff particulars keeps changing. They supposedly collect power from the scattered light on the back side of the chips now also, for instance. So I think some shadier places that would not be suitable are now more suitable. But depends upon local laws also. They have net zero metering ones that never put power into the grid beyond what you use, if you live in one of those communist states that refuses to pay you for power you generate ;-) Fire is the main reason a lot of policies are getting cancelled in the SW. We went with stucco and a metal roof but should have boxed in the eaves also with stucco, as that is where the roofs often catch fire. Plus be sure your roof vents and hvac air intakes all have 1/8" metal screens, rather than 1/4", which lets too many embers in. 11 houses burned across the street in the next block up during the Getty fire. On Mon, May 30, 2022, 1:00 PM dan penoff.com via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Heh. Don’t come to Florida. That’s the first thing they’ll go after. If > you’ve got a roof that’s more than about 10-12 years old you’ll have a > tough time getting a policy. > > The roof on the Flagstaff house is 20 years old and definitely worn. It’s > asphalt shingles and a relatively low pitch. They definitely have some wear > and are getting brittle. We knew this when we bought the place and fully > expected to have to put a roof on in the next 2-3 years anyway. > > This is only one of a number of reasons the insurance company booted us. > We screwed up and went cheap, through a value-added service our long time > mortgage broker offered. The policy was with “Hippo”, a totally online home > insurer. They were easily $600 less than Allstate, our insurer of first > resort. We’re talking $1800 vs. $1200. I should have known something was > fishy here. > > About 3-4 months ago I got a copy of their underwriter’s report. I read > through it line by line and realized when I was done that this didn’t even > sound like our house. It wasn’t minor stuff, it was things like them saying > it was slab-on-grade when it’s on a foundation with a crawl space. They > didn’t even list the garage or note that it had living space (casita) in it. > > I made a list of discrepancies and called them. Had to leave a message > with a customer service person, as I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone in > underwriting. About two weeks later I get a call from someone in > Underwriting, and they told me they corrected some of the discrepancies I > pointed out, but the rest were “minor” issues I “shouldn’t worry about”. > Yeah, that gave me the warm fuzzies, for sure. > > So this morning I get an email from them with a non-renewal notice: > > "Stairs, porches or decks without a properly installed railing does not > meet underwriting eligibility. General condition of roof does not meet > underwriting eligibility. Unable to verify that the major systems of the > home have been updated.” > > There are steps to the side door of the house made of pavers, > professionally done by the PO, but there’s no handrail. Think 180 degree 6” > rise steps against the exterior wall, four or five high, I think. Yeah, > I’ll give them the roof. “Unable to verify major systems”? They never > inspected the house or even asked to. HVAC, plumbing, electrical, all > redone. > > They screwed up and pooched this one, so they’re bailing. It’s that > simple. And that’s no doubt why they were so cheap, too. That’s on me, I > should have known better. > > So tomorrow morning I’ll call our Allstate agent in Flagstaff. > > -D > > > On May 30, 2022, at 3:34 PM, Allan Streib via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > > Never heard of insurance canceling because of the age of the roof. I've > also had roofs redone a couple of times and never informed the insurance > company. > > > > Who is your insurance with? > > > > > > On Mon, May 30, 2022, at 3:28 PM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes wrote: > >> The solar co-op in Flagstaff has already contacted me and said my > >> property looks like a good candidate. I think not based on my knowledge > >> of the trees and where the sun falls throughout the day on the roof of > >> the house. That said, my (detached) garage has a very clear view of the > >> sky through most of the day, so that’s always a possibility. > >> > >> Looks like a new roof is in my future anyway, as I just got a notice of > >> cancellation from my homeowner’s insurance company this morning. One of > >> the reasons they cited was the age of my roof. What’s funny is that > >> they were falling all over themselves wanting to insure me when I > >> bought the house. I saw the underwriting statement and the description > >> wasn’t anything like my house - they described it as a slab on grade > >> (foundation with a crawl) the square footage was wrong and it didn’t > >> even mention my detached garage. I brought this to their attention > >> about a month ago when I saw the underwriter’s report. They called me > >> up and explained that they would be changing the report to reflect the > >> property as it was built. > >> > >> Probably why they booted me. Jerks. > >> > >> -D > >> > >>> On May 30, 2022, at 3:02 PM, Allan Streib via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> I have the typical gabled roof, 6/12 pitch except over the front > porch, and the peak runs roughly north/south. So half the roof gets sun in > the morning, the other half gets sun in the afternoon. > >>> > >>> To get sun all day I'd have to put solar panels on a separate support > structure in the back yard. No matter where I put them I'd have to cut down > trees if I wanted to maximize exposure. > >>> > >>> I'd much rather just pay the REMC one or two hundred a month or so. > >>> > >>> > >>> On Mon, May 30, 2022, at 2:32 PM, Buggered Benzmail via Mercedes wrote: > >>>> Yeah but not where the panels would need to be. It’s a conundrum > >>>> > >>>> --FT > >>>> Sent from iFōn > >>>> > >>>>> On May 30, 2022, at 2:13 PM, MG via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> Don't you need a nice large roofed over area to keep your cars > under? > >>>>> > >>>>> When I did mine the cost of the 24x32 south angled solar support > structure was included in the gov rebates. Also happens to keep the rain > off the cars or any projects I am working on. > >>>>> > >>>>> MG > >>>>> > >>>>> Floyd Thursby via Mercedes wrote: > >>>>>> I have a philosophical aversion to making decisions based on tax > credits or anything involving gummint "help." > >>>>>> A friend of mine was all excited a few weeks ago about getting > solar panels on his roof, tax credits and all that. He is a world-class > ecologist and ocean researcher so he is into the environmental aspects of > the schemes. Whatever. I popped by the other day to pick up something and > he was lamenting the whole thing, the contractor (sourced through the > electric company) was completely incompetent, etc. so he sent them on their > way. The whole thing is on hold. > >>>>>> Another buddy apparently has a system installed now and is waiting > for a Tesla battery to provide some stand-alone capacity in the event of > power outage. I was over there recently but it was dark and I didn't see > the install. > >>>>>> I have been thinking once I move to my more rural estate I might do > some solar but it would likely require a solar "farm" i.e., free-standing > panels on some racks or something because of the layout of the estate. But > then I think about a tank of fuel with a generator to run things and that > seems a better deal. > >>>>>> --FT > >>>>>>> On 5/27/22 12:55 PM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes wrote: > >>>>>>> This is my position. I’m more than wiling to “go green” if it > makes good financial sense. At present and for the foreseeable future, it > doesn’t. That’s whether it pertains to cars or stationary power systems. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> -D > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> On May 27, 2022, at 12:51 PM, G Mann via Mercedes< > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> In the interest of a reality check on that thought, consider this. > >>>>>>>> 1. Since you would not be able to do a grid tie to the solar > panels, you > >>>>>>>> would not receive any government matching funds for purchase and > install of > >>>>>>>> the solar rack. Your cost for a 10KW solar array would be, > approx, $15,000. > >>>>>>>> 2. You then need an enclosed and vented space for a battery bank > [insert > >>>>>>>> cost per sq. ft of house area.] > >>>>>>>> 3. You then need to purchase and maintain a battery bank. > Estimated $8 to > >>>>>>>> $10,000, with cables and racks. > >>>>>>>> 4. Now, a solar controller, to control battery bank charging and > inverter > >>>>>>>> to control car charging. Estimate, $8 to $10,000 for that > equipment. > >>>>>>>> Which gives rise to the question: "Does $8 per gallon for diesel > sound so > >>>>>>>> bad in comparison, or are you truly committed to "Go Green via an > EV"? > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> On Fri, May 27, 2022 at 7:20 AM Buggered Benzmail via Mercedes < > >>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> Putting aside the environmental and international economic and > security > >>>>>>>>> issues associated with lithium batteries and PV panels, I like > the idea of > >>>>>>>>> a garage with PV panels to charge your car. Of course you would > need > >>>>>>>>> storage batteries in your garage to collect and store the > electrons from > >>>>>>>>> solar photons so you can charge your car at night. The whole > process should > >>>>>>>>> be on the order of maybe 8% efficient if you’re lucky. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> --FT > >>>>>>>>> Sent from iFōn > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> On May 27, 2022, at 4:31 AM, mitch--- via Mercedes < > >>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >>>>>>>>>> When I first heard of ZEVs, I thought "Oh, you mean Remote > Emissions > >>>>>>>>> Vehicles". > >>>>>>>>>> Mitch. > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> On 2022-05-26 17:24, dan penoff.com via Mercedes wrote: > >>>>>>>>>>> And I don’t want to start the back and forth up, but the > electricity > >>>>>>>>>>> to charge those batteries has to come from somewhere, and it’s > likely > >>>>>>>>>>> generated using fossil fuels at present. > >>>>>>>>>>> So the emissions are going to come from somewhere in the > process, just > >>>>>>>>>>> not from a tailpipe on the car in this case. > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> To search list archiveshttp://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> To search list archiveshttp://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> To search list archiveshttp://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> To search list archiveshttp://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>> > >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>> > >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>> > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________ > >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>> > >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>> > >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>> > >>> _______________________________________ > >>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>> > >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>> > >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________ > >> http://www.okiebenz.com > >> > >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >> > >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > _______________________________________ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
