Solar panels aren't worth it for everyone despite what people say

I live in Seattle and everyone told me solar was a no-brainer. Did the math anyway. My south-facing roof gets maybe 4 hours of good sun in winter. Payback period was 14 years based on my $90 monthly electric bill. Plus my HOA wanted specific black panels that cost $2,000 more. I put that $15,000 into insulation and a heat pump instead. Cut my bill by 40 percent. Has anyone else found solar doesn't pencil out in cloudy cities?

2 comments

2 Comments

ray64829d ago

That "retirement plan for your grandkids" line hits hard. It's the same trap people fall into with a lot of "green" stuff - they treat everyone like they live in Arizona or Texas. I've noticed this pattern with EVs too, people in my building bought them and then realized there's nowhere to plug them in on a street without a driveway. A one-size-fits-all sales pitch always ignores the real costs for normal people in real situations.

dylanh8129d ago

14 year payback in Seattle? That's not a solar investment, that's a retirement plan for your grandkids. I'm in Portland and ran the numbers too. Came out to like 12 years minimum. My neighbor bought the panels anyway and now his roof leaks.