Carbon Footprint and Other Matters

2/6/15

We decided to go with Wayne’s Solar.  I called their rep, asked a few more questions about how the freeze protection works, and asked for the next step.

Here is what he told me: First, I needed to register online for the $1000 rebate with FPL and get a reservation number.  In January, FPL had $1.6 million available for hot water systems.  They still have $1.58 million as of today.  FPL also provides rebates for photovoltaic systems, but those funds are gone within a day. The FPL website says they will provide the number in 3 business days.  I got my number within 4 hours.  I emailed the number to Wayne’s and they will start the ball rolling for the permits. FPL is very efficient.

For my HOA, I needed to fill out a form that included the name of the installer and business license and insurance information.  I also had to make best efforts to ensure the solar collector couldn't be seen from the street.  In our case, we had no choice due to a very tall magnolia tree next to our house.  The system had to go in the back.

2/8/15

I was still curious about ROI. After more research, I found the Florida Solar Energy Center calculator that lets you calculate your potential savings and ROI on solar based on the efficiency of your system.  The Florida Solar Energy Center website is a great resource. They have a list of certified Florida solar systems to choose from.  According to this calculator, the system we are buying will save between $170 - $234 a year on electricity and will provide 81% of the energy we need for hot water.  ROI is 15-17 years. Internal rate of return is 8.4%.  The system will reduce our carbon footprint by a over a ton of CO2 per year.

Solar systems are also eligible for a 30% federal tax credit but because I am retired and have little taxable income, these credits were no help.

According to the Nature Conservancy’s carbon footprint calculator, our family of 2 produces 45 tons of CO2 per year.  The US average for 2 people is 53 tons.  The world average is 1 ton.