IT'S GREAT TO GO GREEN... BUT WILL IT PENCIL?

Here's what I know about going green in Grants Pass and Southern Oregon. The question on everybody's mind is, will going green pencil? In these uncomfortable days of financial uncertainty most people are focused on reducing their overhead and cutting costs. On top of that, no one seems to be anxious to spend money in any direction, including home improvements. Spending 14 grand for a solar system that puts out 2 thousand watts per hour doesn't sound like a lucrative proposition... or is it? Consider this: if you're selling unused kilowatts back to the power company at wholesale rates, it will take roughly seven years before you've sold $14,000 worth of kilowatts and gotten back investment in a solar system. Hmmm... that doesn't sound too bad. Now add to that the fact that you've gotten rebates from the state of Oregon for some of the money you laid out for the solar panels in the first place. Plus you've gotten substantial federal tax credits that have resulted in cash back to you in tax returns. Well, then, now you've really done quite well. Let's review: seven years in and the system has been paid for by the power company, you've gotten money back from rebates and tax credits, and you're still selling kilowatts to the power company that surface as a lower electicric bill (or none at all!) Now that's what I call lowering your overhead.

Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it... except for one thing. Here's the rub. The pain comes when you've got to fork over 14 grand for the system. Ouch. It's what the financial collapse has been all about. Who's saved that kind of money to lay out for a solar system. It's tough to part with any amount of money especially when you're surrounded by uncertainty. All I can say is that I intend to practice what I preach and I'm saving my money to purchase a solar system that will ultimately pay for itself and lower my overhead. And that sounds like it pencils.