Decision #2 (Solar Panels): Not Quite Done!

WARNING: This is looooong. You won't hurt my feelings if you skip this post. I'm actually doing it for myself so I remember the process we've gone through. It's also to help anybody from Hawaii going through the same decision.

OK... You'd think we'd be confused, right? We've now listened to a total of 5 Photo Voltaic consultants. We added Mark of Company #3 and another Mark from Company #4 and John from Company #5. The interesting thing is every one of them had a very different presentation. We liked all the presenters, but we had to remind ourselves not to choose by personality. They were all knowledgeable and earnest in their convictions.

Each company gave us a different angle and something else to consider. I won't go into the specifics of the micro vs. string or central inverters, the different brands of solar panels, the warranties of labor and materials, the source of the materials, how reputable each company was, how well their panels would last in Hawaii's salt air, how long they had been in the solar business, the PRICE, the payback period, etc. They all had good and better points.

Did you know solar cells lose a lot of efficiency when it's over 90 degrees F? I thought it would be great if it was sunny and hot. Nope. The panels also need to be as south facing toward the sun as possible.

In the end, we went with Company #5. One of the good reasons was they would guarantee parts and labor for 10 years. The solar panel company's limited warranty guarantees the output of the panels for 25 years.

We called John of Company #5 and told him we would sign the papers. Not half an hour after we called Company #5, another company that Art signed up with at the Home Show called to say their company is the only company who would guarantee parts and labor for 25 years and could he come to give a presentation?

ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

We stuck by our decision and had John come out. John had us check an on-line site that could actually gauge how much power different parts of our roof could provide. We discovered that the lower roof where we wanted to put the panels would only output about 65% solar energy because it was facing NW. (We could add tilts for about $1,700 plus we'd need to add another layer of roofing for another $1,500 since that roof is rather old. $$$$ The Payback period was getting farther and farther away.) Stationing the panels on our second floor roof would be MUCH better (90% output), but would be too difficult to keep clean. Remember all that pigeon poop we get, not to mention salty residue and dirt in the air?

John says he's convinced that we'll have no problem. The rain can keep the panels clean. (It sure doesn't keep our windows clean!) He's even offering to come himself in 6 months and a year to check the grime and help clean it.

Then there's that 25 year energy output guarantee. How do they know the problem is not pigeon poop? Will they make us climb up on the roof to check? Would we have to pay somebody to climb up there everytime the monitor shows a problem with the panels? I've already e-mailed John that I'll take him up on that offer to climb up onto that high roof. Could he have been serious? (Postscript: Later e-mails hints that he regretted telling me that. We already know he hates heights.)

So yes, we're getting close, but not quite there yet. I'm learning more about photo voltaics than I ever thought I would. More people should really get them in Hawaii, especially with our astronomical energy costs. However, there IS a lot to research and learn.

Someone warned us that presenters will sometimes tell you what you want to hear and forget to mention certain things you should know.

I can't wait for this decision to be over. Once the panels are up, we should reduce our energy bill to just the hook-up fee to Hawaiian Electric which is about $20.00 a month. It will take about 8 years for the energy generated to pay off the cost of installation, taking into account the Federal and State credits that are offered.

Therefore, if the system should somehow die right after the 10 year warranty expires, we would still have had 2 years of solar energy. It all sounds good on paper. It remains to be seen.