David – Erie, PA
We definitely have a feeling that we’ve done something that will benefit the climate and will reduce cost of powering our house and our vehicles for many years to come.
David – Erie, PA
Why did you decide to go solar?
We were getting a new roof and the roofer brought along the solar installation guy. I really liked the idea of Solar on the roof and with the federal and state incentives. I thought it made sense to have them installed.
What was the process like for you? Did anything surprise you, or were there challenges you had to overcome?
I was surprised at the number of holes they were drilling in the brand new roof! No leaks yet, and that was 2009.
We upgraded in 2019 in order to get the 30% federal tax credit. It doubled the amount of kilowatt hours generated, so much so that our electric bills were virtually zero. All we had was a $10 monthly hook up fee required by our power company as a connection fee.
Have any of your habits changed since going solar?
We bought an electric car in 2018. That still did not increase our electric bills beyond the $10 per month figure. In 2023 we bought our 2nd electric car. We now have modest Electric Bills in January and February. And by the way, we use the old solar panels at our farm, installing them as a ground mount system to help power our 1850 farmhouse.
Have you seen electricity savings since going solar? If so, what have you been able to do with that savings?
We are probably saving somewhere in the vicinity of $150 per month. Plus in Pennsylvania we do receive a modest renewable energy credit.We don’t use the monthly savings for anything specific.
Have you been involved in any solar advocacy since becoming a solar owner?
There were number of articles in the local paper along with pictures of our house when the panels were first installed. I believe we were the first house in Erie, Pennsylvania to have solar Installed on the roof.
What advice would you give to someone considering going solar?
If you’re going to have a rooftop system, make certain that you have a new or fairly new roof as the panels have a life expectancy of at least 25 years. It is going to take a while for the cost benefit to cover the initial cost of solar. I do know that panels today are a fraction of the cost we paid in 2009.
Anything else you’d like to add?
We definitely have a feeling that we’ve done something that will benefit the climate and will reduce cost of powering our house and our vehicles for many years to come.