anybody put solar panels on the roof of a row house?

[Anonymous]

If so, can you tell me the details?

Specifically: What type of roof you have; what direction your roof faces; how much did the panels cost; how do you use the energy, etc.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We used SolarCity in D.C. to put panels on our rowhouse in Petworth. The panels cover most of the flat portion of the roof (the biggest part of the roof, by far), except an area where our A/C parts sit. Our house faces east, and we're the end unit on the north of our row; there are no trees or other obstructions, so we get really good sun. The system is a 4.31 kWh system.

We did a fully prepaid, 20-year lease, which cost $6,200. The D.C. REIP program paid SolarCity $5,730 in incentives (we installed in 2011, before the incentive got cut). After SolarCity accounted for taxes on that grant, our cost was $1,800, which works out (obviously) to only $90 a year, which we easily make up in savings. Last year, we generated about 60 percent of the electricity we used (our heat and hot water is gas). My last Pepco bill, for instance, was only $23, though we ran the A/C a fair amount when it got hot and muggy. In May, the bill was $6.

SolarCity is the owner of the panels, so we didn't get the federal tax incentives and don't sell the SREC credits they generate. But financially, the lease worked out better than the purchase option, especially since they passed on the D.C. grant savings to us. I believe that's because the feds give better tax incentives to businesses than to individuals for solar.

The D.C. Solar Google group is a good resource for additional information and questions. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I'm really new to this and I'm trying to get my head around it, so forgive the dumb questions, but what does it mean that you have a 20 year lease on the panels? What was your Pepco bill prior to installing the panels?

Also, what is your roof made of?

I'm in Baltimore, but I will check out the DC Solar Group to see if they have any recommendations for neighbors to the north.

I spoke briefly one company about doing this and it all sounded a little too good to be true. Know what I mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used SolarCity in D.C. to put panels on our rowhouse in Petworth. The panels cover most of the flat portion of the roof (the biggest part of the roof, by far), except an area where our A/C parts sit. Our house faces east, and we're the end unit on the north of our row; there are no trees or other obstructions, so we get really good sun. The system is a 4.31 kWh system.

We did a fully prepaid, 20-year lease, which cost $6,200. The D.C. REIP program paid SolarCity $5,730 in incentives (we installed in 2011, before the incentive got cut). After SolarCity accounted for taxes on that grant, our cost was $1,800, which works out (obviously) to only $90 a year, which we easily make up in savings. Last year, we generated about 60 percent of the electricity we used (our heat and hot water is gas). My last Pepco bill, for instance, was only $23, though we ran the A/C a fair amount when it got hot and muggy. In May, the bill was $6.

SolarCity is the owner of the panels, so we didn't get the federal tax incentives and don't sell the SREC credits they generate. But financially, the lease worked out better than the purchase option, especially since they passed on the D.C. grant savings to us. I believe that's because the feds give better tax incentives to businesses than to individuals for solar.

The D.C. Solar Google group is a good resource for additional information and questions. Good luck!

Wow! $1800? I had no idea you could ever do this for so little. Sucks that the incentive was cut - we should totally be making it affordable for people to do this.

[Anonymous]

PS-- can you post a link to the DC Solar google group? I can't find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the info. I'm really new to this and I'm trying to get my head around it, so forgive the dumb questions, but what does it mean that you have a 20 year lease on the panels? What was your Pepco bill prior to installing the panels?

Also, what is your roof made of?

I'm in Baltimore, but I will check out the DC Solar Group to see if they have any recommendations for neighbors to the north.

I spoke briefly one company about doing this and it all sounded a little too good to be true. Know what I mean?

It means we didn't buy them -- the company we worked with still owns them, and after 20 years, I guess we'll have to replace them (or the owners of the house then will, if not us). There's a renewal option built into the lease, but I assume that by then, the technology will have changed enough that it's irrelevant.

In July and August 2011, our bills were $100 and $101. Last July and August, they were $64 and $50. We use less electricity the rest of the year, so the savings aren't quite as dramatic in other months, and we generate less in the winter, but still.

Our roof is white EPDM. The panels are actually not on the roof directly, though, they sit on beams that are attached to the parapets, which were reenforced by SolarCity's roofer as part of the installation.

Definitely want to try to find some input on any installer you're looking at, as with any other major house project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS-- can you post a link to the DC Solar google group? I can't find it.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/solardc

[Anonymous]

Some friends did Solar City in MD and called BGE when they did not receive a bill. They made more than they used - so no bill.

Nice thing about the lease is that if it needs repairs or part of it needs to be replaced, Solar City does it.

[Anonymous]

What happens if you move before the lease is up? Do the new owners have to take over the lease?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you move before the lease is up? Do the new owners have to take over the lease?

The lease is fully pre-paid for 20 years, so the new owners could keep the panels without incurring any obligation. They could also have them removed if they wanted to for some reason; that costs about $1,000.

[Anonymous]

OP,

You might find more info here: http://wamu.org/programs/metro_connection/13/03/29/dc_aims_to_out_green_other_cities