Submitted by Substantial-Spare501 t3_11svtyg in Maine
Mainers/ Maine-iacs:
If you have solar, can you please share who did it, were you able to finance it, approximate cost, and what you did or did not like about the company, what you do or do not like about solar.
I have a 1200 ish square foot living space, it's 1890, old windows, I am hoping to go with solar and heat pumps, oil will be back up.
Thanks!
Pine tree solar, they were good. Mosaic for 10 year loan, you'll get 30% back on tax return next year. We used the tax return to install heat pumps instead of putting it towards the loan.
Maine has to be the worst state for a homeowner to put solar up in. In Massachusetts it would be a monthly payment of about 1/3 of your former electric bill for the next 20 years.
Maine Solar Solutions, they were excellent and a Mosaic loan @2.99%. The loan allowed us to replace the external house connection, which was not up to code, upgrade with a new box to 200 amps, and fix some other electrical problems and install heatpump and 2 heads.
We went with Revision but they're so booked out that they're hard to recommend. If you're in Southern Maine, Assured Solar and Maine Solar Solutions were two other companies I worked with on quotes and felt confident that they would do an excellent job. My neighbors went with Assured and had nothing but glowing reviews for them.
Why is that?
I have an appointment with them next week to discuss adding a ground mounted solar panel. They stopped by yesterday to check out the spot where it's going to be and it looks great
Do you mind sharing how much the panel + installation was and if it is a ground mount or roof? We are anxiously waiting for the estimate next week and have no idea what it will look like. I'm thinking it's going to be close to $30k but honestly don't know
I used Maine Commercial Solar, which is basically a side business of the general contractor that also built my house. Cost less than Revision. I’ve had it about a year and a half and I’ve had no problems.
Total cost was around 27,000 before tax incentives. I paid cash and didn’t finance it.
Maine’s 1:1 net metering is pretty favorable for homeowners.
It would probably cost 30-60k to replace windows
Ah, Ha! love that
TY. I am actually in Western Maine, near Bridgton
Yeah, for those who never have looked into it... replacing windows is redonkulous.
With an older home replacing the windows and making sure your home is airtight, sealed and well insulated is going to be more beneficial than trying to go with solar energy. Your heat/cooling system is still going to leak/waste energy if you don’t fix the core issues of the home.
Have you had anyone out to give you a quote on replacing windows? I know it ain’t cheap but that range seems high.
You'll be in the same range for solar install
Maine Solar Solutions. Roughly $20,000 for a 7.68kW system. Contract signed in Q1 of 2022 and installed in Q2 of 2022. I did not use solar financing. The company was very easy to work with, they actually came on-site to do a site-survey and were willing to negotiate on the pricing somewhat. Install was completed almost 2 months early and I haven't had a power bill since. I'm on track to produce about 10% more power than they estimated so I'm installing a heat pump to try and use it up.
Beware of solar loans through companies like Mosiac. They advertise a low rate but charge a huge fee up front, sometimes as much as 30% of the total project.
Why do you say that?
You'll never get a payback on replacing windows. You absolutely will with solar. I do agree with your other points though and they should be done first.
We paid ~$20K for a solar install on a house about 50% larger than this.
I've had similarly high quotes, and I don't exactly live in a mansion. Just a single story ranch built in 55.
Hell, JUST to get the box windows in my basement replaced- probably the easiest possible rip and replace job? Was 12k from one guy, 17k from another.
The windows themselves aren't expensive at all, it's the labor.
Same area. Actually north Bridgton just passed Bridgton Academy. Looking into getting solar. Also spoke with one company. They told me that there’s just not enough sun on my spot because of the overhead photography from Google Maps. I told them that they were wrong and that they need to come out. They never showed up.
I had a big picture window done a few years ago that cost $1000 installed. I'd imagine simple double hung windows to be cheaper.
Fixing windows/insulation is the best thing you can do to lower your costs...
You can also build/buy inserts that go over your windows to keep the draft out.
We have pretty good windows (older replacements) but I built inserts anyway and they keep our bedroom noticeably warmer.
Revision installed ours in 2022 (2600 sf home from ~ 2000)
~$40,000 (27 Panels)
They do financing with Mosaic and VSECU - It's a 25 year loan @ 6% interest (no money down)
Loan Payment : $215 Avg CMP bill (for us): $185
**Revision does heat pumps, but I suggest going with another installer as ReVision will only install in easy access locations.
Things I liked: Nice people, made sure I understood the process, easy to work with, good support (walked me through issue with data not transmitting)
Things I didn't like: Communication after installation. I haven't heard from them other then when I had issues.
I used them. I preferred panels on the ground but at least for me they cost a lot more which is counterintuitive. On the roof 22 panels were about 30k before the state credit which was about 10k. They were great to work with, seemed like they were honest and used conservative estimates.
If you're loco like me then you could schedule the heat pump install for mid-late December and pay with a 0 interest credit card. I made one payment before taxes came back and I paid it off
Is there enough sun in the winter to make it worth while?
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My solar production is pretty awful in the dead of winter, especially considering I’m doing a lot of heating with my heat pump so I use a lot of electricity that time of year.
But I produce a surplus in the spring/summer and thanks to 1:1 net metering it offsets winter months.
Question(a): With a 25 year payback period, at what point do you break even with costs? And how long is a panel going to retain its electricity producing efficiency? What is the lifecycle of the panel before it needs replacing?
Also Maine Solar Solutions. Around $30k for a 14kW system (2019). Had a really good experience all around.
We used LaPlante Electric this summer. They installed 18 Silfab panels on our barn roof. We financed it ourselves and got the federal tax rebate. They were so very professional and pleasant to work with. One panel had a connection issue which they detected remotely ( we had no idea) and they came right out to fix it. They also installed our heat pumps and a generator too. Solar cost was 19K after the rebate. LaPlante is a little more expensive I think, but their service is impeccable and they guarantee everything. Regarding your older windows, instead of replacing them, good honeycomb insulating window shades will make a big difference at a fraction of the cost of replacing windows. I believe some of the Hunter Douglas shades qualify for a rebate now.
Order of importance: air sealing, insulation, window replacement. Least expensive to most expensive: air sealing, insulation, window replacement.
I do have honeycomb on about 1/3 of the windows. My cat though loves to destroy it. TY
I do have honeycomb on about 1/3 of the windows. My cat though loves to destroy it. TY
Everything I read says 25 years. I am doing it more for the temperature management and resale value of the house
Thanks for asking this question. The whole front of my house is clear south facing
Ah nice
What? Boo
Yea but hopefully I won’t have the heat bill, a/c bill, etc plus it will make it more attractive for selling
Except for the fact that our electric cost is so high and with 1:1 net metering the ROI can be pretty good.
Break-even is usually 6-8 years when paying in cash, and 8-10 years when financing. It depends on your array and credit score.
Most installers offer mono crystalline panels that degrade at a rate of 0.50% per year. A few installers offer heterojunction panels that degrade 0.25%.
Most are warrantied for 25yrs or 30yrs, but will last 35-40yrs.
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Choose an installer that is willing to answer all of your questions, and is clearly looking out for you. This is likely the second largest purchase of your life, so you deserve it! Companies using Mosaic (or other big banks) have to charge more because dealer fees can be as high as 29%!
Maine is one of the best because our electricity costs are so high! Also, we have one of the best net energy billing agreements in the nation.
I don't offer Mosaic because there was a 29% dealer fee. The only reason you would use Mosaic is if you have a poor credit score. That is literally the only time Mosaic makes sense. Companies have adopted Mosaic, and their horrible customer service, because they make it super easy to sign up at a steep cost.
To be clear, when I say a 29% dealer fee, I mean they charge the installer 29% of the cost of the array. So, an installer selling a $40K array will have to pay a $11,600 fee to Mosaic!
I mean sure I have not the best. But I would think most of the non warm months I could get some good power off of it.
My payback is about 9 years.
Performance warranty for my Qcell panels: "The guaranteed minimum power output after 25 years is 83 %."
So at some point I might want to replace a few panels to get back to the original total output. Maybe pull off some 400w panels and replace them with new 500w panels.
Everyone keeps saying to replace the windows. Buy a nice caulking gun and $100 of caulking. That is literally the best bang for your buck!
A 14kW system in 2019 was around $30k, can’t recall exactly (our project included a lot of other needed electrical work on our home). It was a rooftop installation on a metal roof. Can’t say enough good about Main Solar Solutions. Our across the street neighbor chose them a year later for their project.
Maine Solar Solutions strongly discouraged me from using Mosaic and I'm glad that they did.
Seriously. Windows will give you the least amount of insulation for your money.
Look into a solar shed instead of a traditional ground mount if you want to get some value out of the structure. Maine Solar Solutions will know what you're talking about.
I'm not talking about windows. If you have a drafty home, applying caulk is a legitimate way to save a ton of money. I did it for my grandmas house, and it cut her firewood usage in half. There's a reason Efficiency Maine gives a rebate for it.
Call for quotes. They'll want a copy of your CMP Bill to determine the size of the system then you can kind of go from there.
Definitely get window inserts. See windowdressers.org , a non profit that custom builds them. It is volunteer run and they do an amazing job. I got my inserts must before the big cold snap this winter. What a difference!
You could sell a box made out of dogshit for 200k right now just sell it fuck the solar fck the windows let some Californian nutjob do that
LOL. My daughter has 3 more years of HS here.
Why cant you buy another house?
Cool thanks
TY yes I started that today
Lemme guess you are a Californian nutjob....explains why you want to do 100k of upgrades to a house that 2 years ago was worth 150
I don’t want another house yet. Technically I am getting the house in a divorce settlement after I pay him a certain percentage when another property we own sells.
I also have a daughter with his anxiety and panic disorder; she is in treatment but moving right now would not be best for her.
You can move in the same town....your logic does make sense but ok whatever get solar and windows you just better pray the 100% value we added to our homes over the last 3 years holds or you will be screwed
I’ve lived in Maine for 13 years. In 3 years my younger daughter will graduate HS and I can travel for work and not sure if I will stay here, keep it for the girls to have home base, or sell it. Who knows the market could tank in 3 years.
Thanks I will start praying now.
Ya thats what i just said in another comment if the market tanks and you spend more on the home then its worth you will be in trouble, besides if your not sure your even going to stay who are the 100k upgrades even for? But ya ive had enough of this conversation any out of stater thats thinking about leaving i encourage to do so
Good luck, just signed a contract for solar and for a heat pump. With the solar you can negotiate with the companies, not so much with the heat pump folks as they have that game pretty locked in but you can still get them to shave off a few $100s. From my research, it should be between a $3-$4 ppw for install here in Maine (we are pretty expensive), but very dependent on the panels and inverters and overall size of the system. I think I did okay as I was able to negotiate rec panels with Iq8 enphase inverters for far less than what other companies were quoting me for less superior systems. With that said, I haven't had my installation yet so can't recommend at this point.
I won’t likely be underwater and if I am I will keep it and rent it out.
Revision energy are great to work with. We got our system through them.
I installed an 18kw system, ground-mounted, for $43k. Solarlogix; really awesome people.
TY! I am a little concerned about the roof the way the snow accumulates
> We used the tax return to install heat pumps instead of putting it towards the loan.
That’s what we did for the latest heating relief checks
I'm looking at a proposal for a qty 58 480w QCell panel ground installation with 4 heat pumps right now @ $135K (pre- tax incentives). Financing through Mosaic @ 10.59%, but we're not doing that. Heat pump installation won't start before August and array before October.
Seems a little spendy compared to what some other folks are reporting, and I'm a bit dismayed by the timeline. We haven't signed anything yet, so alternatives welcome.
Can you separate the solar from the heat pumps? For a solar system that massive, you should be around $2.50/watt (~$70,000) or better before any incentives.
The $2.50/watt is inclusive of trenching (250'), inverters, installation, etc.?
The solar portion alone is $107K in the proposal.
If you're considering financing, current Mosaic Plus loan rate is 10.59%.
Ah, so this is a ground and not a roof mount? In that case, yes, there are extra costs to build the structure and do the trenching. We were quoted about a 25% premium for a ground mounted option so that would put you closer to $90k. I'd be very surprised if prices have increased 20% from a year ago.
Yes, ground mounted. I'm sure there are houses out there with room for 58 QCells on the roof, but I suspect they're pretty rare in Maine 😁
I imagine there's an impact due to demand caused by the very significant increases in energy costs, along with the inflation we've seen over the last 18 months. Still seems like there's room for improvement on the price, though.
no we don't we aren't even in the conversation thanks to Le Page !!
I mentioned Massachusetts so you down vote the truth ? that's messed up
Yeah, those panels are pretty large. I have 16 on my roof and can only fit 4 more.
We are using Maine Solar Solutions. They are scheduled to install in August. We have an old farmhouse with drafty windows also. We wanted a system a little bigger than our current needs so we could install heat pumps in the future. The quoted us around 33k before the rebate. We got other similar estimates, but we really liked working with Maine Solar Solutions. Super easy to work with, very responsive, and they just know their stuff. Plus I heard a lot of really good things about them.
Yeah, and even if you have thinner inserts replacing them with something chunkier can help in itself.
Maine Solar works in Bridgton
Maine Solar works in Bridgton
What's ideal about ground mounted is the array can be placed perfectly, if you have the exposure, and you don't need to worry about roof work.
Damn dude who did you get that quote from. Give me a call at Hammond and I’ll help you out.
Reckless85 t1_jcfqspg wrote
How old and drafty are the windows? Might be worth replacing those and fixing other drafts/insulating properly with a house that old.