SOLAR: Will solar save you $$’s? We review the best/worst solar calculators!

UPDATED:  9/21/08

“Payback on solar isn’t the most important thing…it is the only thing the vast majority of potential solar homeowners care about.”  

GetWithGreen took a look at how easy it is for us consumers to actually estimate the cost of installation/installing solar during a home remodel – using a web-based solar calculator.  

Below are we have listed a number of sources for solar installation calculators, and we have compiled the most comprehensive list of these calculators available on the web.  We want to warn you, many of these solar calculators appear to made by scientists for, well we couldn’t always figure out who the target audience was . 

To help you, we have given a GetWithGreen Rating (“GWG Rating”) to each solar calculator, where 1 is very hard to use, and 10 is the easiest to use – for an average consumer.  You should also know that MANY of the solar calculators on the web are from the same creators, and are just re-skinned (web terminology for different colors).

Before you begin, make sure you have Read more

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Government tax credits and rebates coming for green improvements?

Reuters reports this week that the U.S. Senate will be voting as early as Tuesday on new energy tax credits for homeowners who are remodeling.  The voting on legislation would extend tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy production and energy-efficiency measures taken by homeowners.

Negotiators hammered out the extensive tax rebate package to continue investment credits for solar, wind, and geothermal energy. It also creates a new tax credit for purchasers of plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Homeowners could get a 30 percent tax credit for eight additional years for the cost of installing solar equipment at residences.

Homeowners could claim a tax credit of up to 10 percent of the costs of all qualified energy efficiency improvements, such as insulation, replacement windows, water heaters and heating and cooling equipment.

“This compromise will enable us to become a more energy efficient nation and wean us off our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Democrat Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

For detailed information on the legislation see the United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources

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Are you taking advantage of refrigerator & freezer recycle rebates?

As you are demo’ing your house in preparation for your remodel, stop before you take that used refrigerator or freezer to the dump! There are organizations that will haul away your refrigerator or freezer, pay you a rebate, and then recycle it!

Southern California Edison (SCE) is one such organization. They will pay you to recycle your old refrigerator or freezer. You will receive a $50 check for that working refrigerator or freezer. And, by swapping your old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones or disposing of a spare unit, you can save up to $292 per year on your energy bill says SCE (savings based on 2006, assuming average use and conditions. Actual savings may vary according to SCE).

To be eligible, you must be an SCE customer. The appliance must be picked up at your SCE service address. The appliance must be in working condition at the time of pick up. The size of the appliance must be between 10-27 cubic feet.

Check your local utility for similar rebate and recycle programs for appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers!

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