Q+A: Dreaming of net zero? Here’s what surprised these homeowners.
Q+A with Susan and Randy Richardson
Solar-powered since: 2018
System size: 6.39 kW system
System type: Grid-tied solar. (Net-metered.)
CO2 to be reduced over system lifetime: 186.5 tons of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of 4,416 trees growing for ten years, or 35 cars off the road for one year.
“As citizens devoted to conservation and keen to do our part to combat climate change, we wanted to get as much of our energy as possible from renewable sources.”
SHS: What was the inner whisper that prompted you to switch to solar power for your home?
RR: As we developed the concept for our new home, as engineers we wanted to take advantage of the latest advances in building science and green building. And as citizens devoted to conservation and keen to do our part to combat climate change, we wanted to get as much of our energy as possible from renewable sources.
SHS: What were you trying to achieve when you first decided to go solar?
RR: Our goal was always to achieve net zero with our home. Our home is all electric so by achieving net zero we minimize our personal carbon footprint. And since we are retiring early to a home we hope to occupy for many years, we understand that a great way to make our money last is to minimize monthly expenses, in this case our energy bill. It really adds up when you're looking at a horizon of dozens of years.
SHS: How does solar fit into your personal lifestyle and worldview?
RR: We've noticed no significant changes to our lifestyle since the transition was basically seamless. One month our energy came from the grid, the next we were generating our own. We have become advocates for solar power in our community and many of our neighbors have since moved forward with solar power as well.
SHS: What have you noticed since going solar?
RR: The main tangible benefit is the smaller monthly energy bill. We also enjoy using the SolarEdge app which gives us real time updates on our solar power generation and allows us to track trends over time.
SHS: Anything surprising?
RR: One surprise for us was how good the home looks with the panels in place. They are so well integrated into the appearance of the home that a number of neighbors didn't notice them until we pointed them out. And that is important since in our case they face the street and form part of the curb appeal of our home.
SHS: Any advice for another homeowner considering solar?
RR: Other homeowners considering going solar should understand that the payback calculations they will see are unnecessarily conservative. Most of these calculations compare the upfront cost to the ongoing energy bill savings. This is misleading since as our neighbor who is an appraiser points out, they fail to consider the enhanced value of a home equipped with solar power. By his estimation the value of the home often rises by approximately the amount of the investment once the rebates are factored in.* So in such cases the investment is recovered immediately and the reduced power bills are just gravy.
*here’s a recent study on home value with solar