Simpler Solar Power

(Page 8 of 8)

June/July 2005
By Doug Livingston and Scott Hollis 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

50-year Return on Investment (ROI)

RELATED CONTENT

The main unanswered question in any investment analysis of solar power is how much the cost of grid electricity will increase in the future. Here are four scenarios that assume electricity costs will increase at different rates, from 5 percent to 20 percent per year. No one knows how fast electric rates will climb in response to the declining supply of fossil fuels and increasing environmental controls, but it’s worth noting that the average cost of residential electricity increased 8.8 percent per year in California from 2000 to 2002.

Assumptions for Mark and Kristin Sullivan’s house in Capitola, Calif.:

• Initial expense of $6,710 (after incentives)
• System output of 4.7 kWh/day with a decline in efficiency of 0.5 percent per year
• Initial electricity rate of 11.4 cents/kWh

If electricity cost increases at 5 percent annually, their ROI will be 7.5 percent.

If electricity cost increases at 8 percent annually, their ROI will be 25 percent.

If electricity cost increases at 10 percent annually, their ROI will be 53 percent.

If electricity cost increases at 20 percent annually, their ROI will be 2,130 percent.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • therambler 12/4/2007 10:00:41 AM

    I would like an article about making a fishing pole out of cane or
    bamboo. I know you dry it and possibly shellac it ect.

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.