Costco To Sell Home Solar Panel Kits

[Tx4obama]

Costco members will soon be able to add solar power systems for clean energy solutions at home alongside power tools and pancake mix on their shopping lists.

Eugene, Oregon-based Grape Solar has recently announced that several of its solar kits will soon be available through Costco’s website in the ”Hardware” section under the "Generators & Backup Power" subcategory. Costco members will have a choice of 880W, 2300W, 3680W or 5060W ready-to-install kits, with prices ranging from around $3,600 upwards to around $18,000.

The solar kits are “grid-tied” systems that include Grape Solar panels, inverters, and racking systems that are ready to install onto the roofs of homes and other structures. Grape Solar says the kits are designed to be expandable, so customers can start small and grow their system over time if they wish. In order to facilitate installation, Grape Solar has developed a network of over 5,000 installers who will be available to provide locally based customer support.

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/15/costco-solar-panel-kits_n_849746.html

[inna]

1. cool

[blondeatlast]

2. They already have them, link here:

http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&search=grape%20solar&N=0&Ntt=grape%20solar&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US

This rental dweller wishes soooo much there was a way for her.

[truebrit71]

78. This one too...I get plenty of daily sun (when it shines that is) and would love to put it to use..

..

[freshwest]

3. WTG!

[slipslidingaway]

4. knr nt

[napi21]

5. I'd love to convert to solar, but I jut can't justify the cost.

I just took the time to calculate what size solar array I'd need, and even to do a bit less than 50% of my usage, I'd have to buy the largest that Costco will offer. I'm 68 yo and my bill averages $125/mo. That's Saving $720/re but the initial cost would be $18,000. That's 25 years to break even and from what I've beem told, the solar panels would need replaced sometime after 10 years or so. Maybe instllation on a new house might be cost effective, or if I were 25-30 years old.

[diane in sf]

7. You might be able to get some tax breaks--also it's important to make your home

and appliances as efficient as possible first. You'll save money no matter what (my most recent refrigerator paid for itself in 3 years) and if you do buy solar panels you won't have to buy as many.

[the_chinuk]

58. I don't need a tax break. I need enough income to buy that thing.

I know tax breaks are cool and all and more power (sorry) to you if you have the tax and income picture that allows you to use them, but I don't need a tax break. Right now, unless some angel makes it free, it isn't going to happen. The tax break is nifty, but it makes this system no more affordable to me.

The answer to too many prosperity questions in this country is the almighty tax break. I sure wish we'd get off that narrative.

[Maru Kitteh]

70. +1

[Cleita]

9. In some districts the electric companies are offering

rebates to install solar to help defray the cost when you do the reverse meter option with them. You should look into it.

[Lost-in-FL]

44. In others, the electric companies want to monopolize the solar market

Here in FL for example, the energy company want to build solar farms to sell the wattage to the consumers at a higher price they would get by installing their own unit. I am sure that Rick "Voldemort" Scott will be helping his buddies realize their dreams of monopolizing solar energy.

[azul]

10. Let's see your calculations.

I'm in sunny California 38 latitude and my 4Kw system covers more than 2/3 of my 450Kwh use per month average. The cost was $15k after rebates and credits. So the payback will be about 20 years, unless the price of electricity goes up. It does increase the value of my house and reduces the demand on PG&E to supply electricity.

The panels are guaranteed for 25 years and look like to last much longer than that. The inverters may not be as robust, but who knows, and they should not be too expensive to replace if necessary.

The important cost savings however is coming from driving an electric car to use this generated electricity. I will probably be saving about $1,500/year in not buying gas. Just hit 3k miles with my e conversion and am getting about 50 miles per $1.10 electric charge.

[leveymg]

19. If Obama and the Fed had put the trillions wasted on Wall St into this, half the houses in America

would have similar systems and electric cars. This would put a huge bite into the profits of the oil, nuclear and coal industries, of course, which is precisely why this won't happen.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheMadMonk]

18. Considering they come guaranteed for 20, you'll make break even.

At least. And that's at today's prices. Electricity price increases are running well ahead of inflation, so it should clear much sooner.

[cottonseed]

30. I'm sure Walmart will come out with some Chinese ones soon at 1/4 the price.

Built with slave labor, last about 5 years, but at least it will seem like a better value.

[oldbanjo]

36. Everything we buy will

be made with slave labor, that is how the rich are making so much money today, it has nothing to do with reducing taxes. Our Gov needs to put as much money as possible in research and improve solar panels and reduce their cost.

[bluestate10]

49. :-) nt

[Lost-in-FL]

43. That's what I thought but...

Finally end up getting a 5000W unit on our home before the tax insentives expired. At the begining we were deeply concerned about the financial burden of having to finance a system but in the end we won big!

First off, we hurried to take advantage of a Tax initiative for solar energy put forward by Charlie Crist in 2006 just 20 days before the expiration day. That gave us $20,000 towards a home system and $500 towards a solar water heater. Not only we took advantage of that but then we got a 30% off the value of the entire unit through the Home Improvement Tax Credit of 2009 signed by Obama for a total of $14,500 (a program which i think it should be put in place again). We also receive a $5,000 promotion rebate from the manufacturers of the unit. The unit was made in FL and assembled in FL.

In the end, once we finally receive all of these tax rebates (we had to finance the unit for $24,000 because the solar company deducted the $20,000 we should receive from the state) our total out of pocket expense will be less than $5,000. We have not received the $20,000 from the State yet. However, we were told when we purchased the unit by the State of Florida to expect the money in 2 to 3 years (May 2011?). We are hoping that Voldemort don't get any stupid ideas.

Living in Florida, my husband and I figured that based on how difficult it would be to sell our home due to the state's financial instability, we should turn the house "green friendly" to attract buyers if we need to sell the house quickly while at the same time lower our energy consumption and lower our bills. We are waiting patiently for the check to be able to finally pay off the unit before 2012. We are seen the unit paying off big time. We have already received our first "credit" from the energy company last month so our last electricity bill was only $15!! We were forced to get a new AC unit that died during the strangely cold winter season of 2010-2011 and got an energy efficient unit which further slashed our energy consumption.

Our bill before without solar energy (before the 15% hike in the electricity bill proposed by the local energy company) was $280. After the solar unit but before the energy efficient AC unit it was only $45 to $30 a month depending on the weather. After the energy efficient AC unit we paid 15$.

The solar unit warranty is 25yrs, at which point we would be already out of our home. In the future, we will include a whole solar unit in our mortgage towards a new home. That way I don't have to worry about financing or having another bill to worry about.

[bluestate10]

50. Smart thinking on your part and an example of taking the lead to

make green energy possible. You took a risk, looks like it will pay off for you, with or without the state payment. Using your numbers, you save ~$3190 each year using your solar unit. In five years, you would have paid off most of the cost and with 15 years to go on the warranty, the unit will be an attractive bonus to lure buyers if you put your house on the market when the real estate market in Florida firms.

[Lost-in-FL]

51. Thanks!

You know? It is ironic how some people fail (like I did once) to see how expensive it is to keep a pool before getting one on their home but then see solar energy as as sort of buying a Ferrari, mostly unaffordable!

The 15% hike by the energy company did it for us (announced during that terrible September 2007 when the economy crashed right before the elections) and having already a $280 bill.

We started first by changing all of the lightbulbs on the house and we could not believe we could actually CUT our electricity bill by switching freaking lightbulbs! That cut our bill by $75!!! A year later we got the solar water heater thinking full solar was unaffordable. Then we considered building a panel at least for the AC unit but we did not know how to go about it. That is when we found out by accident about the huge incentives available and we literaly jumped at the opportunity to go full solar.

Seen 3 houses on sale and 1 simply abandoned around my street was a great concern of ours (1 of the houses had been in the market for 3 yrs straight with no buyers!). We never wanted to stay in Florida forever and were concerned about how to sell our home with all the homes already for sale. That was when we saw the NEED to move to Solar energy for many other reasons beyond O2 emissions. It became a socio and geopolitical reason that could also be used to make our home more attractive to buyers.

People just think about the immediate results and not looking to the future. They get blinded, like we did, thinking that it is totally unaffordable. We got pretty lucky.

We are currently thinking on ways to lower our water usage buy looking into gray water systems.

[trud]

54. strangely cold winter season

Not so strange. Welcome to climate change. Exceptionally cold winters brought to you by the additional snow pack in Siberia. Yes, really.

[mrmpa]

47. I live in a condominium, the Association put a new roof on..

5 years ago at the cost of $600,000. It's still leaking, the roofing company is here monthly. The association was asked to get permanent repairs made and install solar panels. Board members average 65 years of age, their answer "NO".

The savings to all, would be well worth the cost.

[HillbillyBob]

68. WE have cut our use by 3/4s but we get price hikes,You might be better served to

Change you appliances out as they die off, and LED lights(you would never have to change them) so far we have changed out 50% of our lighting for LEDs as the CFLs die off. We have a total electric house(heat, well pump, water heater50gal). Home Depot takes the cfls, I found out day before yesterday that the local city will no longer take them.
I have changed out bathroom exhaust fan and closet light switches for twist timers 5-10$ @ Lowes so that when the lights or exhaust fans are turned on they shut down up to 15 minutes later( others in the house would turn on the exhaust or closet lights and leave them go and go etc.

In 4 yrs at about 1,000 per year invested now saves us 2500 in power bills per year. I have done a whole pile of small projects, finding leaks and caulking cracks and pipe penetrations, weather stripping. the outside lights I have put in a motion sensor and led bulbs from Sams Club 18$ pair so that now we light up the yard (3 fixtures 2 or 4 bulbs @ 4.5 watts per bulb equal to a 50w flood, hey we are not lighting up a baseball field and its enough light with 4 bulbs=about 200 watts. We are in the boonies and this way we don't contribute to light pollution..Its nice to sit out on a clear night and see the milky way and the stars. I am disabled / retired and on a fixed income. My partner has a limited time before he will have to retire due to health reasons.
We want to be able to eliminate our power bill. We do not have gas or cable out here, we do have satellite tv and a landline phone line(finally it works).

Low flow faucet fittings , HE front loader washer alone saves us on water(well), clothing replacement, soap etc, the clothes are nearly dry when they come out of the spin cycle.

We are around 50 and figure if we do al this and bring our power use down to around 500 kwhrs per month the 10,000 system would be plenty. A big plus wiht the LEDs is that I am not sitting in the dark and cold. We are actually more comfy .

[HillbillyBob]

69. Solar panels have a minimum life of at least 25 yrs

ones made in the 60s and 70s are still out there doin the job.

[Lithos]

6. Been thinking about it too

The cost of electricity is gonna only go up.

L-

[shanti]

8. solar generator

i saw one in costco last week. i so want one, but it's out of my price range.

[Kablooie]

11. If the payback gets down to 2 or 3 years I might go for it but 20 is way too long.

[DCKit]

17. Yeah, 'cause having free electricity after seven to fourteen years is just too long.

Between the Federal and some state rebates, you might even have to wait three or four years to "break even".

Why do you hate the thought of free electric?

[Kablooie]

28. There was a fair Amount of damage but few aftershocks

Nope. With rebates it's still more than a decade.
I may not even be living here then so I'd just be paying for someone else's free electricity.
I've been looking into solar for years but it still costs too much
I keep hearing about mor efficient panels they are always years in the future.
They never seem to arrive.

[DCKit]

29. No way. I've run the numbers.

Even five years ago, the payback was <14 years without tax breaks, subsidies and grants. With batteries. Batteries we wouldn't have to replace so often if Mom didn't use the freakin' Mr. Coffee every time we turned around.

The cost of the system my mother has had for eleven years has dropped by 50%, to about 10K, total. For ~15K, I could have a grid-tied system that would negate my energy use, completely.

The current federal tax benefit is 30%. State benefits vary.

It is doable.

[Kablooie]

31. I've used online calculators, including incentives, and it's always over 10 years at least.

I used 20 years in the previous post because someone else mentioned it was what his system would take to break even.

[DCKit]

35. That's with regular applliances and no conservation.

We are incredibly spoiled and wasteful, and could do so much better. Water, electricity, heating, we throw it all away like trash.

As with nearly everything else, we're subsidizing corporations on all of these things. They're given cheaper/better rates via taxcuts - if they're not already paying cheaper rates (which they get to deduct anyway).

Our only option is to starve the beast.

Ten years is too damn long, and it's BS. Especially if you've got tax incentives.

www.wholesalesolar.com

[Kablooie]

48. I just did a new calculation and it would cost $30,000 after rebates for 50% of our power.

No way I could manage that and the fact that I might move before I break even means I lose money.

The economics are still too high for most people.

[DCKit]

57. Wow, you use a lot of electricity. nt

[Kablooie]

71. It's the damn pool pump. I have a new energy efficient one and it's still a hog.

Didn't even want a pool but it came with the house.
It sucks up a hell of a lot of resources but we have to keep it up.
Can't let the thing go stagnant.

[Lorien]

40. It's an American mindset thing; we're all treained to never think beyond the

next quarter. In Italy people set 50 and even 100 year plans (for businesses), but few Americans can think beyond the next couple of years, which is why most don't think of climate change as a priority. It's also why so many Americans are willing to purchase cheap Chinese crap that will fall apart in 2-3 years because, well, it's CHEAP! I'll do what I can to put a solar system on my home, even though I'm surrounded by trees. A decade flies by pretty damn quick, and making a dent in my $300.00 per month utility bills would be most welcome.

[Xithras]

64. Of course. And the fact that the average American changes homes every 5-7 years...

...has nothing to do with it. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average American family sees their housing needs change every 5-7 years. New jobs, new babies, kids going to college, work relocations. Only a minority of homeowners actually live in their homes long enough to pay off a 30 year mortgage.

The United States is one of the most mobile societies on the planet, so you can't really compare it to some home in Italy that has probably housed the same family for the past five generations. We tend to not be tied to "places" the way other societies are.

It makes no sense to install a solar system that will not break even for a decade, if you're unlikely to still own the home at that time.

[azul]

27. Look, the real cost savings is to your health.

Reduction of stress from supporting an industry that is riding rough-shod across the planet and making personal enemies for you around the globe is a good thing, and might prevent illness and dementia. You just might not feel so shitty all the time.

That presupposes that you even care about fouling in your own nest.

[Snoutport]

42. BUT...it would that value to your house if you sold it!

[Warren DeMontague]

12. They had the "Goalzero" guy there last week when I was there.

This stuff was way less pricey, Probably more geared towards emergency/camping use.

Nice to see it getting out there and available. Costco is great, too.

http://www.goalzero.com/

[progressoid]

13. Some rebate incentives would be nice. Maybe we could take a little from the billions we give to oil

companies. :shrug:

Most of us can't afford the cost.

[Thunderstruck]

15. 30% Federal Tax Credit through 2016 if it survive the budget ax...

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US37F&State=federaltpageid=1&ee=1&re=1

This is a tax credit on the total cost of a solar power system including the cost of installation. In other words, a $20,000 system (which can power an average home), would end up costing $14,000. The credit is taken of your tax obigation. So, if you owe $3000 in taxes in the year in which you install your system, you won't have a tax obligation. But that leaves another $3000 on the table, you say? No problem. Next year when your tax obligation is once again $3000, you won't have to pay it for the second year in a row! This is an example of course and some mileage may vary. And, you also must owe taxes at filing time to realize the incentive, which is a draw-back for those folks.

[hobbit709]

21. Last year I paid $266 in taxes.

It would take me forever, assuming I could use the credit for that many years.

The other problem is that the only part of my house that isn't well shaded is the north side.

[slackmaster]

61. I believe you can carry the tax credit forward for up to five years

Having low taxes and not being able to take full advantage of tax credits is one of the ironies of becoming "financially independent."

[Thunderstruck]

14. The next time you think about buying a new car, remember that a solar power system

costs less installed, including rebates and incentives, than does buying a new car in which to pump $4 per gallon gasoline. With a solar power system, you pay once and then you only pay occasional maintenance costs, which are minimal and mostly voluntary.

[hobbit709]

22. But can I use the panels to get where I want to go.

The newest car I ever bought was two years old. I currently drive a 19 year old truck.

Back when I earned enough money to do that I didn't need a new car and now I can't afford one.
In the last 10 years my personal income dropped 80%. Now I'm in that bracket of 60+ with health issues so even if the economy was going great, I'd have a hard time getting hired.

[paparush]

65. Thank you for pointing this out.

[Thunderstruck]

73. You're welcome. That's how I like to put it in perspective for people. It actually costs less to

install a solar power system that will power an entire average home with 100% of it's electricity needs for less than it costs for a typical SUV.

I have to shake my head when I hear someone complain about the price of solar when almost to a person they would not hesitate to go out and buy and Ford Explorer or some such. Then they have to fuel it every so many miles for the entire time they own it. But with a 100% grid-tie solar power system that same person could eliminate their monthly electric bills for up to 25 years.

Seems like a no-brainer to me: Skip the SUV and buy a hooptie instead. Then take the money you would have spent on that car and pocket half and put the other half on going solar and eliminate your electric bill almost for ever, ever.

[upi402]

16. Check your utility Co. and state too.

For example, in WA State there is an incentive on production metering rates. 54 cents/KWh state incentive if your equipment is made in WA. 15 cents if made out of state.
30% federal tax incentive too.

So it may pay to buy panels from Silicon Energy and inverter from Outback to get production metering rates of 54 cents/KWh in the end.
Also, the contractor needs to have the signage and specific lockable disconnects to protect utility co. workers. Need to include the insatll and grid interconnection.

I think the best use is to use unconverted DC voltage and eliminate computer/server power supplies. Six sigma quality, far less heat. Need to make a voltage divider for computr's specific power needs - maybe 2 or 3 voltage levels.

Use you Hybrid car battery as storage and evening power -is another great possibility I'm thinking.

Maintenance on solar system is basically window washing. No worries. Silicon Energy looks to have architectural grade fit & finish, from looking at their stuff online - can walk on their panels! Looks like they'd be good for covered parking roof too.

[hobbit709]

20. I'd have to win the lottery first.

even $3600 is about $4000 out of my price range.

If I had the money, I'd do it in a nanosecond.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Most utilities require the connection to be made by a licensed electrician who

is on their approved list

[lonestarnot]

24. Fantastic!

[hughee99]

25. Will this drive other "mom-and-pop" solar companies out of business

who won't be able to compete with Costco's prices?

[azul]

26. Probably not.

Make them more efficient, maybe so.

Does not seem to be many to begin with, just electricians specializing.

[Lost-in-FL]

45. I doubt that.

It seems to be much more expensive than the "mom-and-pops" units even including installation.

[proud patriot]

32. AWESOME !

:woohoo:

[Initech]

33. Hypothetically could it be possible to outfit a gas-electric hybrid with solar panels?

I'd be curious to know.

[valerief]

34. Super super SUPER Cool! nt

[Shagbark Hickory]

37. Well, still kinda expensive. But retail distribution is a good start.

[femrap]

38. Thank you, Costco for

being socially responsible!

[BrklynLiberal]

39. Hope this is just the beginnning of a BIG trend....

[TNLib]

41. Awesome! now I'll have find a person that can install them properly

nt

[Javaman]

46. I have been waiting for something like this for a very long time!ime

I can't wait!

[tinrobot]

52. The pricing is pretty competitive, actually.

I've been looking at DIY systems, and equivalent hardware is within 10-20% of what Costco is charging.

Curious as to how much installation will cost.

[customerserviceguy]

53. The only problem is

They come only in a six-pack... :cry:

[WillyT]

55. Fantastic !!! - K & R !!!

:bounce:

:kick:

[fatbuckel]

59. I can`t see on their site if these are made here or in China.

[Robb]

63. Apparently North America. I was wondering also:

From Grape Solar's website: http://www.grapesolar.com/index.php/aboutgrape-solar/faq/

Q: Where are the PV solar modules manufactured?

A: Grape Solar manufactures our solar panels in the two locations in the United States: in the West Coast, it is located in the largest solar manufacturing state of Oregon, we also manufacture our panels in the state of Delaware and New York, with a balanced global supply chain on global sourcing. Our inverters are manufactured by PVPowered in Bend, Oregon and Ontario, Canada. Our UniRack systems are made by our partners in New Mexico, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. We provide our customers proven technology; these are precisely the same PV modules that have transformed the Western European energy market.

[ThomCat]

60. Wouldn't it be nice if the government would SUBSIDIZE those?

Not just tax breaks. Tax breaks only benefit people who have enough money laying around to buy the stuff to begin with and can then wait around for a tax break at the end of the year. So that means tax breaks benefit rich people who can afford to use them and wait for them.

To really help get solar power out there, and reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and on expensive power that is generated from foreign oil, our government could be directly Subsidizing solar kits so that tens of thousands of homes all across America could be generating solar power this year.

Tens of thousands of more homes could be using solar power every single year if government would subsidize solar power directly.

Take that $1.3 Billion oil subsidy that the oil industry doesn't need and that money, all by itself, could make the U.S. a Solar nation within a year!

This is something our government could be doing right now, very easily, that would have a HUGE POSITIVE IMPACT!

It would produce JOBS!

It would help the Environment!

It would help the Economy!

I think it's time to write your next letter to your senators, congressional reps, and the white house to suggest this. :)

[slackmaster]

62. I'm not rich, but I determined that with home equity financing a PV system could work for me

Mine went live yesterday afternoon. Today is the first day of my life in which I produced more energy than I consumed. I'll post pics in an E/E forum thread when the dust settles.

I predict a payoff in about seven years at worst. If energy rates rise dramatically, my hedge will turn into a big win.

[paparush]

66. Rock on Slack! Rock on!

Man, I've wanted to do that for so long. I've got full southern exposure and a small house that's well insulated. We're very conscious about our energy use, but we're a single income family.

I hope to follow your example some day.

[slackmaster]

67. Thanks. I hope to inspire lots more people to do it.

My house is literally the first one on my block to go PV.

Here's my E/E thread, not informative yet but I'll post pics by Sunday night I hope:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=285127&mesg_id=285127

[Lost-in-FL]

76. Ours too!!!

Looking forward to see your pictures.

[paparush]

77. Hey Slack, I saw your pics. They look great.

I hope you inspire others in your area to follow suit.

[tomm2thumbs]

75. congrats - must feel great /nt

[Zanzoobar]

72. If it's anything like those almonds, I'll have to throw it out.

I hope the chipmunks will eat it.

[tomm2thumbs]

74. link to payback scenario

http://www.getsolar.com/blog/southern-california-edison-offers-highest-solar-rebates-in-california/10282/



If you figure how much costs have come down in general (although some rebates have recently dried up in California), there still seems to be a win-win in the long run, especially in terms of having an electric car and other benefits long term.

We are always complaining about people thinking short term in business, guess it is also right to question why we don't think that way in our own lives as well - that long term benefits are worthy of investment.