Solar Panel Questions

November 19, 2008

Bumping up from the forums.

I see a few homes in Steiner that have installed them. Does anyone here have them? If so can you tell me a little about them? Costs, City and Fed incentives, and effectiveness.

george

see the following for more info:
http://www.solarcommunity.net/steinerranch.htm
Victoria

I can put you in touch with my neighbor who has them if you are interested. email me at vabeling@vmware.com. they are pretty happy with them
Michael

Would like to hear more opinions, as well. I’m currently looking into adding panel to my home through solar community. Would like to know from those who’ve had solar panels installed what kind of savings they’re getting from them.
Joanna

Also, is the hail that we sometimes get in Texas a concern with the panels?
Michael

I can’t say for sure, but what I’ve been told is that current solar panels are built to withstand golf ball size hail at 120 mph. They are supposed to be very tough. But, they may just be marketing to take it for what it’s worth!
Joanna

Good to know, thanks Michael.

We’ve been interested in doing this, but I too would really like to hear anyone’s real world experience. I keep waiting for their production to get more commoditized and, therefore, affordable.
http://dustin.cykoduck.com/ Dustin

Hi Neighbors,

I am one of the houses seen from Quinlan Park and on the Solar Community site. I have blogged quite a bit about my experience so feel free to check it out – http://dustin.cykoduck.com/?tag=solar

If you have any questions, please comment or email me from my site.

Regards,
Dustin
Patrick

If you want a local company that is right in the neighborhood you should talk to Lambent Energy. Try http://www.lambentenergy.com

Local provider for west county residents.
Anne

The local company Lambent Engergy is very helpful if you are looking for more information. They should be able to answer your questions and even set you up if you like.
Danny

I had Lambent Energy install my system. They were very helpful and professional. I was also concerned with hail and found out the panels can withstand golf ball size. Lambent Energy reminded me to declare the system for insurance purposes, so golf ball size or not, their covered.
http://www.solarcommunity.net Jeff

We have many systems running in Austin and only one panel in an 18 panel system was damaged by hail.

I spoke with a few of the other installers in town and found they each lost about one panel.

The consensus is that it takes about an orange sized hail stone to shatter the protective glass. However the system continues to run after the damage but must be replaced before the circuits corrode.

Home owner’s insurance covered the replacement. I will post a photo of the hail damage and a link to a system we are monitoring in Austin.