PV as an investment [RE-wrenches]

Phil Undercuffler phil at positiveenergysolar.com
Fri Sep 7 13:04:53 PDT 2001


I remind "payback" questioners that we think nothing of investing thousands
of dollars into a vehicle that plummets in value the moment it leaves the
dealer's lot.  We then follow that with huge investments in fuel, oil,
maintenance, repairs--not to mention the "investment" in fighting wars in
foreign lands to keep the pipeline open.  What is the payback on that?  The
ability to go where you want, to do what you want when you want to.  Maybe
not such a hot investment, but we all do it; we all take it for granted; we
think nothing of it.

In comparison, an investment in efficiency (the first and best investment)
and/or a renewable energy system provides the ability to live just as
comfortably as the neighbors without mining energy, emitting CO2, or damming
rivers.

When I prepare a solar thermal quote, I always give focus to the energy
output of a system in terms of Btu of fossil fuel replaced each day.  I
remind the client the REAL payback is fossil fuel that isn't mined, burned
or released to the atmosphere, yet their house is still nice and warm and
toasty.

Again, we all make investment choices each day.  Those investments can be
positive, or they can be the status quo.

Enjoy the Sun!

Phil Undercuffler
Positive Energy

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious....
the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art
and true science"  --Albert Einstein

----- Original Message -----
From: William Miller <wrmiller at slonet.org>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2001 10:40 AM
Subject: Re: PV as an investment [RE-wrenches]


 installing PV (or any RE source) is
> something one does not do just for the payback.  Installing an RE system
is
> a great hobby, it is promoting the industry, it allows one independence
> from gouging producers (and its a great conversation piece).

> At 08:55 PM 9/6/01 -0700, you wrote:
> >Almost all of us have been asked "What's the payback?" and "Is it cost
> >effective?"

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