repost, still relevant/true today, some almost 3 years later
Green energy $$$ grab, it's not a stand alone deal for wind or solar
unless it's way overkill you still need batteries an inverter to convert DC to AC
all of which have maintenance issues & those related costs to them also,
batteries don't last very long, inverters go bad...
Takes room too, a 6'x2' panel if it 100% efficient is 75 watts,
that takes allot of surface area, it can be done thou, something to consider thou...
You can pay allot of electric bills from your local supplier for the easily
$20-$30K plus from scratch...
Plus that you'd spend to go solar &/or wind "assist", efficiently/effectively
to even close to have power off the grid so to speak or to have electric co.
actually buy back your unused power supply...
Maybe double that cost/#'s if you have a large house & a pool, AC, hot tub/spa,
heated garage etc., welders air compressors & especially in northern/colder regions,
or all electric household appliances etc., there are some rebate deals &
some tax breaks but you have to spend the $$$ initially, to receive it usually too...
IMO there's allot of eco-scams & nefarious "green energy" co.'s out there too,
where you don't own the equipment, or the rights to the rebates or your
tax breaks are given up to the installer/suppliers, basically your leasing the stuff...
Or just Chinese junk panels & turbines...
but it can be done
But it's certainly not really affordable by any stretch of the imagination,
it's a con job mostly an up-sale, for self-guilt save the planet, green $$$ grab deal
to a newer growing industry, that has lots of opportunities for growth,
with allot of false reporting of it's actual real effectiveness/efficiency...
Nothing wrong with using it as a supplemental power,
if you have the means to do so, good for you...
Go for it !!
But as a stand alone power source, neither is very effective/efficient,
especially cost wise...
Been there done that, I know all to well the initial costs, up-keep & ramifications,
do your research don't fall for the hype, don't just get duped/conned/gilt-ed into it
or fall for the unrealistic eco-sale pitches...
You still need wind & sun to actually bank the make power, for the battery storage,
room for the extra equipment, some HOA rules about roofs & laws/reg.s
county, city or state, w-t-f-e authorities, building dept. permits & regulations
that apply to all the above...
But also in cloudy areas, snowy or rainy or in valleys or in a heavily wooded shady
areas too etc. that don't have allot of wind &/or sun exposures,
it will be far less effective/efficient, lots of factors to consider...
Do your due diligence, don't get conned/duped, by the eco-guilt-green-$$$-scam...
My $0.02 cents of reality...