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Fish
Joined: 07 Oct 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Southern Michigan
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 Posted:Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject |
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Just wondered....Im just starting to look around at solar ideas and find it iteresting...my father inlaw says there is no way Michigan could use solar ..power,heat, anything because we dont get enough sun in the cold months...anyone out there use solar here in the Great Lakes state?
If so hows it working for you and what do you use your solar for?
Thanks much |
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ARGlock
Serious Burner
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 828
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted:Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject |
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| Fish wrote: | Just wondered....Im just starting to look around at solar ideas and find it iteresting...my father inlaw says there is no way Michigan could use solar ..power,heat, anything because we dont get enough sun in the cold months...anyone out there use solar here in the Great Lakes state?
If so hows it working for you and what do you use your solar for?
Thanks much |
Hello Fish!
Thanks for your post. It's good you are interested in Solar Energy! Your father-in-law is not correct. Many people in the northern areas of the U.S. are using solar quite well.
Do a search for one of our members here on the forum that goes by:mddorogi
I know he has solar hot water (thermal) panels on his home and they have done very well for him. If you look at all of his post in this solar area of IBC you will learn a lot about solar and your part of the country.
It's time to pour a cup of coffee and enjoy the research on solar. You will find many book references posted on this solar forum as well that will be well worth your investment.
Good Luck,
AR
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Quad 1200iCB since 04 Corn/Pellet Mix, New St. Croix Auburn 100% Corn, CornVac, 2010 John Deere X320 |
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mddorogi
Super Burner
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 1115
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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| Posted:Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject |
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Your father-in-law's statement is an oversimplification. There is plenty of sun in Michigan to be useful. But these things always depend on the details. There are few instances where it is a financial slam-dunk, but many where it is a reasonable return on investment (i.e. payback in 10 years or so).
The trouble in thinking about everything in financial terms is that it often takes the joy out of it. Many people enjoy having a solar (whatever type) system, and put the best face on it financially, but as a practical matter with the current regulatory environment and cheap fossil fuel, don't expect to be saving lots of money. But many people (like me) like the idea of using an abundantly available natural resource to do something simple like heat water.
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Mark
Dell Point Europa |
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