I got a much smaller system than yours (8 panels, 1 battery) so if using the air conditioner at night, I set it to come on and go off for an hour at a time at intervals throughout the night.
I have the same app and was able to see my battery status from Trinidad and run my air conditioner for four hours every day for the cats in my bedroom while I was away for a week. I just love that technology!
My JPS bill is now $450/mo, which is the standard customer charge less the early payment bonus. My solar system cost J$1M including the 12,000 BTU AC unit.
I too have been wanting to make this investment but the cost is prohibitive if you are a senior on fixed income. It benefits the country so government should subsidize but I’m not holding my breath
Hi Opal, I think NHT might have help to install solar. Not sure about the details but you could check. The other thing is that you don't have to buy everything one time - you can start out with a few panels and a few batteries and then as time goes on, buy more if you need to. We too are seniors on fixed income - I doubt we would have done it without the Ondaatje win. :-) Thanks for writing and I hope you are well.
Thanks for your account of your decision making process etc Diana. I’m sure you made the right decision to go solar and I’m happy that you got such good and thorough service from Enerbiz. I don’t recall seeing a comparison on what you paid prior to the installation versus what you have been paying since.
I fully support the investment in solar power though and hope that the costs for the hardware will continue to lower and hopefully become more affordable for more people.
We have a system at home which has significantly reduced our monthly bill and I’m really hoping that we can add to it in the not-too-distant future so as to further reduce what we pay to JPS. With the uncertainties in the oil market as well as the foreign exchange market here, and the realities of climate change, we really have to take serious stock of how we address energy use, recycling, tree-planting, town planning, how we design and build, etc in Jamaica.
Hi Jeremy, we don't yet know the effect on our JPS bill, because we haven't got one yet. Plus the panels were commissioned in the middle of a billing cycle, so it will take about two months to see the full effect. Agree, that the costs of a solar system need to come down and we also need to address the other issues you mention.
Good work, Diana! Here in Yorkshire, we've managed to become a fossil fuel free home: PV on the roof, induction cooker, air-to-water heat pump. And one electric car. This was made possible by an inheritance (that I'd rather not have made), but the upfront cost for most people remains an obstacle in the transition. Enjoy the clean power! G x
Good for you Greg! Can't claim to be fossil free, or at least not yet. Jamaica is far from providing the necessary charging infrastructure for EVs and in my particular housing complex, the parking lot is far away from the homes. Thanks for taking the time to write.
Congratulations. Solar power makes a lot of sense in my opinion. (Not crazy about wind power but that is a other story).
I notice you don't mention the type and size of Charger/Inverter.
My initial reaction is that your cost seems very economical. Well done.
We have a much larger installation that has grown since we started years ago. Very dissatisfied with the first three vendors who I will not name. I do have one presently who I consider has done a good installation for us.
It is beautiful to be able to run AC units in bedrooms without worry during daylight hours and then continue with a little care through the night.
JPS power cuts are now unobserved here. Am thinking of replacing gas powered cars with EV tech ... so they can charge by solar when not in use. Then bye bye (mostly) to gas stations. Wish Tesla sold their vehicles locally.
Congratulations on the prize for Miss Pauline. I’m sure she approves of the way you invested it. I too would love to solarize. I have a former student who has successfully weaned himself off the grid. He even has an EV. But at almost 85 … May you enjoy many many cool writing days Diana.
I got a much smaller system than yours (8 panels, 1 battery) so if using the air conditioner at night, I set it to come on and go off for an hour at a time at intervals throughout the night.
I have the same app and was able to see my battery status from Trinidad and run my air conditioner for four hours every day for the cats in my bedroom while I was away for a week. I just love that technology!
My JPS bill is now $450/mo, which is the standard customer charge less the early payment bonus. My solar system cost J$1M including the 12,000 BTU AC unit.
I too have been wanting to make this investment but the cost is prohibitive if you are a senior on fixed income. It benefits the country so government should subsidize but I’m not holding my breath
Thanks for sharing the details
Hi Opal, I think NHT might have help to install solar. Not sure about the details but you could check. The other thing is that you don't have to buy everything one time - you can start out with a few panels and a few batteries and then as time goes on, buy more if you need to. We too are seniors on fixed income - I doubt we would have done it without the Ondaatje win. :-) Thanks for writing and I hope you are well.
Thanks for your account of your decision making process etc Diana. I’m sure you made the right decision to go solar and I’m happy that you got such good and thorough service from Enerbiz. I don’t recall seeing a comparison on what you paid prior to the installation versus what you have been paying since.
I fully support the investment in solar power though and hope that the costs for the hardware will continue to lower and hopefully become more affordable for more people.
We have a system at home which has significantly reduced our monthly bill and I’m really hoping that we can add to it in the not-too-distant future so as to further reduce what we pay to JPS. With the uncertainties in the oil market as well as the foreign exchange market here, and the realities of climate change, we really have to take serious stock of how we address energy use, recycling, tree-planting, town planning, how we design and build, etc in Jamaica.
Hi Jeremy, we don't yet know the effect on our JPS bill, because we haven't got one yet. Plus the panels were commissioned in the middle of a billing cycle, so it will take about two months to see the full effect. Agree, that the costs of a solar system need to come down and we also need to address the other issues you mention.
Good work, Diana! Here in Yorkshire, we've managed to become a fossil fuel free home: PV on the roof, induction cooker, air-to-water heat pump. And one electric car. This was made possible by an inheritance (that I'd rather not have made), but the upfront cost for most people remains an obstacle in the transition. Enjoy the clean power! G x
Good for you Greg! Can't claim to be fossil free, or at least not yet. Jamaica is far from providing the necessary charging infrastructure for EVs and in my particular housing complex, the parking lot is far away from the homes. Thanks for taking the time to write.
Congratulations. Solar power makes a lot of sense in my opinion. (Not crazy about wind power but that is a other story).
I notice you don't mention the type and size of Charger/Inverter.
My initial reaction is that your cost seems very economical. Well done.
We have a much larger installation that has grown since we started years ago. Very dissatisfied with the first three vendors who I will not name. I do have one presently who I consider has done a good installation for us.
It is beautiful to be able to run AC units in bedrooms without worry during daylight hours and then continue with a little care through the night.
JPS power cuts are now unobserved here. Am thinking of replacing gas powered cars with EV tech ... so they can charge by solar when not in use. Then bye bye (mostly) to gas stations. Wish Tesla sold their vehicles locally.
I re read your post Diana. You do give some detail on your charger /inverter size and the battery sizes. My apologies for missing this on first read.
I think you did indeed get good pricing.
Chris Foster/Enerbiz are the best ! Glad you did it D
Congrats! I look forward to the day I can do the same!
Fantastic! How wonderful! I’m happily sharing this with multiple friends who’ll benefit. Thank you♥️
Congratulations on the prize for Miss Pauline. I’m sure she approves of the way you invested it. I too would love to solarize. I have a former student who has successfully weaned himself off the grid. He even has an EV. But at almost 85 … May you enjoy many many cool writing days Diana.
Thanks Barbara. As I got older, the heat really started to enervate me. It's nice that there's a respite and that is provided by the sun.