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Walked through a net zero house in Portland and it totally changed my mind about solar panels
Last month I toured a custom build over in the Pearl District that produces more energy than it uses. The builder showed me their monthly utility bills and they were literally negative $12 for the last 6 months. I always thought solar was just for rich folks but this house was priced like any other mid-range custom build. Anyone else seen real numbers on net zero homes in colder climates?
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jesse9943mo ago
Gotta love that negative utility bill flex, right? I mean who wouldn't want the power company to owe THEM money instead of the other way around. But seriously, it's hilarious how we all think solar is just for people with money to burn when in reality it's just good math. Cold climate performance actually gets better in winter because panels work more efficiently when they're not baking in 100 degree heat. Snow reflects extra light onto them too which is a bonus nobody talks about. So yeah, the Pearl District house is basically sticking it to the man and saving cash while doing it.
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dakotawood3mo ago
That Portland house is awesome, but my buddy in Minnesota had a net zero place that just got hit by a derecho and now his roof looks like a giant solar panel puzzle.
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grant_allen853mo ago
That derecho story from @dakotawood is wild, I honestly never thought about weather that extreme. I used to think solar panels were this fragile luxury item for rich folks with perfect roofs, but hearing about how modern panels can take that kind of beating changes my mind completely. My buddy in Colorado had hail smash through his asphalt shingles last year but his neighbor's solar setup only lost one cracked panel out of twenty. The insurance covered it too, which surprised me since I figured they'd fight it. Guess I was wrong about solar being a delicate thing that can't handle real weather. Makes me wonder if my own roof could use an upgrade.
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