Rutland Herald: Solar Installation pays off nicely

Going solar has been a fun project for me as a new homeowner. I have a bank of 18 panels that stand well away from the house in a sunny spot by the woods. The decision to go solar seemed like a no-brainer: Once the system is paid off, I get free power for the life of the panels.

I opted to include a heat pump with my installation in an effort to reduce my reliance on other fuel sources. Coupled with propane forced hot air and a woodstove, the house has been quite comfortable this winter. Because I was unsure how much power the heat pump would consume, I took the advice of professional solar designers at SunCommon to decide how many panels I would need to cover 100 percent of my electric usage. I figure that I can determine my return on investment this summer once I see what I used all winter and what I can generate all summer. The usage and generation charts available on my online Green Mountain Power account are fun to watch, and breaks between snowstorms really start to add up.

Overall I am pleased with my decision and eagerly await spring for longer, sunnier days.ALISON BUHLERKillington

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