It's getting hard to get a straight answer on how much solar power I can install on my home, and how much it will cost. Estimates are $2.5 to $3.5 per watt. I read that the average family uses 27kWh per day and 808-870 per month. I'm going to guess somewhere between $18,000 - $45,000 depending on the size of install and whether one seeks to power everything, or just offset a portion of their average use. Even with net metering (in Ontario, Canada) I'm not sure it works out in my favor yet. Considering weather factors, required back-up capacity, roof size/pitch, etc...
I can get a natural gas back-up generator with a transfer switch for $5,000 and have standby power for days...
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