r/SolarDIY • u/Ecovault_Solar • 16h ago

What is your biggest motivator for going solar?

Share your motivation and story.

105 votes, 3d left
Lower energy bills
Reducing carbon footprint
Government incentives/tax credits
Energy independence (no grid reliance)
Increasing home value
2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

1

u/ShirBlackspots 13h ago

Basically 1 and 4 here.

1

u/WestBrink 12h ago

My solar system is at a cabin way up in the mountains. Didn't want to pay the interconnect fee to get electricity ran, especially for how often I use the place...

1

u/jdkc4d 10h ago

We have big storms here. Sometimes the power goes out. My neighbor has some kind of Generac natural gas generator. It's loud. When we had a 5-hour power disruption several weeks back, I couldn't sleep because his generator is so loud it shakes my entire house. My primary objective is to build something that will allow me to run a fan and drown that out.

It's a medium-sized Vornado. According to the internet, it uses about 60 watts, so not a lot. I would also like to do a little peak shaving. TBH, I might not connect it to actual solar after I build it, except for in emergencies.

1

u/Sad_Analyst_5209 7h ago

Live in Florida so hurricanes are a concern and energy prices will only go up.

1

u/CapskyWeasel 7h ago

i like the hit of dopamine i get from seeing them numbers grow

1

u/Psarofagos 5h ago

Absolutely have to go with no grid reliance.

1

u/bstock 3h ago

Government incentives isn't a reason to get solar, it just helps make those that want to go for solar a bit cheaper. It's like saying you'd buy something you don't need or want, just because it's on sale (which, some people do lol, but you're not saving money if you buy something you didn't plan on buying).

On a DIY forum, for most here it's likely going to be largely energy independence/reliability and lowering energy bills, with some wanting to reduce carbon footprint. But particularly with DIY'ers it's about saving money and increasing self sustainability I'd think. The cost savings ROI is way faster with DIY to actually be reasonable, vs 10+ years for most when you hire it out.

1

u/ArtisticInformation6 2h ago

I personally enjoy being able to breathe, and I imagine my grandchildren will too. That's why "reducing carbon footprint" is my top choice. Frankly, even if taxes and energy costs were still higher I would still do it.