Because our wind system did not bring our electricity costs down to zero,  we decided to take advantage of very low interest rates in 2003, and refinanced our home, borrowing $50,000 at the same time.  With this strategically-timed "re-fi", we lowered our monthly house payment by cutting our interest payment from 8% to less than 5 %, getting a ten-year loan in the process!  We then took the money and ran!  No, we used these funds to purchase  a solar PV system to further cut our energy costs AND we purchased a Toyota Prius hybrid -- before the current high demand for these vehicles!!  At this point, our house AND our solar PV system will be paid off in just 8 more years!!  So, eight years from now,  we will have NO car payments (unless, of course, we decide to purchase a "plug-in hybrid" or whatever the newest energy-efficient car that's available!), NO house payments and NO electric bills!

        As a result of our large solar PV system, our "all-electric" house is now "carbon free" -- meaning we use no wood, coal, natural gas or propane whatsoever.  We use electricity for everything -- even heating!!

        P.S.  This "Perfect Storm" has paid off for us -- we haven't paid for electricity since October 2003 which is when our solar PV system was installed!!

For information regarding this Web site, please contact

Ted Schultz, N6RPG

Friday September 09, 2005