RoofRay is a new application to help you determine how much money you will save through installing a solar array on your roof. Actually it also tells you the payback period, so there’s a bit of downside to the capital expenditure of course, but nevertheless this is a very cool application indeed.
The interface is simple. Just enter your zip code or address, mark out the size of solar array you want on the image of your home’s roof, then select the calculation tabs to set your monthly power bills and utility, see how much you could save and work out how long it will take you to break even on the whole project.
From the looks of it, unless you’re spending a fortune on power already, your payback period is likely to run to around 5 years on even the most simple installation, but if you’re in it for the long term, and bearing in mind that electricity is not likely to get cheaper over time, eventually you really start to win big. A superb application! [Via Metafilter]
What is RoofRay (beta, Phase 1)? We are a solar array modeling service and community determined to help consumers evaluate solar for their home or business and to create greater awareness for solar overall. We think that’s possible within a compelling lean-forward environment that’s innovative and wholly useful.
My son, who lives in a 4500sq. ft. home in So Cal. has no electricity bills. he paid $24,000 for a solar array ($78 on top of his mortgage).
My bill is over $300 month because of air conditioning. If I was starting over, i would do as he did.
D’oh, I never thought of sticking the cost on the mortgage Ron. That’s what I call sensible. Although nowadays that might be more of a problem I guess.