Usually the return on investment time frame on a home solar power installation is approx 3 years. The only way you can get a faster return on investment time frame is if your local government has a solar power rebate given to you, and this can sometimes get your return on investment cut by half. I know there have been some great government rebates on solar the past 10 years, but they are starting to cut them back down. Also, its not only the solar cells cost that is the trouble, its also the installation of the system and all the other components such as the inverters, wiring, and the labor to hire a certified electrician. But as the costs are coming down every year, its always looking good.

In the midst of solarizing our portfolio.
5 yr payoff with California incentives.

Trash compactors could be a liability risk. Homeless person sleeping inside, kids playing inside. So we decided not to get them.

thx,
Martin

Actually, I managed a green community for a developer who had solar panels for the house accounts, and they worked great. Not sure how long it took for a return investment, but my guess would be somewhere between 3-5 years? 3 being most likely.

Has anybody looked into solar panels for house meters? What is a good payoff time span? Also, Waste Management has solar compactors, anybody use them?