Yes, putting something on credit card is also a no brainer. After all you are not paying anything upfront. But you know you will be paying through nose later. A solar panel installation should not cost more than 5K plus the cost of panels and inverter. These scammers charge upward of 30K for this. Hence, no mass adoption despite various rebates.

I’d recommend the SunPower/Admiral’s Bank one: http://planetsave.com/2014/06/25/home-solar-loan-program-sunpower-admirals-bank/

I’d recommend the SunPower/Admiral’s Bank one: http://planetsave.com/2014/06/25/home-solar-loan-program-sunpower-admirals-bank/

unfort., i don’t, but Roy L Hales might: http://www.theecoreport.com/

unfort., i don’t, but Roy L Hales might: http://www.theecoreport.com/

Thanks. I’m curious now. However, I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that EnergySage isn’t including these things. They are including a large number of variables behind the simple output screen, and aren’t tied to solar leasing companies. But you’d have to check with EnergySage to be sure.

Thanks. I’m curious now. However, I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that EnergySage isn’t including these things. They are including a large number of variables behind the simple output screen, and aren’t tied to solar leasing companies. But you’d have to check with EnergySage to be sure.

Hi Zachary, Thanks for the link. I took a look at the comparisons and a couple of thing that I questioned was the fact that the comparisons do not consider the tax deductible interest that offered by Admirals Bank’s FHA $0 Down Title 1 solar loan (leases and PPAs do not offer tax deductible payments) nor does the site consider the sub $3.00 a watt installed, before incentive pricing that is readily available.

Hi Zachary, Thanks for the link. I took a look at the comparisons and a couple of thing that I questioned was the fact that the comparisons do not consider the tax deductible interest that offered by Admirals Bank’s FHA $0 Down Title 1 solar loan (leases and PPAs do not offer tax deductible payments) nor does the site consider the sub $3.00 a watt installed, before incentive pricing that is readily available.

Buying with cash is certainly a better deal (not taking into consideration opportunity cost), but I’ve actually found from limited research that solar leasing turns out better than getting a loan ~50% of the time: http://solarlove.org/solar-leasing-worst-option-going-solar/

Buying with cash is certainly a better deal (not taking into consideration opportunity cost), but I’ve actually found from limited research that solar leasing turns out better than getting a loan ~50% of the time: http://solarlove.org/solar-leasing-worst-option-going-solar/

Ha that’s a laugh. You mean PPA with no upfront cost but higher overall costs than a purchase. http://vimeo.com/92203019

Yes, leasing truly is a no brainer as in as in, you would have to have no brains to choose an expensive solar lease over an outright purchase or a purchase with a $0 down solar loan with tax deductible interest.

1. Add up your lease payments and when compared to an outright purchase you’ll find that you’re easily paying up to 3 times more on a $0 down solar lease versus a purchase.

2. You’ll pay so much more for a lease than a purchase that’s it’s actually you who will be over-paying for your own maintenance, monitoring and insurance not the leasing company.

3. You’ll have trouble selling your home because what home buyer in his right mind will want to assume your lease payments on a used, outdated system when they can buy a brand new system with the latest technology and keep the 30% federal tax credit for thousands less.

4. After making 20 years worth of leasing payments, you won’t even own the system. It will still belong to the leasing company.

5. Check that quote from the solar leasing company and you’ll find that most of the time they won’t even tell you what brand of equipment they’re installing on your home. I wonder why?

6. Most if not all $0 down solar leases include an annual payment escalator that will increase your monthly payment by up to 2.9% per year for 20 years.

7. You’ll be stuck with the same aging solar system without the ability to upgrade for the full 20 year term of the contract. If you bought your system instead, you can sell it at any time and take the proceeds from the sale and upgrade to the latest and greatest equipment. You can’t do that with a lease because it’s not your system to sell.

8. You’ll have to forfeit the 30% federal tax credit and any applicable cash rebate to the leasing company and you won’t get tax deductible interest on your lease payments. Only a $0 down solar loan or $0 down PACE financing will give you tax deductible interest and let you keep all of your incentives for a much better return on your investment.

9. Shall I go on ?

Yes, leasing truly is a no brainer as in as in, you would have to have no brains to choose an expensive solar lease over an outright purchace or a purchase with a $0 down solar loan with tax deductible interest.

1. Add up your lease payments and when compared to an outright purchase you’ll find that you’re easily paying up to 3 times more on a $0 down solar lease versus a purchase.

2. You’ll pay so much more for a lease than a purchase that’s it’s actually you who will be over-paying for your own maintenance, monitoring and insurance not the leasing company.

3. You’ll have trouble selling your home because what home buyer in his right mind will want to assume your lease payments on a used, outdated system when they can buy a brand new system with the latest technology and keep the 30% federal tax credit for thousands less.

4. After making 20 years worth of leasing payments, you won’t even own the system. It will still belong to the leasing company.

5. Check that quote from the solar leasing company and you’ll find that most of the time they won’t even tell you what brand of equipment they’re installing on your home. I wonder why?

6. Most if not all $0 down solar leases include an annual payment escalator that will increase your monthly payment by up to 2.9% per year for 20 years.

7. You’ll be stuck with the same aging solar system without the ability to upgrade for the full 20 year term of the contract. If you bought your system instead, you can sell it at any time and take the proceeds from the sale and upgrade to the latest and greatest equipment. You can’t do that with a lease because it’s not your system to sell.

8. You’ll have to forfeit the 30% federal tax credit and any applicable cash rebate to the leasing company and you won’t get tax deductible interest on your lease payments. Only a $0 down solar loan or $0 down PACE financing will give you tax deductible interest and let you keep all of your incentives for a much better return on your investment.

9. Shall I go on ?