The Hathaway’s Solar House: Alternative to Dominion Power


Energy expert Alden Hathaway and his wife Carol live in a solar powered house in Londoun County near Hillsboro,Virginia. If one in every four houses in Virginia were solar powered, our power needs would be cut in half.

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22 thoughts on “The Hathaway’s Solar House: Alternative to Dominion Power”

  1. Looks like a big house. I would estimate that at least $350/mo average power bill. Saving = 4200/yr. + Paycheck from Power company. This could easily pay for itself in at max 10 years. Not to mention other tax rebates, grants, and incentives.

  2. few good shady days will wake these dreamers up. and if they think people believe they only have $43000 in that big houses solar,that is crazy. they will be dead long before that units paid for,of coarse they will never tell you that.

  3. Be smart – don’t pay any more electricity bills. more info: solar.xfollow.me (Copy to your browser’s address bar)

  4. I’m following you up until 30 x $800 = $160,000. I get 30×800= $24,000, NOT $160,000. So, at $1752 a year, you can recoup in 13.69… Just in time for his retirement. Anyhow, I agree with the later postings comment: How long does it take to recoup investment on granite countertops? Answer: Never. The old man will definitely be dead before that happens!

  5. The cost to us for the solar system was $30,000 and the cost for the energy efficiency was $13,000. We put a 10% downpayment and let the bank finance the rest. We saved a total of nearly $22,000 over six years of living in the house and sold it 13 months ago with a small gain in a down market. We actually made a 22% ROI on the money we put down for the energy equipment.

  8. 6 kilowatts x 5 good hours of sun = 30 kilowatts a day. 365 days in a year x 30 killowatts = 10950 kw a year (assuming perfect sunlight).
    Most power companies charge on average about 16 cents a KW. 10950kw x .16 = $1752 saved per year.
    Most 200 watt panels are about 800 bucks each (including all accessories, cables, etc). He would have 30 of these. 30 x $800 = $160000. So he is saving $1752 a year, on a $160,000 investment. The old man will be dead in the 90+ years it takes to pay it all off.

  10. some solar homes have battery banks think a room full of car battery’s, that stores the power when the sun is out, then you can run off the battery’s when its dark,

  11. Some power companies credit people for the electricity they generate and give them credit on the bill. Typically solar houses create more power on hot summer days when there is the most demand for power. Essentially the power company becomes the battery — the solar home owner banks his power credits and uses them on days when he can not generate his own power.
    The problem is that most power companies do not encourage this because it doesn’t make money for them.

  12. How are you going to power everything in your house when it’s dark outside, no sun light? Is there a generator that stores the electricity whiling utilizing it at the same time?

  13. I live next to the proposed dominion power plant in St. Paul Virginia. I own a fine home in an up scale neighborhood. I would give anything to have someone use my home as a model for solar, wind or a combo grid connect or off grid system. I own 8 empty lots in the subdivision, hillside and everything faces south. I can’t afford to switch over but if I could find a way I would do it in a heartbeat.
    Use me.

  14. I think that this is a great step in the right direction! Great job!
    I will definitely consider this as an option!

  16. I remember Loudoun county very well. I grew up near Leesburg, lived in Sterling, and Philomont. I love Richmond, but I do miss Loudoun.

  18. Interesting how people will ask how much solar panels cost and worry about the economics of them but no one questions granite counter tops and the other expensive finishes put into houses. It’s all a question of where you want to spend your money not if you’re going to spend it in most cases.

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