Thank you for your recent article highlighting the Sullivan-Sedahl residence that was on the Wake County Green Building and Solar Tour ["Homeowners go green," Nov. 29].

While we appreciate the exposure for solar technology and its energy and monthly cost savings, a key fact was omitted.

Your article described a photovoltaic solar system as costing tens of thousands of dollars, which is true.

Not mentioned was the 30 percent federal tax incentive for solar, as well as the state of North Carolina's 35 percent tax incentive, one of the most generous in the U. S.

What that means is a system qualifies for 65 percent in tax credits, reducing the actual cost dramatically.

Combined with the income stream of reimbursement per kilowatt hour (roughly double what Progress Energy charges for each kilowatt hour used), it makes the payback a much different scenario than people assume.

Our own company has installed a 4.8 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on our warehouse, the first to be installed in downtown Cary.

With the carbon offsets we have purchased from N.C. GreenPower, plus the electricity we generate with our solar system, we are proud to have a carbon neutral footprint.

Kathy Miller Cary

The author is vice president of Yes! Solar Solutions, which hosted the tour with the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association. Yes! was also the installer of the solar thermal hot water system on the Sullivan-Sedahl residence.

Solar buyers beware

I was interested in the cost and payback period regarding the 3.2-kilowatt photovoltaic system installed at the residence of Murray Silverstone and Laura Reed ["Homeowners go green," Nov. 29].

You mention monthly savings.

But you never mention the total cost of the installation and how many years it will take to breakeven.

Most of these systems cost over $20,000 -- even with government rebates.

Energy companies generally buy back "extra" kilowatt hours at less than 50 percent value.

I mean, really, would you let your mother be tricked into installing a solar system, when it does not save her any money over the 20 year lifespan?

Roger Moore Cary