Well, I must toot my own horn a bit. Redwood Alliance has been the recipient of a couple used RE equipment donations in the past. But we are pretty much lined out (except we need a 20 watt system for a mesh network radio). What we do with other RE equipment donations now is to turn them into funds via eBay.
Joel Davidson wrote at 06:54 PM 8/7/2008: >Most state solar incentive programs are limited to new equipment. I don't >recall if used equipment qualifies for the federal tax credit. Perhaps someone >on this list can advise. > >Some good people who can use new and used equipment are the Rahus Institute ><http://www.rahus.org/>http://www.rahus.org/ and Solar Energy International ><http://www.solarenergy.org/>http://www.solarenergy.org/ > >Any others? > >Joel Davidson >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Allan Sindelar >To: <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>'RE-wrenches' >Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:10 PM >Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tax Deductible RE Donations (inspired by >InverterforSwitch to GT) > >We would never donate PV equipment to charity, Joel. I would guess that most >organizations wouldn't know what to do with this stuff. Pretty soon somebody >discovers it (at a church rummage sale?), buys it cheap and tries to put >together a cheap and funky system with major safety issues. I wouldn't want to >install a system with outdated hardware with an unknown history. > >We keep a periodically-updated sale flyer with descriptions of used equipment. >Typically I (as the old fart specializing in off-grid here) will suggest >something we have in the shop to a prospective customer on a budget. Since >they're looking for guidance as well as a good deal, I can generally make up a >safe and complete system using a package of used stuff. Everyone benefits. > >Sometimes I even install it. Just today I completed installation of a >Code-compliant (for tax credit eligibility) system package that we first >installed elsewhere six years ago. The former clients brought in grid (to run >an electric kiln; she's a potter) and rewired the array to run a Sunny Boy >when the batteries died. The new owners saved several thousand $$, as we >resold the entire BOS at 55% of original price. New array, rack, and >batteries; reused SW4024, T240, PSDC, SB50. TM2020, even cables, >interconnects, and internal wiring. We charge regular rates for installation; >the client saved on labor as we reconnected existing wires, previously >carefully disassembled. > >We will generally sell equipment we replace on consignment; very little goes >unsold, given enough time. Our consignment schedule (worked out over many >years) is part of our general Rates and Policies: > > >Resale and Recycling of Used Equipment > >We often remove serviceable used equipment when upgrading a power system. We >will resell this equipment for you if you request it, according to the >following terms: > >· No blue book exists for solar components. We will estimate a >reasonable resale price based on our experience and intuitive fairness. > >· We sell on consignment, and while we may predict an items resale >appeal, we wont guarantee when or if it will sell. > >· We will resell for you only specific component hardware items. Wire, >conduit and fittings, electrical equipment, etc. will be reused or recycled, >but will not be sold on consignment for you, as the recordkeeping becomes too >difficult. > >· We will pay you when a resale is made according to the following >schedule: > >o Our base commission is 35% of the sale price excluding tax. > >o If you have bought a full system from us, our commission is reduced by >10%. (This is quite common.) > >o If the buyer of the component has bought a full system from us, our >commission is reduced by an additional 10%. (This is rare, but it happens.) > > > >All materials that leave a jobsite in our truck will be sorted and reused or >recycled to the greatest extent possible. We recycle all standard household >recyclables as well as copper, brass, aluminum, steel, batteries, packing >peanuts, cardboard, and anything else we can reasonably keep out of the >landfill. > > > >Joel, this has resulted in many happy customers over the years. The check that >shows up in the mail from us is seldom expected. I hope this helps. > >Allan > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Joel Davidson > >Wrenches, >Following on comments about switching to grid-tie (or any other changes), what >do you do with modules, mounts, inverters, etc. that no longer serve your >clients' needs? Do you or your clients contribute the unneeded or unwanted >equipment to a charitable or non-profit organization that qualifies the >donation for a tax deduction? What are your favorite charities and non-profit >orgs (what churches, schools, etc.)? >Joel Davidson > > >---------- >_______________________________________________ >List sponsored by Home Power magazine > >RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > >http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >List rules & etiquette: >http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >Check out participant bios: >www.members.re-wrenches.org > >_______________________________________________ >List sponsored by Home Power magazine > >RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > >http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >List rules & etiquette: >http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >Check out participant bios: >www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
