Earlier this year, regulators in California approved a
plan to require solar panels on new home construction throughout the state and
set 2020 for everything to go into effect. The plan will require solar panels
to be installed on almost all new single-family homes which will add nearly
$10,000 onto the cost of a new home. The plan is a welcome addition for
statewide homebuilders as well as solar power companies and utility companies.
California has some of the best incentives in the
nation for solar installation including a 30% federal tax credit and 1 for 1
net metering. On top of that, you simply can’t beat the bright California
sunshine that keeps solar going and the fact that you can pay less on your
electric bill each month by using solar power.
On average, a solar power system in California will
cost around $4.00 per watt of power used whereas residents pay nearly $20 per
kilowatt hour of electricity from local utility companies. The national average
for electricity is just over $13, making California the fifth most expensive
state in the U.S. for electricity falling behind Hawaii, Alaska, Connecticut
and Massachusetts. (source: ChooseEnergy.com)
When it comes to state rankings for the number of homes powered by solar power, states like North
Dakota with small solar power resources
or South Dakota, Alaska and others who
have few homes with solar power and also fewer than 50 solar power companies in
the entire state will hopefully hoe on board with more solar power companies
and better incentives to bring new solar customers on board. Using renewable
energy helps cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and California is working
hard to do their part in cutting down on these dangerous emissions.
Having
Solar Panels Installed
There are numerous types of solar panel brands that a
person can choose from when the decision has been made to incorporate solar
power into a home. Shelton Roofing, a
Santa Cruz based roofing company recommends homeowners have their roof
inspected prior to the installation to check for some important things ahead of
time. Owner Brett Shelton sates that most people never think about their roof
until they see a leak, or they realize shingles have blown off during a storm
but when solar power is going to be used, the roof needs to be in good
condition. You need an inspection to check for the following:
- Leaks
- Weak Spots
- Debris on the roof
- The age of the roof
- Deterioration of shingles/roof tiles
- Ventilation
- Insulation & Windows
Getting
a Quote for Solar Panel Installation
There is a saying that goes something like, “Not all is
fair in love and war.” Well, when it comes to solar panel installation, all
quotes are not the same. When you get started with the quote phase of your
solar power journey in California, you need to make sure that every quote you
receive is comparable to the others.
For instance, if you need a quote to buy the panels,
make sure the company is quoting on a purchase rather than leasing panels. This
can make a huge difference in the overall quote. You also need to make sure
they all quote for installation of the exact system you want and the same exact
number of solar panels.
Make
Sure Your Solar Panels Will Endure the Years
When you buy solar panels, it is important to buy
panels that are going to last as many years as possible. This is a hefty
investment and one that cannot be taken lightly by cutting corners on overall
value. You want to find a company that offers the longest warranty on the
panels.
Longer warranties will often mean a higher price tag, but
in the long run those panels are going to outlive the others and you won’t find
yourself paying large sums of money in ten or fifteen years when you could have
solar panels that have a 25-year warranty.
A warranty on solar panels coincides with the number of
years the solar panel manufacturer will guarantee the panels will maintain a
specific percentage of efficiency. The longer, the better. Check with several
manufacturers before deciding on the right one for your home. The installer you
hire should be able to offer in-depth information on several brands of solar panels,
so you can compare them side by side to see which will meet your expectations
for longevity as well as pricing.
The
Cost of Installation
For years, a new roof installation was about the
biggest investment that a California homeowner would make for their home.
Today, solar panel installation has become he biggest investment and one that
can not only add value to an existing home but can make a new home easier to
sale when it is ready to hit the market.
A four-kilowatt system can cost upwards of $35,000 for
the system to be fully installed for a residential customer. This is a major
investment and California homeowners must be able to find the right solar panel
installer to make sure everything is set just right and to also ensure they pay
the best rate for installation possible.
Before you agree to hire an installer, make sure they
tell you about any rebates, discounts or other incentives they offer. Also make
sure they are upfront about all cost associated with the installation by asking
for an all-inclusive quote.
What
to Know About the Solar Panel Mandate in California
By the year 2030, it is California’s plan to have at
least half of the state’s energy production from renewable sources of energy.
As sated above, by 2020, the new solar mandate will require all new
single-family homes to have solar power installed.
The state decided to place the requirement in action to
help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by mandating that new homes take part in reducing
the impact on the environment, but as of now, since they
are only going to require solar power installation on new construction of
single-family residential homes rather than on corporations, the impact will
not be as large as may be necessary.
The largest factor with greenhouse gas
emissions stem from transportation and business infrastructure.
The mandate will make new home construction cost more,
but homeowners will save money as the years go by. Solar power can save, on
average, nearly $20,000 over a 30-year span of time. That means homeowners can
save approximately $700 annually when using solar power instead of electricity.
Homeowners will still need to obtain electricity from
the power grid as well as their solar panels, but with quality batteries, solar
panels will be a great relief during times of natural disasters such as
earthquakes that are frequent in the state.