California officials recently approved a new solar roof mandate on all new home construction. The ruling was made in May 2018 by the California Energy Commission (CEC) as an addition to the state's efficiency standards on building codes. The new rules will take effect on January 1, 2020.
Here are some of the key points that have emerged from this new solar roof mandate:
The average size of existing solar installations in California is 6.8 kilowatts, so the new solar homes will be smaller and cost less. The new homes will be built with modern windows, walls, and attics that are designed for comfort and energy savings. Homeowners may choose to expand with more solar panels to go all electric.
Residential solar sales are expected to increase by 14% from 2020 to 2023, while the new standards are in effect. The total number of single-family and multi-family homes that must comply with the new ruling by 2020 is 130,000. Due to the fact that the state is currently experiencing a housing shortage, there's a chance that the estimate for new homes will increase. One of the key benefits to the solar industry will be savings on customer acquisition costs.
The state's largest utilities, such as Southern California Edison, have shown support for the mandate, as it will contribute to modernizing the grid and reduce greenhouse gases. It's also a move to make California homes all electric.
The two costs of building new solar panels are the cost to the homeowner and the cost to electric grid operators. For homeowners, the range of costs for adding solar panels is $8,000 to $18,000. The CEC says on its website that the new solar roof mandate will add about $9,500 in construction costs, but the homeowner will eventually save $19,000 in energy costs over 30 years.
The commission estimates that homeowners will pay $40 more per month on mortgage, but save $80 on heating, cooling, and lighting. Homeowners will be responsible for complying with the new code, but the work will be handled by energy consultants.
If you are looking for solar roofing installation in Southern California, you can trust Applied Roofing Services. We have more than 12 years of experience in providing effective solar roofing solutions to our customers.
Also Read: Is Your Roof Fit Enough for Solar Panel Installation?
