Photo: npr.org
The State of California is the first state in the country to require all new homes being built beginning in 2020 have solar panels. The requirement applies to all single family and condo units up to three stories high. The additional cost is estimated to be about $9, 500 added onto one of the highest median prices in the country at $565,000.
Some observers would have preferred that the State focus on building large solar farms rather than residences since the residence approach means that utilities have to deal with power coming up line that may be difficult for them to handle. Yet, residence based solar panel electricity provides for a more distributed system, rather than a centralized one offering more redundancy, options for homeowners and great self-reliance.
The residence based electricity option basically poses an alternative to central line based power utilities. Essentially with competition from residences it will spur utilities to cut costs and see how to move into renewable energy quicker to take advantage of lower costs for solar power.
Sources: California Energy Commission, The Wall Street Journal – 5/9/18
The shift to renewable energy sources is crucial to meet objects for climate change as endorsed by 175 countries in the Paris Climate Accord. When we think about the consequences of not meeting the challenge of climate change it is unthinkable how hostile our planet will be to live on – eventually making it uninhabitable.
We call for a national initiative to make renewables the standard for all new homes. As we have noted almost 60 % of the people want to set the environment as a priority even if there is an economic cost. if the federal government won’t do it then the top 20 new housing states should implement the plan and make renewables as the de facto approach toward home building.
To assist first time buyers, we recommend the State of California offer for homes under $400k an energy credit to be used as a credit on families’ state taxes to help out with the added solar expense added onto the price of a new home.
Let’s get the country moving toward renewable energy as our standard way of building communities and enjoy a climate that we all can live in.