What might not exactly be a surprise, is that the state of California generates more electricity from solar power than any other state in the US. But now this number will take an even higher turn as new building codes will take effect January 1st, 2020, requiring all newly constructed homes statewide to be powered by the sun.
The ‘first-in-the-nation’ law, which will affect tens of thousands of homes every year, were approved in 2018 by the California Energy Commission. It requires all new single-family homes, along with new multifamily residences up to three stories tall, (like condominiums) to be constructed with solar panels on their roofs or powered by a larger solar array somewhere else. The rules do not affect existing homes.
What Will the Law Accomplish
Supporters note the new building standards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and smog statewide and will accelerate California’s leadership role in clean energy. They also point out that if homeowners install batteries to store the solar power, they will continue to have electricity even when PG&E and other utilities shut off the power on hot, windy days to reduce the risk of wildfires from falling electrical lines.
There are exemptions to the law though. If large trees, hills or other buildings provide so much shade as to make solar impractical, builders don’t have to comply. A new proposal from a Sacramento utility to allow large, distant solar farms to satisfy the rules could mean fewer rooftop solar systems.
The new laws are a landmark shift for the nation’s most populous state. Builders across California have been closely watching and preparing. Large companies that build major subdivisions are expected to adapt more easily than smaller builders who construct only a few homes a year.
Lennar, one of the largest homebuilders in the nation, has been building solar homes in California through its subsidiary, SunStreet, since 2013.
What are the Numbers
When combined with other new state building codes requiring better insulation and more efficient windows, the amount of energy used by new single-family homes in California will drop 53% compared with the current building codes, according to the California Energy Commission. That’s the same pollution reduction as taking 115,000 cars off the road every three years.
But there is an upfront cost.
It is estimated that the new standards will increase the price of a new house by roughly $9,500. However, over 30 years, homeowners will save roughly $19,000 in reduced electricity bills, for an overall savings. For example, a mortgage payment would increase by $40 a month due to the rules, but the homeowner would save $80 a month in electricity costs on average, the agency calculated.
California continues to make progress on renewable energy.
Existing law requires California utilities to generate 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind and geothermal power by 2020. They have already met that requirement, hitting 34 percent this year.
Overall, 6.6% of California homes now have solar panels.
How Many New Homes Will Get Solar After January 1st
Roughly 110,000 new housing units are built every year in California. About half are single-family homes. Of those, 15,000 new homes a year are built with solar panels now. That number is expected to triple or quadruple.
Affordability remains an issue. Although solar panels will cut home electricity bills dramatically, the added price of homes outfitted with solar panels could mean some won’t qualify for loans.
Only 31 percent of California households can afford to buy the median-priced home, which was $613,470 in the third quarter of 2019, according to the California Association of Realtors.
Environmental groups note the rules allow homeowners to sign contracts with companies that own the panels and lease them to the homeowner, which wouldn’t increase the overall housing sale price.
The solar mandate, electric vehicle incentives, rising renewable rules for utilities, and new home natural gas limits are key if the state is going to meet its goal of cutting greenhouse gases 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Net 0 Energy Homes knows all of this info and will be the first to tell you that the energy tides are turning. If you are interested in solar solutions and you don’t live in a city like this, contact Net 0 Energy now.
Net 0 Energy Homes employs a highly experienced team of expert solar panel installers of domestic and commercial solar panel (PV) systems across South Florida, including West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Florida Keys, and the Bahamas.
We also provide and install radiant barrier attack shield, quality insulation, solar water heaters, solar pool heaters, and a myriad of other amazing products to keep your home’s heating and cooling costs as low as modern science will allow.
Net 0 Zero Energy solar electricity systems are made of high-quality US manufactured modules of top tier quality. While our solar water heating systems are manufactured by Solar Development Incorporated, Florida’s oldest solar manufacturer located in Palm Beach County since 1974.