Californians Willing to Pay More for Solar Homes
The demand for solar technology is on the rise: a recent survey
of California homeowners shows that more than 50% of those surveyed
would be willing to pay more for a home already equipped with solar
or wind technology. More than 60% would be more interested in a
home that has a renewable energy system than in one that doesn’t.
Conducted for the California Energy Commission’s Renewable
Energy Program by Maryland Marketing Research, Inc., the survey
included 300 California homeowners in San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Fresno and San Diego.
“These are very promising findings about homeowners’
preferences,” said Buydown Program manager Sandy Miller. “Residents
who are considering remodeling their homes this spring should consider
installing solar photovoltaics or wind turbines, depending on their
site. It makes good sense financially, especially with the current
rebates available through the Energy Commission.”
To offset the initial cost of a renewable system, homeowners can
take advantage of cash rebates available through the California
Energy Commission.
The Buydown Program offers residents $4.50 per watt or up to 50%
of the total eligible system cost, whichever is less. “Funds
are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until exhausted,”
said Miller. As of February 2002, almost $20 million is still available
to Californians who install small solar or wind systems (10 kWh
or less) on their homes.
The benefits of installing a renewable energy system extend far
beyond the state’s financial assistance. Current trends indicate
that installing solar or wind technology is likely to build home
equity and even improve resale value.
A good example of how cost-effective renewable systems can be is
Village Green, a 116-home, highly energy-efficient development in
Sylmar built in partnership with Fannie Mae. Village Green uses
solar photovoltaic panels in addition to other energy-efficient
technologies.
“The average Village Green resident pays $20 per month in
utility bills compared to the average bill of $200 per month for
other Sylmar residents – even their neighbors across the street,”
said Barbara Zeidman, director of Fannie Mae’s Los Angeles
office. “In Village Green, resale values have gone up and the
residents’ reduced monthly bills are proof positive that these
types of systems make a genuine difference to their pocketbooks.”
For residents in eligible local publicly owned electric utility
districts like Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or Sacramento
Municipal Utility District, the Buydown Program has $8 million available
for small solar or wind systems (10 kWh or less). Contact the California
Energy Commission’s Renewable Energy Program for information.
For more information about renewable energy rebates, grants and
renewable systems, visit http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/
or call the Energy Call Center at (800) 555-7794 (within California).
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