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A solar electric system can help many homeowners reduce their monthly expenses while adding value to their home. Unfortunately, the solar industry has attracted some unscrupulous people who target specific populations, such as seniors. Therefore, it is wise for seniors to take extra precautions when considering solar for their home. Seniors may even want to seek counsel from a trusted family member or neighbor before making any decisions.

Here are some questions to consider during the process:

• Does the solar company have a contractor’s license in good standing? Is the salesperson licensed? Click here to find out.
• How long has the company been in business? Do you expect it to be in business in 10 years?
• Is the salesperson educating you, or just trying to close the deal? Can they back up all of their claims from reputable third-party sources? Does their proposal consider your expected future electric usage patterns and your specific site conditions (e.g. roof orientation and shading)? Have they explained how your relationship with the utility changes when you go solar?
• Are they transparent about financing options, the pros and cons of each, and the costs involved?
• Do they have good online customer reviews on platforms like Yelp and Google? Do they have previous customers that you can speak with? Have they installed existing solar systems in your area that you can see?

Some solar companies go door to door selling solar. Seniors are sometimes lured into signing up for a 20-year solar lease because the doorknocker is effective in creating a false sense of urgency. Commonly they claim that there is a new incentive program that allows homeowners to go solar for free. “Just sign here on this iPad to see if you qualify,” they say. Well, if it sounds too good to be true…

The best strategy is to ask for their contact information. Then research the company later without pressure. This is far better than signing on the dotted line or providing personal information. Here are a few tips about how best to deal with door-to-door salespeople.

While solar leases (sometimes called PPAs) are a legitimate method for going solar (vs. owning), they are often presented in a false light. Read the fine print. Research the problems that others have experienced. Ask local real estate professionals what issues they have seen with the lease. For myriad reasons, most homeowners choose to own their solar system rather than to lease one.

Going solar is a long-term decision. Homeowners, and especially seniors, should not make that decision casually, much less under pressure. When in doubt, ask for help. Feel free to contact us with more specific inquiries.

The post What Should Seniors Watch Out For When Considering Solar? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

1. How will the solar system affect the value of your home when it’s time to sell? Currently there is no accepted metric for determining exactly how much a solar electric installation will increase your home value, but it generally will increase the value by some amount (unless it’s a solar lease or a PPA). Imagine looking at a home for sale in a neighborhood in which homeowners are spending $2000 – $3000 per year on electricity, but this homeowner spends close to $0 per year on electricity — would you pay more for that home?
2. How long will it take to recoup my solar investment? In SDG&E territory, the answer is typically between 4-7 years at current electric rates, depending on the configuration of your roof and on your electric usage. However, if you consider that you would also recoup some additional value from the solar should you sell your home, the “payback period” decreases to 2-4 years. It also decreases if you consider future utility electric rate increases.
3. If you plan to rent out your home when you move instead of selling it, it’s important to consider that a solar home can garner higher-than-market rates. Renters may be happy to pay an extra $100 – $150 per month in rent if the solar system will save them $200 per month.
4. The 30% residential solar tax credit is in place for systems installed and “placed into service” during 2019. After that, the tax credit will step down, and then disappear altogether for systems put into service after 2021. It makes sense to capture these government incentives while they are in place, because the next homeowner will not be able to.
5. Net Energy Metering (NEM) rules changes over time as the electric grid is comprised of more and more renewable energy. These rules dictate the value that homeowners can obtain from their solar electric system. Each time these rules change they become less favorable to new solar homeowners. However, any residential solar installation placed into service under the current NEM rules in California will remain under these rules for the next 20 years, even if the home is sold during this time period. This makes a solar system installed now more valuable than one that might be installed under future NEM rules.
6. If offsetting your carbon footprint is part of your motivation for considering solar, then installing a system can be a way for you to leave an environmental legacy beyond your tenure in your home. It’s reasonable for considerations other than financial to be an important part of your decision-making process.

If you expect to eventually move, but plan on going solar now, then we recommend:

1. Go solar with an established and reputable contractor that you expect to stand the test of time. Remember, bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to residential solar installers. As with other trades, you should look for a solar installer who’s business model relies on referrals from happy customers instead of on a big marketing budget.
2. Choose solar equipment from established manufacturers with a strong balance sheet. Not all manufacturers stand the test of time either.
3. Pay attention to aesthetics. Become involved with the system design, even down to the conduit run. Avoid “reverse-tilt” installations on your roof if at all possible, as they have been known to be so aesthetically unappealing as to solicit complaints from neighbors. The last thing you want is for your solar system to be a liability when selling your home, instead of an asset.
4. Make sure all warranties are transferable, and that you have all the records you’ll need to pass on to the next homeowner.
5. Consider that if you finance your solar installation that you will likely have to pay off that loan when you sell your home.
6. Shy away from solar leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Prospective homebuyers may not want to assume a monthly lease or PPA payment for a solar system, making your home more difficult to sell. In many cases the sellers of a home end up buying out the remainder of their solar lease at an inflated price in order to sell their home.

San Diego County Solar is a local and established residential solar contractor with a focus on quality and the customer experience. If you would like to learn more about solar for your home, please contact us for an educational consultation (not a sales pitch).

The post What If We Plan To Move? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

Mandatory solar is part of the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Title 24 rules, along with more stringent energy efficiency standards. The efficiency and the solar together are intended to reduce the home’s electricity use to zero kWh annually!

These new rules do not address the existing housing stock. Because existing homes are generally not as efficient as new construction, the economic payback for solar can be much higher for existing homes. Those who currently own their own home can capture the full 30% solar tax credit if they go solar in 2018 or 2019. And even if they finance their system purchase, their loan payments will generally be less than their utility savings.

It’s Official. All New California Homes Must Incorporate Solar

The post Solar Required on All New California Homes appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

We’re creating more good jobs with affordable solar power through the Green Collar Solar Program.  Now, homes with smaller electric bills can realize significant savings with low-cost solar energy systems.

How does the Green Collar Solar program make solar affordable?

We’ve taken everything we’ve learned designing and installing solar panels to bring affordable solar power to market.  We can install these low-cost systems on select, solar friendly homes.

How affordable is it ?

Homeowners with no upfront money and electric bills from $75-$150 can reduce pollution while saving money with solar power.

This is not a lease.

With available $0 down payment solar financing you can own your Green Collar Solar power system.

No appointment with a salesperson is required to get a free estimate?

Just call (760) 230-2220 and we will provide you with a detailed free estimate based on your home and electric bill.

The Green Collar Solar program was created by San Diego County Solar and is not available through other solar installation companies at this time.

The post Affordable Solar appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

Once you’ve made the decision to install solar panels on your home, there are a number of solar companies to choose from.  A homeowner’s choices range from small local solar installation companies specializing in solar electric systems to national home improvement companies offering solar installation as one of many services.

Solar industry experts agree that soft costs, including marketing, design, permitting and administrative expenses are areas where efficiency will drive down the cost of future solar installation.   The efficiency of local solar companies in these areas allows them to provide the most cost effective solar electric systems.

Homeowners can expect to receive outstanding service from local local companies, as it’s essential for their success and longevity.  Additionally, local solar companies are more likely to employ local workers, spend more of their dollars with local suppliers and share a long-term commitment to the local community.

SDCS – Encinitas, CA – (760) 230-2220

The post Local solar companies are the way to go for installation of solar panels appeared first on San Diego County Solar.