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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.

Well, not necessarily. 10-15 years ago, the cost of solar was extremely high. That’s no longer the case.

When thinking about potential efficiency upgrades, it’s important to consider how much they’ll impact your future electric usage. First, compare your electric costs during the summer months to other months in order to get a rough idea how much you’re spending on air conditioning. Is it $200 a month for three months each summertime? $300 for four months?

Well, new efficient windows can save you a portion of that extra cost. Same with a new efficient air conditioner. Remember that if you don’t have an air conditioner, then efficiency won’t save you anything at all!

Next, consider how much these efficiency upgrades cost. After looking at the cost vs. the savings, many homeowners decide to forego the efficiency upgrades. A new air conditioner, for example, may cost $10,000 or more to install, and might save the homeowner just a few hundred dollars each year. The same utility savings could be achieved with just $1,000 – $2,000 of solar instead.

There are cases though in which efficiency can be a good investment. LED light bulbs are perhaps the efficiency investment that pays for itself the fastest, and the quality of light now is good. Caulking around windows and doors is very inexpensive, and can save on energy costs to heat or cool your home. Insulation in your attic can be an inexpensive way to save on energy costs too, especially on the cost of heating (this will save you gas more than electricity). And replacing an old pool pump with a new efficient variable speed pool pump will generally pay for itself in energy savings fairly quickly.

And there are other legitimate reasons to invest in efficiency, having more to do with comfort than with economics. Dual pane windows may reduce hot spots and cold spots in your home, and can block some outdoor noise. New efficient air conditioners are quieter and cause less air turbulence, and can improve your indoor air quality.

But if your motivation is primarily economic, postponing solar in favor of major efficiency improvements just does not make financial sense. A dollar spent on solar will save you MUCH more than a dollar spent on a new air conditioner or new windows. And the 30% federal solar tax credit will start stepping down after 2019, and will disappear altogether for systems installed after 2021. So if you’re going to get solar, it makes sense to do it now. Then think about major efficiency improvements at your leisure.

The post Energy Efficiency Before Solar? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

But, for those of us who do not have the cash to cover the cost of solar, there are an abundance of finance options. The easiest method is often to sign up for a loan through your solar contractor, many of which will qualify you online within minutes. Some of them offer fantastic rates of 2.99% or 3.99%, or even 18 months “same as cash.” Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it is. Solar contractors must pay fees to the loan provider for the privilege of offering these loans. Those fees are often thousands of dollars per loan, and are of course passed on to the homeowner in the form of higher solar contract prices.

Other loan options require more effort on the part of the homeowner, but this effort can translate into significant savings. Here are some of these options… let us know if you think of others that we’ve forgotten:

1. Equity loan / HELOC/ Cash-out refinance:  this is a loan against your home equity. This might require small fees upfront and maybe even an appraisal, and it may take some time to complete the process. But the interest rate can be quite attractive. And for many homeowners, the interest portion of the loan payment may be tax-deductible. Sometimes homeowners borrow against a second home or a rental property, rather than the home on which the solar will be installed.
2. Collateral loan:  Some homeowners are able to use their retirement account or other asset as collateral for a loan. This is done either through your bank or credit union, or through the company holding your investment accounts (certificates of deposit [CDs], brokerage accounts, life insurance, 401K’s, etc.). Alternately, some homeowners have even used their automobile or motor home as collateral in order to finance their solar purchase (i.e. car loan).
3. Property Assessed Clean Energy loan (PACE):  This is a relatively new category of loan, available in many (but not all) regions. The loan is taken on behalf of the home, and paid back on the homeowner’s property tax bills. The main benefits are that the loan does not require the homeowner to meet FICO or debt/income thresholds in order to qualify, and it does not show up on the homeowner’s credit report. That means that it will not affect your ability to borrow for something else. There may also be some tax benefits. The main downsides are that there are significant fees that are rolled into the loan, the interest rates are relatively high, and the accrued interest between annual loan payments can be significant.
4. Credit union solar loan:  As distinct from other solar loans, some credit unions offer no-fee or low-fee solar loans to homeowners at very reasonable rates. At the time this blog was posted, the author is unaware of any solar loans available to homeowners through banks, and is aware of  only a few solar loans offered through credit unions. However, the ones that do exist can offer quite favorable terms. The downside is that the approval process may require several emails or even a trip to the credit union, and may take a couple of days instead of a couple of minutes (depending on the credit union). Some homeowners use no-fee loans of this type as a short-term loan to cover just the portion of the solar contract price that will come back to them in the form of a tax credit — don’t forget that there is currently a 30% solar tax credit that is set to start phasing out after 2019!
5. GRID Alternatives:  If your family is below specific income thresholds, you may qualify for a free solar installation from the government through the SASH Program. GRID Alternatives is the administrator of this program, so contact them to learn more. But be very cautious when looking at this option, as there are a ton of disreputable companies pretending to be affiliated with the government or the utility, and that use misleading language to lend themselves an air of authority.
6. Get creative!:  Some homeowners have gotten loans with which to buy solar through special programs offered by their employer, because of their military background, or through a club or professional affiliation. Homeowners will sometimes borrow money from a family member or a family trust, if they know they’ll be able to pay it back quickly. Or sometimes they can even finance a portion of the solar contract on a credit card — again, if they know they’ll be able to pay it back quickly.

A solar installation on your home can save you a lot of money. Most San Diego area homeowners can obtain loans with which to finance their solar installation that offer much lower payments than they’ll be saving each month. That is, they’re cash-flow positive from Day 1! If you’d like to look at a solar proposal specifically designed for your home and your electric needs, or if you’d like to explore further which finance option makes the most sense for your family, please contact the experts at San Diego County Solar.

Disclaimer:  When considering options that may include tax benefits, we highly advise speaking with your tax professional regarding your ability to capture them.

The post Creative Financing Options appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

• Hot does net metering work with SDG&E?
• What are the pros and cons of solar?
• How do the tax credits work?
• What does solar cost?
• What are the different finance vehicles available?
• When does it make sense to buy vs. lease?
• In what situations does solar not make sense?
• How do you size a solar system that that will cover your future electric needs?

These classes are taught by Seth Tilley, a 12 year veteran of the solar industry, with experience and education in renewable energy, real estate, and business. And also by Ken Roberts, an engineer with 19 years experience in technology, a certification by NABCEP in Technical Sales, and a laser-focus on educating the public about the often-missed important details.

Please reserve your seat now at an upcoming educational seminar. Take note, there will be no sales and no pressure at these meetings — just information from two local solar experts.

Click HERE to register for one of the four time slots.

• 9/29/18 10:30-11:30am – Bonita-Sunnyside Library
  • 4375 Bonita Rd. / Bonita 91902
• 10/06/18 -10:30-11:30am – Oceanside Library Mission Branch
  • 3861 Mission Ave. / Oceanside, 92058
• 10/13/18 – 10:30-11:30am- La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center
  • 8450 La Mesa Blvd. / La Mesa, 91942
• 10/20/18 – 1:30-2:30pm- Carlsbad Library Dove Branch
  • 1775 Dove Ln. / Carlsbad, 92011

Click HERE to register for one of the four time slots.

The post Register Now for Solar Educational Seminar appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

Solar in California grew dramatically with the introduction of the California Solar Initiative on January 1, 2007. This rebate program initially incentivized solar at a high rate, when solar was expensive. Then as more solar was installed and as solar became less expensive, the rebates gradually decreased until they were gone.

The federal tax credit began in 2005 at $2000. Then in 2009, the federal tax credit increased to a full 30% of the contract price. This tax credit will begin stepping down after 2019, and it will disappear altogether after 2021.

By the time the rebates through the California Solar Initiative were exhausted, the reliability of solar had improved, the cost of solar had fallen, and utility rates had increased. Online production monitoring also had become standard, so that homeowners could make sure their systems were always working properly. This translates now into a very high return on investment (ROI) for homeowners who chose to buy solar.

During the Great Recession, the housing market was declining and solar financing become more difficult for homeowners to secure. This lead to the advent of the residential solar lease and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Under this program, the homeowner pays a monthly fee for the benefit of the solar electric production, but they do not actually own the solar system itself.

The lease/PPA briefly became the dominate method homeowners nationally used to go solar, topping out at almost 72% of the 2014 market. But since then, the substantial downsides of the solar lease/PPA have become more widely recognized, and solar loans have become more widely available. Now in 2018, about 70% of California homeowners going solar are choosing to purchase their solar system (with or without a loan).

The proportion of electricity on the California utility grid has grown substantially, and more solar is coming online everyday. Homeowners who felt that solar did not make economic sense 5-10 years ago are finding that today’s lower solar prices and higher electricity prices have changed the equation.

As solar becomes a greater part of our California energy mix, the electric utilities will push for new rules governing  homeowners who go solar; generally existing solar customers at the time of the rule changes are “grandfathered” under the old rules for a period of time.

The post A History of Residential Solar in California 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.

Lower solar cost will help the Green Collar Solar℠ Program create jobs.  We are expanding the market for solar energy with low-cost systems for homes with smaller electric bills.

How does it work?

We find homes with good solar energy potential and offer them low-cost solar energy installation.

How low is the cost? 

Low enough so people with electric bills from $75-$150 can save money with solar energy.

Is this a lease? 

NO, this is not a lease.  With Green Collar Solar℠ you will own your system, whether you write a check or go with $0 down solar financing.

Do I need an in-home appointment with a salesperson to get an estimate?

NO, simply call (760) 230-2220 and we will give you a free estimate based on your home and electric bill.

Is Green Collar Solar℠ an installation company?

NO, it is a program created by San Diego County Solar and is currently offered only by San Diego County Solar. 

The post Lower Solar Cost appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

I can’t say with certainty that it will cost less to install solar panels in the future.  Today in San Diego, solar panels account for about 20% of the cost of a typical residential solar installation.   So considering the Federal Income Tax Credit will pay for 30% of the cost of installing solar panels on your home through 2016, the panels would need to be free from that point forward just to maintain current pricing.

The inverter accounts for approximately 10% of total system cost, so there’s potential for savings there.  If the cost can be cut in half, that would knock 5% off the total.

The balance of materials is a mix of aluminum, stainless steel, copper, conduit, etc…  Then there is transportation, labor, permitting, insurance, licensing, marketing, overhead and a little profit for the contractor.  I don’t see prices for aluminum, steel and copper going down much if any over time.  While I expect we’ll see some innovation to reduce installation costs, I believe it will have only a marginal impact on the  overall cost of a residential solar panel installation.

Because solar panels begin paying for themselves as soon as you have them installed, the sooner the better.  The money you’re sending to the utility company every month could be paying for your system!

The post Will solar panel installation cost less in the future? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.