Category Archives: energy retrofitting

Solar Energy is Poised for an unforgettable year

solar la

New Statistics just released  by the U.S. Energy Information Administration suggest that in the coming year, the booming solar sector will add more new electricity-generating capacity than any other — including natural gas and wind.

As part as the typical loan process, lenders randomly assign an appraiser to determine the appraised value of a home.  However, solar/energy efficient homes are not a typical home – it is a high performance building with unique features.  Fannie Mae,
Freddie Mac and FHA guidelines require appraisers to be competent in the property type they are appraising.

If you do not clearly identify the property as a special property type requiring a competent appraiser trained in solar powered, energy-efficient,
high performance homes, a typical appraiser will be assigned, these features may not be taken into account, which will put your appraisal at risk of not being competently appraised.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com; they are Appraisal Institute, Certified Green Appraisers and BPI Certified Building Analysts.

EIA reports that planned installations for 2016 include 9.5 gigawatts of utility-scale solar — followed by 8 gigawatts (or 8 billion watts) of natural gas and 6.8 gigawatts of wind. This suggests solar could truly blow out the competition, because the EIA numbers are only for large or utility-scale solar arrays or farms and do not include fast-growing rooftop solar, which will also surely add several additional gigawatts of capacity in 2016.

In other words, U.S. solar seems poised for not just a record year but perhaps a blowout year. Last year, in contrast, solar set a new record with 7.3 gigawatts of total new photovoltaic capacity across residential, commercial, and utility scale installations.

read more at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/03/02/solar-energy-is-poised-for-an-unforgettable-year/

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

 

 

 

 

Video: NBC’s Consumer Bob – Is the switch to solar right for you?

consumer bob

San Diego’s NBC’s reporter Consumer Bob video: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Is-The-Switch-to-Solar-Right-for-You-/302849231

Will it add value to your home?  Contact the appraisers at http://www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Website that Compares Solar Prices for Your Home or Business

The average price for a solar panel has plummeted more than 60 percent since 2010, and installation costs have fallen 40 percent during the same period. If you’ve been unable to go solar in the past, now is the time to reconsider.

www.energysage.com

Despite such increased affordability, many people remain unaware of the financing options available for home solar systems, and comparing those options can be confusing. Should you choose a solar loan, solar lease or power-purchase agreement, or buy the panels outright? Now, a new online tool called EnergySage can help clear the air. This one-stop shop has easy-to-understand financing comparisons, as well as the nation’s first solar marketplace where installers compete for your business. As the recipient of two U.S. Department of Energy SunShot awards, EnergySage has been charged with moving the nation’s solar industry forward, and it aims to do for home solar power what online tools such as Expedia have done for air travel.

Here’s how it works: Input your address, and EnergySage will use aerial views of your home’s roof to gauge your solar potential and system cost. If you like the estimate, you can put it out for bid and receive three to five quotes from pre-screened, certified installers. “The competition means you can expect to pay 10 to 20 percent less than market averages,” says EnergySage CEO Vikram Aggarwal. The solar marketplace helps solar installers, too, by matching them with homeowners who want to invest in solar power.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/compare-solar-prices-on-energysage-zmgz15fmzsto.aspx#ixzz3PTbxsmcu

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only