Category Archives: Renewables and Energy

Appraisal Study Confirms rooftop solar adds value to home

Posted on February 25, 2016 | Leave a comment

solar val

Study results and conclusions:

PV systems garned premiums of $2.68/W to $4.31/W across states, averaging $3.78/W or about $14,000 for average-size (3.8-kW) PV system that would have sold in 2011.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com ; they are appraisers are certified green appraisers.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

CA Homeowners wanting rooftop solar have plenty of options

Posted on February 16, 2016 | Leave a comment

California regulators have set new rules for compensating rooftop solar owners, so now what?

Do you buy a solar system now or later? Is a lease better than purchasing? How about a loan?

Will it add value to your home? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com forerunners in Green Property Appraisals.

As the pace of purchasing solar power systems picks up, it can get cloudy for consumers who are trying to figure out how and when to enter the market.

As with many rapidly developing technologies, the key is to follow an approach that fits your economic situation, solar experts said. And just because new fees start this year or next, depending on where you live, it’s important to install a system when you are ready, not on some regulatory timetable.

Homeowners who want to go solar can choose from an array of financial options.

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

How to make sure your green home upgrades pay off

Posted on January 16, 2016 | Leave a comment

GET A HOME ENERGY AUDIT

You want to lower your electric or gas bill. You may even be ready to buy or lease solar panels to generate electricity. But what if you can accomplish big savings by simply re-sealing your windows and doors to prevent air inside your home from venting, driving up your heating and cooling costs? Where do you begin?

MAKE EASY CHANGES FIRST

Tackling less expensive changes first can add up to big savings.

Replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs, using a programmable thermostat to control when air conditioning or heat turns on can whittle away at your utility bills. Then there’s insulation, the decidedly low-tech but key feature of every energy efficient home.

CONSIDER RESALE IMPACT

Certain green upgrades may add value to your home, depending on whether you live in a part of the country where those upgrades are seen as more of a selling point.

A recent study tracked single-family homes with solar power systems in six states that were sold mostly between 2010 and 2013. The study, conducted by real estate appraisers and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, found that the homes sold, on average, for more than other homes without solar power systems. It also found that the sales price gain was higher the bigger the solar system in the home.

Will solar add value to your home? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for you home value questions. The are Southern California’s forerunners in green property appraisals.

The appraisers, on average, found a premium of around $14,000 for solar homes with typical-sized systems of about 3.85 kilowatts.