Green Real Estate Appraiser

San Diego #2 in Nation for Solar

Posted on April 9, 2016 | Leave a comment

Solar installations in San Diego have grown 76.6 percent in two years, making the city the metropolitan area with the second-highest number of solar panels in the country, according to a report released by an environmental group.

“San Diego really shines when it comes to solar power,” Michelle Kinman, clean energy advocate for Environment California Research and Policy Center, said at a news conference Friday.

In its annual report, Environment California looked at 64 cities nationwide. With 189 megawatts of installed photovoltaic capacity at the end of 2015, San Diego trails only Los Angeles, which ended the year at 215 megawatts.

But San Diego finished above Los Angeles on a per capita basis.

Does solar add value to your home? Contact the appraiser at www.scappraisals.com they specialize in solar and energy-efficient properties.

San Diego averaged 136 watts of installed solar per person while Los Angeles had 55 watts. Nationally, San Diego finished fourth in per capita solar, trailing only Honolulu, Indianapolis and San Jose.

In the each of three years of the Environment California rankings, San Diego has finished No. 2 in the nation in total solar installations. The city grew 76.6 percent since the end of 2013 and increased 26 percent from last year’s rankings.

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

California to phase out EV incentives for the wealthy

Posted on April 8, 2016 | Leave a comment

car

California, which offers rebates of up to $2,500 to electric vehicle buyers to help meet a goal of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles onto its roads by 2025, is overhauling its incentive program in response to a common criticism: The state’s rebates are sometimes just a windfall for the wealthy.

The California Legislature passed a bill on Thursday to phase out EV rebates for well-off buyers, as well as offer new incentives for low-income car owners who scrap a car and use public transit or join a car-sharing service.

“The income cap is meant to ensure we keep the program in the black while not undermining progress” toward the state’s EV goals, said Max Baumhefner, an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group.

For years, the state has offered a $2,500 rebate for buyers of EVs such as the Nissan Leaf or Tesla Model S. Buyers of plug-in hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt are eligible for a $1,500 rebate.

These credits have recently drawn complaints in California due to fast-growing sales of the Tesla Model S, which starts at $72,240 including shipping before the $7,500 federal tax credit and the $2,500 California rebate. The car’s popularity in tech-savvy areas such as Silicon Valley has chafed lawmakers, who argue that the rebate gives a windfall to millionaire buyers who would have bought the Model S even without it.

Disclaimer: for entertainment and information purposes only.

Bathroom Trends for 2016

Posted on April 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

bath

Is your bathroom in desperate need of an update? Be inspired with these must-have design trends for 2016 and get a bathroom you will enjoy spending time in.

Time for tranquility

“Bathrooms are often the only place where people regularly have time to themselves,” Sydney interior designer Sarah Davison says. For that reason bathroom design should “create a refuge of serenity and personal luxury. The trends I embrace are for natural materials and unique, layered textures,” she says.

Go natural

Recent bathroom trade shows in Paris and Milan showed that 2016 trends will focus around natural materials, designer Katrina Malyn, of building design company Design Projector, says.

“We will move further away from artificial materials,” Malyn predicts. “Natural stone and timber will appear in more and more bathrooms. Timber vanities, seats and accessories showing timber grain will become more prevalent. Timber will be more often used for bathroom floors and even in taps.”

Timber will continue to be a prominent feature in our bathrooms, television personality and interior design blogger Katrina Chambers agrees. From wall features and open shelving, to hardwood floors and even timber vanities. “Make sure you bring in some earthy elements to balance the space out,” she says. “Greenery, whites and a patterned tile work beautifully with tactile timber surfaces.”

San Diego #2 in Nation for Solar

California to phase out EV incentives for the wealthy

Bathroom Trends for 2016

Follow Blog