Consumers Report Cost Counts in Clean Energy Survery

Consumers may say they care about the environment. But when it comes to clean technology items like hybrid cars or energy-efficient home upgrades, people vote with their wallets.

 

A national survey of homeowners released Monday found that upfront costs and sustained savings are the top concerns when adding rooftop solar energy, backup energy storage and other big-ticket green technology.

 

The survey by Zogby Analytics also found that homeowners from across the political spectrum want more energy options, even though they were generally satisfied with their utility service.

 

Nearly 70 percent of respondents said they would like more choices when it comes to their energy and electricity supply.

 

The findings have implications for California’s clean-tech market in particular, as state regulators consider changes to residential utility bills that are likely to diminish the payback for rooftop solar and energy efficiency investments. Decisions would affect customers of investor-owned utilities including San Diego Gas & Electric as soon as this summer.

read more at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/10/homowners-crave-energy-choices/

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Conserving Water – Free CA Friendly Landscaping Class San Diego

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See page 18: http://www.obpeoplesfood.coop/pdfs/2014_Mar.pdf  

for more info contact OB People’s Food Coop

 

Housing Market Slightly Up in February

San Diego County’s housing market picked up a little steam in February, but not enough to reverse a trend of declining sales and lower appreciation.

The median price for a home sold in February was $410,000, up from $405,000 in January and 14.2 percent from the $359,000 a year ago, real estate tracker DataQuick reported Wednesday. Annual appreciation has slowed since peaking at 24.1 percent in June, when the median was $416,000

Mark Goldman, a loan officer and real estate lecturer at San Diego State University said San Diego is returning to its historical appreciation of 3 percent.“Interest rates are eking up, wages are stagnant, and the cost to run a household keeps going up,” Goldman said. “I kind of see this malaise continuing for quite some time.”

Rates for a 30-year-fixed mortgage rose to 4.37 percent in February, up from 3.56 percent in February 2013, Freddie Mac reports. Goldman said inventory has increased somewhat, reducing upward pressure on prices, and the fix-and-flip strategy is no longer such a great investment.

read more at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/12/dataquick-real-estate-mortgages-property-values/

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