California PUC Ruling Boosts Solar Industry

Posted on May 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

The solar industry scored a major win Thursday when California regulators more than doubled the number of homeowners and businesses who will get full financial credit for the surplus electricity that their rooftop panels produce.

The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved changes to a policy known as “net energy metering,” which allows solar system owners to cut their utility bills by receiving credit for any excess electricity they send to the state’s power grid.

The California law that established net metering set a limit on the number of people who could qualify within each utility company’s territory, a limit the Legislature later raised. The utilities commission on Thursday changed the way the limit is calculated, greatly expanding the pool of people who will be eligible in the future.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/24/BUAF1ON5RC.DTL#ixzz1vtOCrcZU

 
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Beware of Value-Killing Home Renovations

Posted on May 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

That old adage should be a warning for homeowners. What you do to a home — in terms of renovations, furnishings and additions — is all well and good while you sleep under its roof. But if you plan to sell, your efforts could diminish rather than boost its selling price.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.   Remember appraisers determine value and real estate agents sell homes. 

A miniature backyard skate park, indoor basketball court or basement lounge complete with a stripper pole and smoke machine are the sorts of extravagances that may not directly push down your home value, but could nevertheless drive away prospective buyers or provide room for them to haggle down the price.

Read more: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-03-07/beware-of-value-killing-home-renovations/

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Green Home Trends: From Baby Steps to Extreme Updates

Posted on May 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

Recycling is one thing, but a composting toilet? That’s when you know you’re taking the going-green trend to its, um, “natural” conclusion.

While many home owners and builders are beginning to make changes to homes to incorporate eco-friendly products and materials, these are just the bud of the going-green trend. To really get the low-down on what the seriously green-minded homeowners can do to help the cause, we’ve rounded up a list of fixes that can be done in a house, whether it was built in 1912 or 2012.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisalserv.com for your value questions regarding green updating and how it adds value to your home.

Update your bulbs

You’re going to have to change out your standard incandescent bulbs eventually. This year marked the first stage of phasing out 100-watt incandescent bulbs under the CLEAN Energy Act, but 70-, 60- and 40-watt bulbs are next on the chopping block. Switching to compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or LEDs not only conserves significant electricity, but significant savings as well — more than $57 over the life of the CFL, one report found.

Energy-star appliances

One of the simplest ways to upgrade your home in a green way is to purchase an energy-saving appliance. The best bet is to find one that earns the government’s “Energy Star” rating. The appliances are designed to reduce greenhouse emissions as well as your energy usage over time. Many products can mean tax rebates for your green efforts.

Read more at: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-04-11/green-home-trends-from-baby-steps-to-extreme-updates/

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