Home Builder Solar Benefits
Introduction
The solar industry has been one of the fastest growing industries in the US, and with more new homes getting solar installed during construction more families than ever are able to see the benefits of solar panels. On January 1, 2020, California enacted a new solar mandate that made it mandatory for any single-family or multi-family home (up to three stories tall) to have solar installed during construction. While this mandate has no effect outside of California, many other states have added more incentives to help encourage homebuilders to install solar on their new homes.
FAQ’s for Home Builders
Why Should Home Builders Add Solar To Their New Home Construction?
While it is mandatory in California, many home builders can decide whether it is worth adding solar panels to their new homes. With more customers looking for sustainable energy options, studies have shown that having solar preinstalled on your new homes can help grow demand by up to five times faster than new homes without solar installed.
Why would a consumer want to purchase a new home with solar panels?
Consumers purchasing a new home with solar panels installed can have control over their energy on day one. Home builders can roll the costs of the solar panels into the mortgage cost which allows homeowners to see their benefits of solar right away, allowing them to pay off their system while paying off their home.
How much value do solar panels bring to newly constructed homes?
According to EnergySage, the California Clean Energy commission found that, “with the solar panel requirement, the cost of a newly constructed single-family home will increase by approximately $8,400, equivalent to roughly $40 extra per month in mortgage payments.” (Note: they calculated this estimate using a cost assumption of $3.10 per watt for the installed solar panel system, slightly higher than the average cost of solar quoted for California properties on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.)*
Can my construction crew install the solar panels themselves?
Most states, like California and Texas, require you to have proper training to install solar panels. If you are building a new home that’s up to code, you should make sure that you find a certified solar installer to install the solar panels for you.
Are there any considerations I should takes as a home builder who’s building solar friendly homes?
Ensuring that your new home’s roof can support the racking structure and solar panels should be your primary concern. If it is possible, the optimal direction for solar panels to face is towards the South, or South-West, so the panels can collect the most sunlight. The optimal slope for roofs with solar is anywhere between 15-40 degrees for the most efficiency.
Conclusion
Whether you are a home builder, or a homeowner, Infinity Energy has all your solar needs covered. Infinity Energy offers roofing services, along with our solar services, to help save homebuilders time and money on their new home construction. Contact us at homebuilder@goinfinityenergy.com, or visit our home builder webpage, for more information on how you can make your new homes into a community run on clean and sustainable energy.
