California Solar Panel Requirement Drives Up Housing Costs

California regulators say a solar roof will add 9 500 in new costs but the average price of a solar roof in california is 19 380.

California solar panel requirement drives up housing costs. Pv solar panel requirements for adus. California is in the midst of the worst housing and homelessness. California department of housing and community development pdf information bulletin providing clarification and outlining provisions of various residential types ranging from recreation vehicles and. The state s rooftop solar rule which went into effect jan.

1 covers most new housing going forward and is expected to be a focal element of california s effort to become a largely carbon. The california energy commission predicted that the new solar power law will increase the initial costs of housing by 9 500 on average but could save as much as 19 000 in the long run in energy savings over a 30 year period. Blueprint newsletter issue 129 january 2020 march pdf adus and adoption of 2019 energy code. The california energy commission estimated its rooftop solar requirement would save the average single family home about 35 per month with mortgage payments rising but energy bills falling even.

After crunching all of the data e3 determined that the solar mandate is cost effective in all 16 of california s climate zones depending on the location the cost of adding solar panels to a. Overall 6 6 of california homes now have solar panels. While the up front cost of solar is expected to add roughly 9 500 to the price of a new home the resident is expected to save around 19 000 on energy costs over the life of ownership. But beyond the zoning and regulatory barriers mandates that raise prices are an underreported part of the housing price challenge in california.

Some in the industry are concerned that electricity costs in the state will rise even further. How many new homes will get solar after jan. Roughly 110 000 new housing units are built every year in california.