Solar power is a form of energy that’s created when solar technologies convert sunlight directly into energy. It’s possible for solar energy to be created by photovoltaic panels or mirrors that are able to concentrate solar radiation. While solar power has become increasingly popular across the entire U.S., its popularity is exceedingly high in California. In fact, more than 20% of California’s total electricity usage came from solar supplies in 2020.
What the Proposed Solar Power Mandate Means for You
In early August, the five-member panel for the California Energy Commission held a vote on solar power requirements. They voted to require solar battery storage and solar panels in any new commercial buildings as well as some multifamily residences. This mandate goes into effect on January 1, 2023. If you own or manage one of these buildings, you may need to obtain solar installation in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Salinas, CA.
The main buildings that are included in this proposal extend to:
- Medical clinics and offices
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Offices
- Grocery and retail stores
- Schools
- Various civic spaces, which include convention centers, theaters, and auditoriums
The main purpose of this proposal is to have buildings use less natural gas. While this proposal was passed by the California Energy Commission, it still needs approval by the California Building Standard Commission. This approval is expected to occur in December when the building code revision takes place. As such, the construction industry has an entire year to fully prepare for the new storage and solar requirements.
This particular mandate is the second solar power mandate that has been enacted over the past few years. In 2018, the commission mandated that any new multi-family dwellings and single-family homes must include solar panels. This mandate went into effect on January 1, 2020 and only applies to properties up to three stories high.
If you’re a property owner who wants to construct a new home or commercial building, there’s a good chance that you will need to obtain solar panel and home battery backup installation in Monterey, CA. While upfront costs can be high, the energy savings and tax breaks should help you recover most initial expenses.
Primary Benefits of Solar Power
Solar power comes with a range of benefits that can’t be found with standard electricity. For many homeowners and commercial businesses, these benefits far outweigh the initial costs.
Provides Clean Energy
Solar power provides you with an emissions-free, clean, and renewable energy source. While natural gas and coal release greenhouse gas emissions into the environment, the same isn’t true with solar power. If you want to protect the environment, obtaining solar installation in Monterey CA is a great way to do so.
Allows You to Qualify for Incentives and Tax Breaks
There are numerous cash incentives and tax breaks that homeowners and business owners can qualify for after switching to solar. Most of your upfront costs could be covered with local rebates, the federal solar tax credit, and net metering. If your solar panels produce excess amounts of energy, this energy can be sold back to the grid. Your electric company is required to purchase the energy from you, which can help you reduce your monthly energy bill.
The Federal Investment Tax Credit helps you reduce solar installation costs by 22%, which can save you thousands of dollars. Make sure that you check for local cash rebates and tax credits as well. Cities and states offer their own incentives for going solar, which typically stack with the main tax and cash incentives. California offers numerous incentives that you can look into for your home or business.
Increases Property Value
Using solar power for your home or business can increase the property value by a considerable amount. Home values alone increase by an average of 4.1% after solar panels are installed. If your current home is worth $500,000, a solar installation could raise your home value by $20,500. The entire upfront costs you pay could be recovered when the property is sold in the future. Because of the reduced energy bills, you should be able to cover the installation costs multiple times over. As such, you can be confident that solar power is a sound investment.
Saves Money on Electricity with Solar
Standard electricity costs have increased by around 15% over the past decade. By going solar, most of the energy you require for your home or business can be obtained from the sun. When you use this energy to power your property, your monthly energy costs should be substantially reduced. If you obtain a backup battery installation, some of the energy that’s converted from the panels can be stored. In turn, you’ll have access to energy even on cloudy or rainy days.
When to Consider Commercial or Residential Solar Installation in Monterey, CA
If you already own a home, you wouldn’t be mandated to have solar panels installed on your roof. However, you can still choose to upgrade to solar panels, which will provide you with all of the aforementioned benefits. Going solar is a great way to lower energy costs and increase property value.
If you currently own a piece of land and are thinking about having a home or building constructed on the property, you may be required to obtain services for residential or commercial solar installation in Monterey, CA. Premo Solar will be able to install solar panels and backup batteries in an efficient and timely manner.
The team at Premo Solar can install solar panels on your home or commercial building in a timely and efficient manner. Call Premo Solar today if you have any questions or would like to schedule an estimate.
