California to Require Solar Panels on All New Homes in 2020

California recently passed new legislation mandating nearly all new homes built in California to have solar panel systems.  The requirement goes into effect January 1, 2020, and applied to all single-family homes 3 stories or less.  

They’ll no doubt help California reach its goal of having at least half of electricity come from renewable energy by 2030. Solar is already responsible for about 16 percent of California electricity.

Solar panels are a great addition to your home as they can pay for themselves very quickly and require very low maintenance.  Once a system is installed it typically lasts for 25 years or more.  The only maintenance most systems require is cleaning the panels occasionally.  

The new requirement will no doubt be great for the environment and for solar panel contractors but what will it mean for developers and for homeowners wanting to build their dream home?  

Thanks to reduced installation costs and more competition the cost per watt for solar panels has fallen dramatically over the past few years.  The New York Times estimates it will cost an additional $8,000-12,000 for the average new home in California.  Those costs are sure to be higher in the South Bay as homes tend to be larger here and the installs are more difficult than in other parts of the state.  

How it impacts you

The California Energy Commission believes the new systems will more than pay for themselves over the 20-25 year projected life of the system but you should expect the new regulation to increase the cost of a new home by at least $15,000-20,000 in our beach community.  

We can help

Levine Homes has a solar division, if you're thinking of building a new home or installing solar on your current home please let us know.  As local experts, we know how to ensure that you have the best system for you.  We will be happy to discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages.