Archive for the ‘Solar Education’ Category
Solar Increases Home Value
There are many reasons to add a solar energy system to your home. The reduction or elimination of your electric bill is certainly compelling. Of course, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and protecting the environment are extremely important as well. While each of these reasons drives thousands of people in our area to go solar each year, there is another equally important reason to go solar; it increases your home’s value.
In the past, this has been very difficult to quantify. Real estate brokers and appraisers had little information to go on, and lenders were often skeptical about any increases in market value attributed to solar energy systems.
That has changed in a big way. There are several recent studies that illustrate the value that a solar energy system can add to your home. Two in particular, performed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and The National Bureau of Economic Research, have shown that homes with solar energy systems can command a 3 – 4% premium over homes without solar energy systems. On a $400,000 house for example, that equals $12,000 – $16,000! Not bad considering, that the average “net” cost of a 10 KW solar energy system after rebates and tax credits is around $17,000.
Now, the Appraisal Institute, the largest real estate appraisal organization in America has taken the next step. They have developed the “Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum” that appraisers can use to document and analyze a home’s energy efficient items, including solar energy systems. This is an extremely important development, because it allows appraisers to compile and analyze data needed to support adjustments for solar energy systems.
Soon, in areas with high utility rates (like Long Island); appraisers will be able to capitalize the documented monthly savings on utility bills into a specific value adjustment, much like the income from a rental unit.
What does all this mean to New Yorkers who have solar energy systems? It means that when you sell your home, you will get significantly more money for it than homes without solar energy systems. This is just one more reason to go solar!
EmPower and Sunpower are proud to sponsor Team New York in the 2011 Solar Decathlon
The 2011 Solar Decathlon is being held in Washington, D.C. and runs from September 23rd thru October 2nd. EmPower Solar and Sunpower are proud to sponsor the students from CCNY . Check out the video below to see what they have been working on.
Click here to read the Official Press Release.
EmPower Essay Competition with Prizes
EmPower Solar is sponsoring a renewable energy essay competition. The grand prize will be an all expenses paid trip to Washington DC from Saturday, October 1st to Sunday, October 2nd to see the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition! The competition is open to all students who attend a high school in New York. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, September 21st. Click here for details about the competition.
Raising the Green Bar
Long Island Business News speaks with David Schieren about the Solar Industry
David Schieren in the new fully electric Chevy Volt
LIBN: Do you think today’s young people will be a sort of “Generation Green” who accept solar from the start?
David Schieren: It’s part of your DNA. I was with an executive from the American Petroleum Institute. I said there’s one thing the oil industry should be worried about. I pointed to the mind. The mindset is shifting, especially with students. Sustainability is becoming part of the DNA. While we’re starting to make progress today, I think we’re going to see this as the renewable energy century. You have a mindset shift.
