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!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to read the Official Press Release.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

Click here to read the full interview.

As leaders of the Solar Decathlon Alumni Association (SDAA), we are supporting the student led initiative to keep the competition on the Mall.   Towards that end, we are endorsing an online petition created by the students that can be found here: http://www.petition2congress.com/3973/.  We are also directly requesting support from our political representatives.  The current participants are doing an incredible job at generating support.     For example, Senator Menendez of New Jersey has issued a press release in support of this effort: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/. 

We believe that the Solar Decathlon competition is vital to the success of clean energy in the United States and all over the world.  It is our position that the National Mall is essential to the competition’s value and prestige.  Students and sponsors from the US and international teams are inspired to compete in such an historic location.  The Solar Decathlon is about inspiring students – the leaders of the next generation, faculty – the educators of future leaders, and entire university communities to embrace renewable energy.

As a former decathletes and a member of the Solar Decathlon Alumni Association, we know first-hand the influence and deep impact of the competition.  Having it at the Mall, the most prominent location in our country, the “front-lawn” of the United States of America, is instrumental to its success. 

For information about this year’s event please visit www.solardecathlon.com.  

David Schieren, CEO

2005 Solar Decathlon NYIT/USMMA Team Leader, 2007 Advisor. 

Gregory Sachs, COO

2005 Solar Decathlon NYIT/USMMA Lead Engineer, 2007 Advisor

Matthew Mathosian, Commercial Project Manager

2007 Solar Decathlon NYIT Lead Architect, 2011 CUNY Advisor

EmPower is the lead sponsor and solar advisor of the 2011 Solar Decathlon CUNY Team

We invite you to see for yourself what solar is all about by speaking with homeowners, watching their electric meters run backwards, and seeing the actual savings on utility bills. Tours provide helpful, real-world examples of costs and how to save money with federal, state, and local incentives. Ultimately the tour inspires people across the nation to make sustainable energy choices that help lower costs, support energy independence, protect against power outages, and reduce carbon emissions.

The tour is self-guided and free of charge, but visitors need to obtain a free Visitors Pass from reLI.  Every visitor will receive a free copy of the LI GreenGuide, a 64-page publication with articles on green jobs, energy audits, solar and wind energy, green technology, local farming, and “The Green Yellow Pages,” a directory of over 350 LI green businesses and organization.  To obtain a Visitors Pass and learn about sites near you, please visit www.RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org or call (631) 329-8888.

Below is a press release by reLI which contains more details about the benefits of the tour.

LONG ISLAND HOMES FEATURED on NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR on October 2, 2010

September, 25, 2010
Gordian Raacke, 631-329-8888

Over 25 solar, wind and geothermal-powered green homes will be open to the public for free visits on Saturday, October 2nd from 10 AM to 4 PM as part of the National Solar Tour & Green Buildings Open House on Long Island. Tour visitors can learn about solar and other forms of clean energy and energy efficiency directly from the people in their community, watch electric meters run backwards, and see the actual savings on utility bills.

These island-wide open houses feature solar energy or have other green building features. The National Solar Tour & Green Buildings Open House is organized on Long Island by the non-profit Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI) with support from LIPA and by the American Solar Energy Society at the national level. Last year’s tour attracted 150,000 visitors nationwide and has been billed as the largest public renewable energy education event in the world.

“Whether you want to lower your electric or heating bills, make your home more comfortable, or just do the right thing and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, the best way to find out what you can do is to talk directly to home owners who have already done it”, said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI). “It’s your once-a-year chance to see dozens of green building features in action and get straight answers directly from fellow homeowners – that’s what our self-guided tour is all about.”

One home available to tour, the Dalglish residence in East Patchogue, was custom built and features a 1.8 kW solar electric system, a geothermal heat pump, passive solar heating, air radiant floors and structurally insulated panels (SIPs), which together have cut the owners’ energy bills considerably.

“We made up seven challenges when building our home, and we stuck to them,” said Campbell Dalglish of East Patchogue. “Our challenges were for the home to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly, sustainable, small but spacious, have a healthy home interior, be of mass appeal and be affordable. The design that came out of these challenges has changed our way of living and thinking and we love it.”

Another site that visitors can tour is the DeCarlo residence in West Islip. This home features a 10kW photovoltaic system, EnergyStar appliances, and high efficiency central A/C units.

“I have had my system since March 2004,” said Joseph DeCarlo of West Islip. “In my case the solar electric system paid for itself in just over 4 years. The best part is that there is virtually zero maintenance on the system. How many products can you buy that have that kind of track record? “

“LIPA is proud to be working in partnership with reLI and the generous homeowners who make this solar tour possible every year for our customers,” said LIPA’s VP of environmental affairs Michael J. Deering. ” LIPA’s nationally–recognized Solar Pioneer and Entrepreneur program continues to help our customers reduce energy consumption and lower electric bills, diversify Long Island’s energy portfolio and strengthen the local economy with the creation of high quality clean energy jobs.

“Solar energy technology has made great strides over the years as evidenced by the number on installations on Long Island, around New York State and countrywide,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Richard M. Kessel. “Through concerted efforts among, utilities, the solar industry and the public, today’s solar systems are truly accepted as a sure way to save energy and money while helping to improve our environment. I’m very pleased that NYPA continues to lead the way in securing even greater utilization of PV technology through individual projects and our 100 Megawatt statewide solar initiative.”

“Action Long Island’s Energy and Environment Task Force is delighted to be a part of this extraordinary event which is vital in promoting clean and renewable energy on LI. In today’s economic climate, brochures and websites simply aren’t enough. Nothing is more awe inspiring than seeing yourself in one of these innovative homes and talking one-on-one with the leaders of Long Island’s green movement.”

The self-guided tour is free of charge but visitors will need to obtain a free Visitors Pass from reLI. Every visitor will receive a free copy of the LI GreenGuide, a 64-page publication with articles on green jobs, energy audits, solar and wind energy, green technology, local farming and “The Green Yellow Pages,” a directory of over 350 Long Island green businesses and organizations.

The Visitors Pass and more information on the tour and clean energy technologies & incentives are available at RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org or by calling (631)329-8888.

EmPower’s Commercial Project Manager Matt Mathosian was recently featured in Newsday’s Voices of Long Island.  From the article:

Mathosian, a project manager for EmPower Solar, an Island Park firm behind some of the largest solar-energy projects here, including a recently completed 100 kilowatt project at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset.

“The renewable-energy industry has got to sustain itself. Equipment prices are coming down, and we’re getting additional incentives as far as tax credits. We’ll accelerate our business in the sector. Today, I’m in Long Beach. The only thing I see all day are oil tankers. What’s the difference if there are wind turbines in the water? Of course we’d like to see the power plants all shut down, if what the government is striving for is a totally sustainable renewable economy.”

Matt appeared in a special series Newsday ran on called “The Future of Long Island: Energy.”  Check out the other interesting articles which discuss the unique energy challenges Long Island faces and the potential role of solar energy in future energy decisions.

EmPower’s CEO David Schieren, an alumnus of the Solar Decathlon, was interviewed for a video the NBM created for the award.  You can watch the inspiring video below (David first appears at 07:40).  Cristina Zancani, David’s wife, also appears in the video:

2010 Honor Award: A Salute to Civic Innovators from National Building Museum on Vimeo.

Recently at EmPower we’ve been seeing kids more and more on the “green” scene.  Last week, a grade school class dropped in on one of our residential installations.  As you can see in the photo above, EmPower’s Brad Morrison gave an impromptu lesson on how solar panels work.  Also last week, I went with Robin Broder to the Long Beach Catholic Regional School’s Earth Day celebration where we got to see some of the awesome stewardship projects the kids were working on (pictured below) and spoke to them about their school’s 30 kW solar system.  Their understanding of environmental problems was amazing – and their excitement about the solutions even more amazing.  They believed in their own power to make positive changes in their homes and communities.

Last Wednesday, Allison Arieff wrote for the NYTimes about the power of kids to lead the green movement.  Specifically, she spoke about GreenMyParents,  a non-profit led by young people which educates other kids on how to talk to their parents and peers about adopting energy-saving habits.  GreenMyParents has a pretty stellar cast of prominent young green leaders at it’s front, including 12-year-old Adora Svitak, whose impressive TED Speech on the power of children’s perspectives can be seen below.

GreenMyParents (GMP) is remarkable for a couple reasons:

1.  It places kids at the forefront of the movement.

While Arieff’s articles drew some critical (politically charged) comments from people who felt GMP was indoctrination or would undermine adults’ authority, actually having children speak about green energy issues is an underutilized powerful tool.  The youngest of our communities are going to be the ones hardest hit with the economic and environmental consequences of the decisions we are making today – if kids are smart enough to understand what their future may be like (which they are) and if they have opinions about what their future should be like (which they do), then we should take the time to listen.  Moreover, knowledge wealth is different when it comes to sustainability issues.  Kids growing up today are already using sustainable behaviors – they don’t need to be taught them AND they do have the potential to educate their parents and grandparents about these issues.

2.  It leverages economics as a powerful marketing tool.

If you check out GMP’s About Us page, you see that their goal is to help parents save money ($100 million over the next year to be specific) through conservation measures.  GMP acknowledges the important environmental benefits of sustainability, but their stated focus is to help people conserve resources and save money.  This is messaging that people relate to: how can I save money?  People are not receptive to being criticized for damaging the environment, but everyone wants to know how they can spend a little less.  The green movement in general should be emphasizing the economic savings AND the potential for job growth which come with sustainability projects.  Green jobs – energy auditing, weatherization, solar system installation – are jobs which can’t be outsourced.  This is another issue which young people also care about: being able to get work when they enter the job market.

Enjoy this video of Adora Svitak wowing the TED Crowd: