Monday, April 13, 2009
States nudge home builders to go solar
I can't recall the precise number of times I've been asked by an Arizona constituent why we don't do a better job of getting home builders to put solar on rooftops when they are building the homes, rather than ex post facto, but it is a lot. It always seemed like a good idea to me, and a few years ago I convened several home builders in my office to figure out how to encourage builders to get on board with solar from the get-go. A few niche-market home builders in Arizona are making solar an option just like granite counterparts, but for the most part, it's still up to homeowners in Arizona to put up the panels. Now, several states are moving to require builders to make their housing stock solar friendly. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-04-06-solar-ready_N.htm. In New Jersey, home builders of more than 25 houses will have to offer solar and discuss it as an option with prospective buyers under a bill being considered by the Legislature there; Colorado is mulling legislation that would require builders to pre-wire homes for solar and inform buyers they can roll the cost of a solar system into the price of the mortgage; in Hawaii, all new homes will have to come outfitted with a solar water heater beginning in 2010; and in New Mexico, the Governor just signed a bill that sets up renewable energy districts to help home buyers finance solar systems. Arizona legislators have sponsored a slew of their own solar-related bills, which await action after the state addresses the budget crisis. http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=10801.
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The times, the are a-changing. During the go-go years of rapid population growth, AZ home builders couldn't get the homes up fast enough to satisfy demand, so there was no perceived need to make the process more complicated (ad more costly) by providing a solar option. However, now is the time when builders should realize that offering solar is a way to differentiate their product in a soft market. Typically, in soft conditions, the market will self-select the builders of choice. That said, it would be nice to gently (or not so gently) encourage builders to get on the solar wagon.
ReplyDeleteAll new homes should be renewable ready homes. At the construction phase adding a few solar roof mounting brackets through the tiles; an electrical conduit stub out from the roof to the meter location; a conduit from the roof to the water heater closet; and separately plumb grey water outside the slab to a “Y” back to the main would "enable" all new homes to inexpensivly add solar and water saving features in the future. At the time of installation the solar brackets, panels, and wiring could be done w/o affecting the roof, thereby saving time, liability, cost and damages on each home. In the near future the grey water line could be fitted with a tank with UV treatment and filtering to provide free water to a drip irrigation system. Anyhow, the additional pipes, wires and brackets to be renewable ready is probably around $1000. However, it saves thousands in future capital and operating costs which will add renewable value to the home. It would reduce solar installation costs, reduce water costs, and begin using our resources more effectively and efficiently for long term savings.
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