User79130_2_t Lance Winslow
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In the last five years many Americans have bought new homes and in fact this has been one of the biggest housing booms in U.S. history. More people have bought new homes then in any other time in our nation. What many people may not realize is that by today's standards homes are much more energy-efficient and that makes them perfect candidates for solar power.

New homes with new materials hold in the heat better and in the cooler air too during the summer. This means there's less draw on energy from the power grid and it also means that if you can put solar panels on top of the roof and they will be required to generate less electricity to do the same amount of work.

solar zip

Ten years ago it cost up to $80,000 to install solar panels, but with new materials now the prices have come way down and now the average home can put in solar panels for about $40,000. Also the batteries, which collect the energy that the solar panels produce also have improved and last twice as long.

So what we have here is solar panels that are twice as efficient, batteries which last twice as long and the solar systems only cost half of what they did a decade ago. From a return on investment standpoint it now makes sense to solar power your home. If you own a new energy-efficient home then your house is ripe for solar power. Something to contemplate in 2008.

 
Post is included in group: Colorado Commercial Real Estate
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10 Comments on New Homes are Ripe for Solar Power

Yes!  We've been waiting for prices to come down.  Thanks for the post.

12/29/2007 06:46 AM by Marsha Cleaveland, GRI, AHWD, CNE (Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners)

Indeed Marsha, and within the next five years I think now that batteries are coming down in price also, we may see relief for many residents on their utility bills and this also means cleaner air. I think the Aztecs would have been proud of us? - Lance

12/29/2007 06:58 AM by Lance Winslow (The Car Wash Guy)

Lance, have you seen the German technology around solar panels?  They can build the solar panels into outdoor statues, so the panels are not so large and gaudy, but disguised into things that look better (like yard statues, etc.).  The statues (panels) then pipe the energy into the house.  Pretty cool stuff.

12/31/2007 11:49 AM by Jeff Tompkins (Advisor Commercial Realty/Teacher's Funding Group)

Lance, have you seen the German technology around solar panels?  They can build the solar panels into outdoor statues, so the panels are not so large and gaudy, but disguised into things that look better (like yard statues, etc.).  The statues (panels) then pipe the energy into the house.  Pretty cool stuff.

12/31/2007 11:50 AM by Jeff Tompkins (Advisor Commercial Realty/Teacher's Funding Group)

Jeff,

I do not believe I have seen that no, but it makes perfect sense because now they have films that are very thin that can be used like coatings and there are coating wraps for cars, so perhaps it is about time, that we wrapped all the hybrid cars and regular cars this way and upped to 42-volt electrical systems to save fuel consumption. - Lance

01/01/2008 05:02 PM by Lance Winslow (The Car Wash Guy)

Lance - great post! Energy efficient homes make solar even more sensible. I like your idea about wrapping our vehicles in solar cells! My wallet could use relief at the pump! Thanks for another great contribution!

01/02/2008 10:38 PM by Mary Bigelow, Renewing Your Life! (Ma's Marketing)

Mary,

No kidding, I bought myself a Motorcoach and almost cringe when I fill it up, completely outrageous, anyone who thinks that high-oil prices do not affect our economy is on drugs. But in Chaos is opportunity so, lets borrow some of the Sun's energy? - Lance

01/03/2008 01:18 AM by Lance Winslow (The Car Wash Guy)

We looked at retro-fitting solar panels on a rehab project, even in the north mid-west, the installer were backed up. Now we are considering solar vacuum tubes that are used in cloudier climates like Great Britain.  I was a little disappointed to see we do not manufacture them in the USA, as I feel manufacturing dependency for us is a potentially serious problem as well.

01/12/2008 02:48 PM by Mike Wilken (REMAX North Winds Realty )

I have not looked into solar panels because of the price. I will start looking now.

01/13/2008 05:16 PM by Kym Hough, Real Estate Stager, Green Trainer in Real Estate, CSP, RESA, LGLS (www.Staged to Sell & www.StagersLIST.com)

This is great news.   One of the common objections from both builders and buyers is that the upfront cost is too high.  Now things are much more affordable.    Now all we need in New Hampshire is some SOLAR!

01/13/2008 07:02 PM by Joan Whitebook, ABR,e-Pro,CEBA Southern New Hampshire (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

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Property Manager: Lance Winslow (The Car Wash Guy)
Lance Winslow
Malibu, CA
More about me…
The Car Wash Guy

Office Phone: (800) 879-8783 Ext.: 111
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Mr. Winslow uses the Active Rain Real Estate Industry Blog, to discuss issues that affect the Real Estate sector of our economy. His dialogues include such things as; droughts, subprime lending fallout, building materials, living off the grid, sales ethics, commercial property, crime, revitalizing downtowns, economic development, community volunteerism, and predicting the future of the real estate markets in the United States.