“It’s officially official,” the California Building Standards Commission has voted to require solar panels on new residential homes. The mandate starts in 2020.
California is now the first state in the country to adopt the clean energy requirement.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, or laterLow-rise residential buildings, single-family homes, and most multifamily developments will be required to use solar.
Builders and homeowners will pick-up the added costs despite the benefit to the environment.
The Los Angeles Times estimates the new equipment and installation would add roughly $40 per month to the mortgage payment. The savings on the homeowners’ energy bills are expected to be about $80 per month.
As a result, homeowners could save $40 each month and that is roughly $500 per year.
