Report: Solar Panels Boost Home Prices
A solar thermal home in West Oakland. (photo: Shuka Kalantari)
A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab could help California’s homeowners decide whether or not to “go solar.” Researchers found that on average, homeowners who recently installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels recouped most or all of their investment when they sold their homes.
“A house that has a PV system compared to a house that doesn’t have a PV system is expected to sell for more,” said Ben Hoen, the lead researcher on the study and a principal research associate at Berkeley Lab. “This is for systems that are relatively new – between 1.5 to 2.5 years old.”
Neal DeSnoo, an energy program officer at the City of Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development, said the average Berkeley homeowner keeps their home for only six years, so he suspects many hesitate to make such a costly investment. This study, he said, may sway their opinion. Read more at KQED’s Climate Watch blog >>>
City of Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels