With energy costs on the rise and an increasing awareness of environmentally friendly products and technology, solar systems are becoming a worthwhile investment, especially since there are rebates available to help offset the cost.

The technology is now more efficient (depending on the system, it is possible to sell surplus energy to your utility company) & incredibly streamlined with low profile roof lines which nicely incorporate solar roof tiles.

Doesn’t that look more appealing than the solar systems of the 70’s which not only had young technology issues but were eyesores, with bulky tanks and huge elevated panels?

It’s exciting that eco-friendly products have made so many advances in the last several years, combining functionality with aesthetics with social responsibility.

An excerpt from California Association of Realtors:

The California Solar Initiative “Go Solar, California!” has established the goal of creating 3,000 megawatts of new solar-powered electricity by 2017, or enough to power 1 million homes. This program will allocate $3.3 billion to businesses, homeowners, and builders who qualify for rebates and incentives if they install solar systems on their homes or commercial buildings. The California Energy Commission funds solar electricity systems on new homes; the California Public Utilities Commission funds solar electricity systems on existing businesses and homes.

For more information, visit http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/.

http://www.recycleworks.org/greenbuilding/gbg_renewable_power.html

As with any home improvement project, I always recommend getting 2-3 estimates as well as doing a bit of homework on the various options available. There are several companies in the Bay Area who specialize in installing solar systems.

It’s definitely on my to do list.