Solar panels are now becoming a standard option for new homes in the United States. The majority (6 out of 10) of the largest homebuilders now include solar systems in the new construction of houses, according to solar supplier SunPower Corp.
As we recently reported, two sunny California towns have also been the first in the nation to mandate solar panels on new homes. This is a phenomenon that could well start to spread across the country, increasing the uptake of solar even more.
As it is, the Solar Energy Industries Association is expecting the demand for solar systems to leap 56 percent nationwide this year, and demand should be especially high in states where grid power is particularly expensive, according to Yahoo! Finance. Installing solar during house construction is apparently about 20% cheaper than doing it later.
Homebuilder KB Home (KBH) maintains it has built around 1,800 homes with rooftop solar panels since 2011, and 3,3000 of those in the six months through May. It’s expecting to exceed that number during the second half of the year. Further, about 494 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity were installed on both new and existing homes in the United States during 2012, and that is expected to rise to about 770 megawatts more during 2013.
It’s yet more evidence that solar power is going from strength to strength, as more and more homeowners are starting to take advantage of the benefits of solar power, as well as steadily declining prices.
Image CC licensed by Lauren Wellicome: Installing solar panels on a new house.
Via Yahoo! Finance
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