americansolar's Journal

 







In the last five years, electric bills have skyrocketed, a reversal from a quarter century when homeowners enjoyed stable power bills as they consumed more electricity. An analysis of government data done by USA Today found that, on average, homeowners paid a record of $1419 for electricity in 2010 for electricity. This is a $300 increase a year for what homeowners typically pay for electricity.

This is the largest sustained increase in electricity prices since the 1970s. An analysis done on the Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates that Electricity has been consuming a greater share of Americans' after tax income since 1996. This higher cost is driven by greater electricity usage and higher prices per kilowatt hour. Although residential demand for power had been decreasing, it made a strong comeback in 2010 to a record high. Although household appliances and air conditioners consume less power than before, homes are now bigger meaning more air-conditioning and more electronics than before. Residential Solar Panels Los Angeles are becoming more popular as a global search for clean and renewable energy sources expands.

According to the reports of the Energy Information Administration, residential electricity prices have been climbing steadily hitting a record high price of 11.8 cents per kilowatt hour. This increase directly reflects the higher fuel prices and the expense of replacing old power plants. Higher electricity bills are a major problem for low income families. Duke Energy proposes that a rate increase saying that it is needed to replace the old power plants and make the transmission system more reliable.

An agreement was reached with North Carolina to raise utility rates for 7.2% instead of the 17% proposed request. However, Duke Energy is planning to ask for another rate hike next year to cover the costs of new natural gas-fired plants. Although the industry as a whole is facing higher costs, the exact electricity costs vary widely depending on where you live. "High taxes, limits on air-polluting fuels and the expense of maintaining an underground transmission system keep consumer costs high", says Chris Olert, ConEd spokesman.

For references please visit: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-13/electric-bills/51840042/1

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "With the approval of a compromise plan today by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, the city now has a reasonable rate plan that safeguards the financial health of the Department of Water and Power while protecting ratepayers." Mayor Villaraigosa also added that the rate hike "addresses the concerns of ratepayers, commits the DWP to clean, renewable energy, and maintains the fiscal well-being of the DWP." The smaller increase will make it harder for the Department of Water and Power (DWP) to reach the goal set by Mayor Villaraigoza to have renewable energy to make up 20% of the DWP portfolio.

Solar panels have become a popular choice after the electricity increases were proposed in California. Solar panels can be designed and installed to help convert your home or business into one that efficiently uses solar power. A common question when it comes to residential solar electric systems is if investment is worth it.

Initially, the solar installation Los Angeles may seem expensive depending on the size of the project. However, it is guaranteed that by switching to solar, you will immediately begin saving on your electricity bill. For some homeowners, being able to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet is sufficient to install solar panels on their home. California provides several rebates and tax rebates to homeowners and business owners as an incentive to switch to solar.

A solar energy system offers homeowners a clean supply of renewable energy for heat and power. A lot of research goes into determining the best design for your home solar panels. One of the biggest factors that go in determining whether solar panels will work efficiently for your home is their placement. The best placement for your panels will maximize sun exposure, this is determined by Solar installers Los Angeles. Although there may be certain times of the day where your solar system aren't in direct sunlight, you will have stored energy to provide energy for your household appliances.

For references, please visit: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/money/dwp-electricity-rate-hike-20100415

"Consumers could find that their July bills have actually doubled or even tripled because of previously planned rate hikes and the utility's sliding rate structure", said Lynda Ziegler, senior vice president for customer service at Edison. In 2006, Edison had a 15% increase which was charged to consumers who used more than a modest baseline set by the California Public Utilities Commission.

This means that homeowners who were accustomed to paying lower rates because they don't use much will be charged as if they do. A typical household that pays around $80 a month saw a jump in their July bill of over $260. This tiered pricing was designed to encourage conservation because the lower electricity usage, the lower rate per-kilowatt-hour is applied.

Edison's residential customers will continue to see a jump in their electricity bills which is why many have turned to residential solar Los Angeles. Although the increases won't be quite as dramatic for DWP customers, officials say that the increases are on their way. DWP saw increases of about 30% in July of 2006 but some households saw that their bills almost tripled for running their air conditioners around the clock. Unlike Edison, which uses tiered pricing, the DWP charges the same amount across the board.

Stephen Barkaszi, a Florida Solar Energy Center program director for solar systems says that although including solar panels in when constructing a new home, it is still a great way to reduce any obstacles that homeowners may encounter when they want to install a residential solar system. The annual utility savings will ultimately depend on the utility costs and other energy-efficient features in the home. Barkaszi said "Something as small as 1.4 kilowatts is at least something, it's a whole lot better than nothing. It's been tough for people to go out of their way to get it added on as an option."

Solar installers Los Angeles will attach solar panels on your rooftop and are expected to generate 1.4 kilowatts of power and reduce utility costs by 30%. Residential solar panels are expected to help homeowners save an annual $1,200 compared to a typical resale home. In addition to enjoying monthly savings from energy generated in solar panels, there are several tax credits available depending on the area that you are located. In addition to solar panels, there are tax rebates that target solar thermal, small wind, and geothermal heat pumps.

Many other companies have followed the same steps as KB Homes by offering, offering solar water heaters and solar power as an option for several years. Many mid- to large-size builders have added solar panels as a standard feature to new home construction. This initiative is expected to benefit both homeowners and the planet alike. By generating residential solar panels, home owners are able to contribute to the environment by reducing green house gases. The renewable energy sources generated through solar panel systems are non-pollutant and draw on sunlight. Solar installers can help complete all necessary paperwork for rebates, building permits, and net metering so that you can easily become part of the solution with residential solar.

For references please visit:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-solar-homes-kb-20120119,0,3153723.story

In a study performed on new and existing homes sold from May 2010 through April 2011, the Earth Advantage Institute found that the newly constructed homes with certifications for sustainability and energy efficiency sold for 8% more than the average noncertified homes while existing homes with certifications sold for 30% more. This data was provided by the Portland regional Multiple Listing Service. Certified homes were defined as those carrying Energy Star. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes, or Earth Advantage home certifications.

Officials note that using average sale prices for homes without comparing the homes directly with one another may not be conclusive. For example, some of the newly constructed certified homes may be more expensive to begin, and existing certified homes may be larger and more likely to be in higher-cost neighborhoods where energy-efficiency adoption rates are also higher. A study conducted by the institute of Seattle and Portland shows that the Homes marketed with energy-efficiency certifications sell faster than those without. The study found that in Portland, certified homes spent 18 less days on the market than noncertified homes.

The National Bureau of Economic Research took a different approach in a recent study on homes in San Diego and Sacramento: After solar panel installation Los Angeles, how much do you get back in market resale terms, in addition to the monthly savings? Researchers examined home sales in both metropolitan areas between 2003 and 2010 and found that solar panel installations for homes in the $500,000 range cost homeowners about $35,967. With federal and state credits this net average cost lowered to about $20,892. This investment yielded an increase in the appraised value by $20,194-a 97% recovery. Although the rate is under 100%, it is still higher than most home improvements such as kitchen and bathroom remodeling.

Although newly constructed homes come with energy and sustainability certifications, banks don't always recognize their value when providing mortgage money. Bank underwrites don't always include the reduced monthly utility costs in the household income/ household expense ratios that affect the maximum mortgage amounts available to potential home buyers. Appraisers often don't have the training to recognize and give credit to houses that have money-saving solar installations, geothermal heating and cooling, water conservation features and other green improvements. The appraisal institute says that it was done its part to sponsor "green" appraisal courses for 2,300 appraisers during the last two years. It says it strongly supports efforts to better incorporate energy efficiency and environmental factors into home evaluations and mortgage underwriting.

For references please visit: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/28/business/la-fi-harney-20110828