Rave Reviews for Solar Homes

A Survey of Homeowners in California

March 2006
Rave Reviews for Solar Homes
A Survey of Homeowners in California

Written by
Bernadette Del Chiaro

Environment California Research & Policy Center

March 2006
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 4

Survey Results: Attitude and Experience of Solar Homeowners ...................................................... 7

The Benefits of Solar Homes ........................................................................................................... 13

California’s Solar Home Developments ........................................................................................... 16

Policy Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 18

Appendix: Solar Home Survey ........................................................................................................ 21

Acknowledgments
Environment California Research & Policy Center thanks John Suppes, Aaron Nitzkin, and Nicole Gittelson
of Clarum Homes and to John Hemingway, one of California’s solar homeowners, for their help developing
the survey. We also thank Jeanne Bassett of New Mexico PIRG, Dena Mottola of New Jersey PIRG, and Di-
ane Brown of Arizona PIRG, as well as Tony Dutzik of Frontier Group and Rob Sargent of the National Asso-
ciation of State PIRGs and affiliated environmental organizations for their editorial review. The author would
also like to thank Environment California’s Jennette Gayer and to the students at the UC Davis CALPIRG
student chapter, Katie Taylor, Ryan Hom, Josh Li and Vicky Choa, who helped to collect the surveys.

Environment California Research & Policy Center sincerely thanks the Arntz Family Foundation, the Energy
Foundation, the David B. Gold Foundation, and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, whose financial
support made this report possible.

The authors alone bear responsibility for any factual errors. The views expressed in this report are those of the
authors and do not necessarily represent the views of our funders or those who provided editorial review.

This report can be downloaded at our website: www.environmentcalifornia.org.

A hard copy can be obtained for $10.00 by writing to:
Environment California Research & Policy Center
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 385
Los Angeles, CA 90010

The Environment California Research & Policy Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are dedicated to pro-
tecting California’s air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public
and decision-makers, and help Californians make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over
the quality of our environment and our lives.

For more information about Environment California Research & Policy Center, please call (213) 251-3688
or visit us at www.environmentcalifornia.org.
Executive Summary
As President George W. Bush pronounced
America’s addiction to oil during his 2006
State-of-the-Union Address, California
unveiled the nation’s biggest solar power
program, the California Solar Initiative. The
Initiative sets its sights on building a million
solar roofs and a mainstream, self-sufficient
solar market in ten years.
With a backdrop of high energy prices, con-
cern over global warming, and a growing
desire among Americans to achieve energy
independence, the authors of this report set
out to inform policy makers, homebuilders
and consumers about the potential to inte-
grate solar panels into new homes, making a
previously boutique technology as affordable
and common-place as insulation and double-
paned windows.
Ultimately, building solar homes provides a
number of benefits to the homebuyer, home-
builder and society at-large.
Everyone benefits from the economies of
scale achieved by incorporating solar tech-
nologies into large scale developments as well
as an enhanced ability to design the home
to best incorporate solar technologies. In
addition, builders benefit by attracting more
interested buyers and, as the survey results
show, a highly satisfied customer.
Further, homeowners benefit from being able
to roll the cost of a solar system into low-
interest mortgages and take advantage of
rebates, tax credits and tax deductions to
achieve a net cost savings within their first
month of ownership.

With this report, we quantify and qualify the

motivations and experiences of homeowners Figure 1: Top motivations for buying a solar home
who have recently purchased a new home in Figure 1: Top motivations for buying a solar home
which solar panels were added as a standard Other
feature. The report analyzes survey responses Other
5%
None/Didn't matter 5%
from five different developments in northern None/Didn't16%
matter
and southern California to provide some 16%
insights into the level of consumer interest
in energy efficient home design and into New Technologies Saving money
the potential for a mainstream solar home New Technologies
11% Saving money
53%
market. 11% 53%

As Figure 1 shows, the ability to save money Environment

Environment
15%
was the top motivator. Defying stereotypes
15%
about the typical solar power enthusiast,
the homeowners were nearly five times more
Figure 2: Difference between electric bills
motivated by saving money than protecting inFigure 2: Difference
solar homes between
vs. previous electrichomes
non-solar bills
the environment. This statistic may indicate in solar homes vs. previous non-solar homes
that solar power has the potential to become No Answer
a mainstream technology for the budget-con- Don't know No Answer
4%
Don't17%
know 4%
scious American homeowner.
17%

The report recommends policies needed to No difference

grow the solar home market, calling for No difference
6%
aggressive federal, state and local action to 6%
build a robust, self-sufficient and mainstream Significanly more
Significantly less
solar power market within the next ten Significanly3%
more
Significantly
70%less
years. 3%
70%

Page 4 Environment California Research & Policy Center

Figure 3: What is your overall impression of solar power?
Figure 3: What is your overall impression of solar power?
No Opinion
Netative 3%
No Opinion
Lastly, the social benefits of creating a robust
solar home market come in the form of
greater energy independence, reduced air pol-
lution and, in time, a more stable, affordable
energy supply.
Survey Highlights
Analysis of 109 completed surveys reveals the
motivation, experience and knowledge of the
homeowner living in newly built solar homes.
These results are highlighted below:
Solar homeowners were motivated by sav-
ing money and reported low energy bills.
Specifically:
• 70 percent of the homeowners surveyed
say their electric bills are much less than in
their previous home;
• 53 percent report their solar home purchase
was motivated by saving money;
• Regardless of motivations, the solar system
was an important factor for 77% of the home
buyers.
Solar homeowners are satisfied customers.
The survey found that:
• 92 percent of respondents would recommend
a solar home to a friend, and 93 percent
would buy a solar home again;
• 84 percent of solar homeowners believe the
solar power system would be a selling feature
if they were to sell their home;
• 95 percent of the homeowners think more
homes should come with solar power
features.
• 86 percent have had no problems with their
solar system and 90 percent say their solar
system has either no effect or a positive
effect on the appearance of their home.
Solar homeowners take additional steps to
reduce their consumption of energy. For
instance 86 percent of the homeowners say
they try to cut their energy consumption,
beyond owning a solar system, through ener-
gy efficient appliances and lifestyle changes.
Centex Homes is building solar homes in San
Ramon, California, Photo Credit: Davis Energy
Group
Policy Recommendations
To further the potential for solar homes, fed-
eral, state and local governments should:
Design Standards for New Homes. To achieve
additional economies of scale and build more
sustainable communities, state and local gov-
ernments should establish minimum solar
energy requirements for new construction.
Consumer Rebates. Dozens of states offer
some form of consumer rebate program to
help buy-down the cost of installing a solar
energy system. The nation’s largest rebate
program was just adopted by the California
Public Utilities Commission. Other states
should adopt a similar program.
Net Metering. Net metering programs offer
consumers the ability to get retail credit for
excess electricity generated by their solar
system. In return, homeowners provide ben-
efits to the electric grid such as pollution-free
peak electricity. These policies are key finan-
cial drivers for homeowners considering solar
technologies and must be expanded across
the country.
Tax Incentives. States should offer solar tax
incentives for consumers and the federal gov-
ernment should extend the existing federal
Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 5
 tax credit for ten years to provide greater sta-
bility to the solar market nation-wide. States
and local governments should also adopt
tax-based incentive programs to attract more
solar manufacturing closer to local markets.
Solar Rights. All homeowners should have
the right to install a solar energy system on
their home and not have their roof shaded
from the sun, provided that all safety and
installation standards are met. State and
local governments should ban and discourage
zoning ordinances that penalize or discourage
solar installations.
Consumer Protections. A rapid growth in
the solar market should be accompanied by
improved standards and consumer protec-
tions such as mandatory solar system inspec-
tions and minimum system warranties. States
and local governments should improve and
expand installer and building inspector train-
ing programs and adopt uniform licensing
standards.

San Diego homes with solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems incorporated during construction
(Shea Homes)

Page 6 Environment California Research & Policy Center

 Figure 9: Importance of Solar Feature When Buying H
Other
Figure 1: Top motivations5%
for buying a solar home No Importance
None/Didn't matter of Solar Feature WhenVery
Figure 9: Importance15% Important
Buying Home
16% Other 17%
5% Very Little
No Importance
None/Didn't matter Very Important
8%15%
16% 17%

Survey Results:
New Technologies Saving money
11% 53% Very Little
8%
New Technologies
11% Environment Attitude and Experience of Solar Homeowners
Saving money
53%
Somewhat
Important
15% 60%
Somewhat
Environment During the spring and summer of 2005, one Important
15% Figure 2: Difference between electric bills hundred and nine homeowners in five new 60%
in solar homes vs. previous non-solar homes solar home developments in northern and
southern California responded to a twenty- Figure 10: Would you recommend a solar home to a
No Answer
Figure 2: Difference between electric bills
know vs. previous non-solar 4%
Don'thomes
question survey assessing their motivations for Not Sure
in solar homes No 7%
purchasing a solar home and their experience
Figure 10: Would you
17% 1%recommend a solar home to a frie
No Answer owning one. (See Appendix for a copy of the
Not Sure
Don't know 4% survey). These responses represent approxi- No 7%
No difference
17% mately twenty percent of the 500 homeown- 1%
6%
ers living in these five developments.
No difference
Significanly
6% more
Significantly less
3%
70% Overall Impression of Solar Homes Yes
Significanly more
The vast majority of the one hundred and 92%
3%
Significantly less nine homeowners surveyed for this report
70%
had an overall positive impression of solar Yes
92%
power, as shown in Figure 3. These results Figure 11: If you were to buy another home,
Figure 3: What is your overall impression of solar power? are in line with polls of average voters that would you prefer a solar powered home again
frequently show highly favorably ratings of
No Opinion Not Sure
Netative 3% solar power among the general public. A 2004Figure 11: If you
No were to buy another home,
1% 6%
Figure 3: What is your overall impression of solar power? poll conducted by Environment California would you prefer
1% a solar powered home again?
No Opinion Research & Policy Center, for example, found Not Sure
Netative
1%
3% 87 percent of California voters had a favor- No
6%
1%
able opinion of solar power1.

Nearly all of the solar homeowners think that

more homes should be built like theirs: with
solar panels incorporated into them as stan-
Positive dard features, as shown in Figure 4. Yes
96% 93%

Positive Yes
96% 93%

Figure 4: Should more new homes be solar?

No No Opinion
1% more new homes be4%
Figure 4: Should solar?

No No Opinion
4% Figure 12: Do you wish the size, and therefore
1%
electrical output, of your solar PV system was…

Figure 12: Do youNo Answer

wish the size, and therefore
3%
electrical output, of your
No opinion solar PV system was…
21%
No Answer
3%
Yes No opinion
95% 21% Larger
48%
Yes
Figure 5: Top motivations 95%
for buying a solar home Larger
Other 48%
5% No Change
Rave Reviews for Solar
27%Homes PageSmaller
7
Figure 5:matter
None/Didn't Top motivations for buying a solar home
16% Other 1%
5% No Change
Saving money 27%
 Motivations for Buying a Solar Home
The top motivating factor for purchasing a
solar home for 53% of the homebuyers was
saving money, as shown in Figure 5. Fifteen
percent of the buyers were motivated by pro-
tecting the environment and eleven percent
were motivated by the idea of promoting a
new technology.
Interestingly, 16 percent of the homeowners
were either unaware that their home had a
solar system at the time of purchase, or the
solar system didn’t factor in to their decision
to purchase the home. This is slightly more
than the 15 percent who were motivated by
protecting the environment in choosing to
buy a solar home. These results may indicate
the ability for solar power technologies to
blend into new home design and become a
mainstream technology via the new home
market.
Further demonstrating that today’s solar
homebuyer is not the stereotypical green
technology enthusiast, a majority of the hom-
eowners surveyed had little to some knowl-
edge about solar power before purchasing
their solar home, as seen in Figure 6.
When asked whether their electric bills were
higher or lower when compared with their
previous, non-solar home, the answer was
panels affect your home's appearance?
e No Answer Figure 8: Average Solar Home Electric Bill vs. Average Non-Solar Home Electric Bill
4%
$200
$180
$160 $138
$140
$120
$100
$80
$60
No
82% $40 $30
$20
$0
Central Valley
Average Solar Home Bill
Figure 19: Annual Growth in California's Small-Scale Solar Installations, 1998-
Page 8 Environment California
6: Do you and your family try to 8000
Research & Policy Center
duce your energy consumeption?
# Solar Roofs Per Year
No Answer 7000 MW Installed Per Year
overwhelmingly “significantly less”. As Figure
7 shows, 7 out of ten respondents reported
having significantly lower energy bills. One
respondent reported having a bill that was
equal to their previous home even though
they more than doubled their living space.
When asked to approximate their electric
bills, the majority of the respondents pro-
vided figures that averaged between $30 and
$121 per month, as shown in Figure 8. In
contrast, the average California electric bill
for a new home is from $130-170 per month2.
These results indicate that solar home sav-
ings could range from 30-75% compared to a
non-solar home. Further, nearly a third of the
respondents reported having monthly electric
bills that were $20 or less.
The range in monthly electric bills is most
likely due to different solar system sizes, vary-
ing lifestyles, location within California, and
the quality of the additional energy efficiency
features included in the home in addition to
the solar panels.
Regardless of the motivating factor, a vast
majority of the homeowners, 77 percent,
reported that the solar power system was
either very important or somewhat important
in their decision to buy their new home, as
seen in Figure 9.
$176
$158
$121
$51
South Bay Area Southern California
Average Non-Solar Home Bill
2005*
40
35
 No No Opinion
1% 4%
Figure 4: Should more new homes be solar?
Figure 4: Should more new homes be solar?
No Opinion
No Figure 12: Do you wish the size, and therefore
1% 4%
No Opinion
No electrical output, of your solar PV system was…
1% 4%
No Answer
Figure 12: Do you3%wish the size, and therefore
Noelectrical
opinion output, of your solar PV system was…
Figure 12: Do you wish the size, and therefore
21%
electrical output, of your solar PV system was…
No Answer
Yes 3%
No opinion No Answer
95% 3% Larger
21%
No opinion 48%
21%
Yes
Figure 5: Top motivations for buying
95%
a solar home Larger
Other Yes 48%
5% No Change Larger
95%
27% 48%
None/Didn't matter Smaller
Figure
16%
5: Top motivations for buying a solar home 1%
Other for buying a solar home
Figure 5: Top motivations No Change
5% Saving money
Other 27%
None/Didn't
Newmatter 5% 53% No Change Smaller
Technologies16% 27% 1%
Smaller
None/Didn't
11% matter
16% Saving money 1%
New 53%
Saving money
Technologies
Environment
New
11%15% 53%
Technologies
11%
Environment
15% Figure 13: Have you had any problems
Environment
Figure 6: How
15% knowledgeable were you about with your solar power system?
solar power prior to purchasing your home? Yes
Not Sure
Figure 13:6%Have you had any8%
problems
Figure 6: HowNone
knowledgeableA were
lot you about with your solar power system?
solar power 11% to purchasing
prior 13%your home? Figure 13: Have you had any problems
Figure 6: How knowledgeable were you about with Yes
Notyour
Sure solar power system?
solar power prior to purchasing your home? 6%
8%
Yes
None A lot Not Sure
11% 13% 8%
6%
Little None A lot
28% 11% 13%

Little Some
28% 48%
Little No
28% 86%
Some
48% No
Some
48% 86%
Figure 14: If you were to sell your home, doNoyou think
the solar PV system would be a selling86%
feature?
Figure 7: Solar Homes Save Money: Today's electric bills
vs prervious non-solar home eletric bills Figure 14:Not
If you
Surewere to sell your home, do you think
15%
No Answer Figure 14: If yousystem
the solar
No
PV were towould be ahome,
sell your sellingdofeature?
you think
FigureDon't
7:17%know
Solar Homes Save Money: Today's
4% electric bills the solar
1% PV system would be a selling feature?
Figure 7:vsSolar
prervious
Homesnon-solar home
Save Money: eletricelectric
Today's bills bills Not Sure
vs prervious non-solar home eletric bills 15%
No difference No Answer No Sure
Not
Don't know
6% 17% 4%
No Answer 1% 15%
Don't know No
17% 4% 1%
No difference
Significanly more
3% 6% Significantly less
No difference 70%
6% Yes
Significanly more 84%
3% Significantly less
Significanly more 70%
3% Significantly less Yes
70% 84%
Yes
84%

Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 9

 8%
ologies Saving money
11% 53%

Somewhat
Environment Important
15% 60%

Solar Homeowners are Satisfied Customers

Figure 2: Difference between electric bills
in solar homes vs. previous non-solar homes
Figure 10: Would you recommend a solar home to a friend?
No Answer
Not Sure
Don't know 4% 7%
No
17% 1%
The survey asked a number of questions to
understand whether these solar homeowners
No difference were satisfied with their purchase. One mea-
Figure 6%1: Top motivations for buying a solar home sure of satisfactionFigure is personal
15: Do the recommenda-
panels affect your home's appearance?
Figure 9: Importance of Solar Feature When Buying Home Figure 9: Importance of Solar Feature
tions to friends and family. When Buying Home
Other No Answer
Significanly more Negative
5% Significantly less No Importance No Importance
n't matter3% 70% Very Important According to the survey, nearly all the hom-
Very6%
Important 4%
15% 15% Yes
16% 17% eowners surveyed, 92 percent, would 17%
92% recom-
Very Little mend a solar homePositive
Very Little to a friend, as seen in
8%
8% Figure8%10.
es Saving money
Figure 11: If you were to buy another home,
53% Another measure of satisfaction is whether
Figure 3: What is your overall impression of solar power? would you prefer a solar powered home again?
the homeowner would consider purchasing a
No Opinion Somewhat solar home again. ToNot this Somewhat
Surequestion, more than
Environment Netative 3% No Important
15%
1% Important 9 out of ten respondents
1%
6%answered yes, as seen No
60% 60%
in Figure 11. 82%

Figure 2: Difference between electric bills

in solar homes vs. previous non-solar homes Figure 15: Do the panels affect your home's appearance?
Figure
Figure9:10:
Importance
Would youofrecommend
Solar Feature Whenhome
a solar Buying
to aHome
friend? Figure 10: Would you recommend a solar home to a friend?
No Answer Negative No Answer
Not Sure Not Sure
Don't know 4% No Importance 7%
No 7% Very Important No 6% 4%
17% 15% 1%
1% 17%
Positive Yes
96% Positive 93%
Very Little
ference 8%
8%
6% Figure 16: Do you and your family try to
further reduce your energy consumeption?
icanly more
Significantly less No Answer
3%Figure 4: Should more new homes be solar? Somewhat
70% 4% No
Yes Important Yes
92% No
No Opinion 92% 60% 10%
No 82%
1% 4%

Figure 11: If you were to buy another home, Figure

Figure11:
12:IfDoyou
youwere
wishtothe
buysize,
another home,
and therefore
ure 3: What is your overall impression of solar power? would you prefer a solar powered home again? would you output,
electrical prefer aofsolar
yourpowered
solar PVhome again?
system was…
Figure 10: Would you recommend a solar home to a friend?
No Opinion Not Sure
Netative 3% NotSure
Not Sure No No Answer
No
1% No 7%6% 3%6% Yes
1% No opinion 1%
1% 86%
21%

Yes
95% Figure 17: DoesFigure 16:Larger
your homeDohave
you any
andother
your family
energytry to
efficiency Fig
feat
such as a solarfurther reduce
hot water 48%yourorenergy
heater consumeption?
an on-demand su
hot water hea

Figure 5: Top motivations for buying a solar home energyNo

starAnswer
appliances
4%4% efficient lights
Other No Change No4%
5% Yes none/no answer
Positive Yes 92% 27% Yes
provided 10%
None/Didn't matter 96% Smaller 35%93% efficient windows
93% 10%
16% 1%
Saving money
New 53% Figure 11: If you were to buy another home,
Technologies would you prefer a solar powered home again?
11% efficient heat/air on demand hot wa
Figure 4: Should morePage 1%
10 Environment
new homes be solar? California Research &Not
Policy
Sure Center
No solar hot water
36%
solar
6% 1% low flow water Yes
No Environment No Opinion 1%
15% 1% 86% extra insulation
1% 4% 8%
 her 4%
% No Change
vations for buying a solar home 27%
No Answe
Smaller Don't Know
Other 4%
5% No Change 22%
1%
27% Don't Know
Smaller
Saving money 22%
1%
53%
Saving money
53%

Perhaps the only change the homeowners sur-

Figure 13: Have you had any problems
dgeable were you aboutveyed would make to their solar home would with your solar power system?
purchasing your home? be to make the solar panels larger so that they Figure 13: Have you had anyYesproblems
edgeable were you aboutcould increase energy savings. According to Not Sure
with your solar power system?
8%
purchasing 6%
A lot your home?homebuilder materials, most of the homes in Yes
13% Not Sure
the surveyed developments had systems that 6%
8%
A lot ranged in size from one to three kilowatts.
13%
The average solar system size for a home is 2.5
kilowatts3. As seen in Figure 12, nearly half
of all respondents wished their solar system
was larger while another 27 percent felt that
Some it was appropriately sized.
48% No
Some
Directly related to satisfaction is the question 86%
48% No
of whether or not new solar homeowners have
86%
had any problems with their solar systems. To
this, the vast majority of respondents reported Figure 14: If you were to sell your home, do you think
having no problems with their systems, as seen the solar PV system would be a selling feature?
ve Money: Today's electric Figure 14: If you were to sell your home, do you think
inbills
Figure 13. Of the 8 percent that reported
-solar home eletric bills having problems, 1 complained of difficulty the solar
NotPV system would be a selling feature?
Sure
ave Money: Today's electric bills 15%
n-solar home No billsworking with their local utility company,
Answer
eletric No Not Sure
4% and two complained of problems with the 1% 15%
No Answer inverter/control box. One complained that No
4% 1%
their solar system simply didn’t work.

SignificantlySolar
less Power and Perceived Home Resale Value
70% While “location, location, location” will like-
Yes
lylessremain the three most important factors
Significantly
84%
70%
in selling real estate, the impact that solar Yes
system will have on the resale value of a home 84%
is an important issue. If the perception of
these 100+ recent homebuyers is any indica-
tion, the solar panels will be an added bonus
to future resale efforts. As seen in Figure 14,
more than 8 out of ten respondents said their Figure 15: Do the panels affect your home's appearance?
Figure 9: Importance ofsolar systemWhen
Solar Feature would beHome
Buying a selling feature.
Negative No Answer Figure 8
No Importance Along similar
Verylines,
Importanta common concern about 6% 4%
$200
15% solar technologies17%is how they affect the appear- $180
Very Little
ance of a home. According to 82 percent of the Positive
$160
8% respondents living in newly built solar homes, 8%
$140
the panels have no affect on the appearance of
$120
their home, as seen in Figure 15.
$100
$80
Somewhat
$60
Important No
60% 82% $40 $30
$20
$0
Central V

Figure 10: Would you recommend a solar home to a friend? Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 11
Not Sure
No 7%
1%
 60% 82%
Somewhat
Important No
60%
Somewhat 82%
Important
Figure 10: Would you recommend a solar home to a friend? No
60% 82%
Not Sure
No 7%
Figure 10: Would1%you recommend a solar home to a friend?
Not Sure
Figure 10: Would 7%
No you recommend a solar home to a friend?
1% Figure 16: Do you and your family try to
Not Sure
7% further reduce your energy consumeption?
No
1%
Of the fifteen respondents who reported an Figure 16: Do you and your family try to
No Answer
effect of some sort, six
Yes identified it as a “nega- further reduce your 4%
energy consumeption?
No
tive” affect while nine
92% said it had a “positive” 10%try to
Figure 16: Do you and your family
affect. further reduceNoyour
Answer
energy consumeption?
4% No
Yes
92% No Answer 10%
Figure 11: If you were to buy another home,
4%
Solar
would you preferHomeowners are again?
a solar poweredYes
home Energy Conscious No
10%
According to the 92%
survey results, most solar
Not Sure
homeowners
Figure 11: If you were to buydoanother
No
6% not home,
become “energy hogs”
would youusing
prefer
1% amoresolar powered Yes
energyhome again?of some perceived
because 86%
notion
Figure 11: Notthat
If you were it isanother
to buy
Sure “free”home,
now that they have a
would yousolar
prefer system.
No a solar Rather,
6% powered homeasagain?
seen in Figure 16, 86
1% Yes
percent of the respondents reported doing
Not Sure Figure 17: Does your86%
home have any other energy efficiency features
more
No than6% simply owning a solar home to such as a solar hot water heater or an on-demand hot water heater?
1% Yes
reduce their energy demands. 86%
Figure 17: Does your home energy star any
have appliances
other energy
4% efficient efficiency
lights features
Further, several of the homes had other such as a solar hot water
none/no answer heater or an on-demand 4% hot water heater?
energy efficiencyYesfeatures incorporated into Figure 17: Does35%
provided
your home have any other energy efficient efficiency features
windows
93% energy star appliances
them as standard features. These measures such as a solar hot water heater 4%or an on-demand
10% heater?
hot water
efficient lights
included on-demand hot water heaters to none/no answer 4%
Yes provided energy star appliances
reduce consumption
93%
of natural gas, efficient 35% 4% efficientefficient
lights windows
appliances and lighting features, extra insula- 4% 10%
none/no answer
efficient heat/air on demand hot water
tion, and doubleYespaned windows, as detailed provided
1%
35% efficient windows
36%
93%
in Figure 17. solar hot water 10%
1% low flow water
efficient heat/air1% extra insulation on demand hot water
Lastly, 68 percent of the surveyed homeown- 1% 8% 36%
ers report having a meter that tracks the total solar hot water
efficient heat/air
1% low flow water on demand hot water
amount
Figure 12: Do you wishoftheelectricity generated by their solar
size, and therefore 1% 1% extra insulation 36%
system,
electrical output, as solar
of your seenPVin Figure
system was…18. solar hot water 8%
1% low flow water
No Answer 1% extra insulation
Figure 12: Do you wish
3%
the size, and therefore 8%

electrical
No opinionoutput, of your solar PV system was…
21%
Figure 12: DoNo
you wish the size, and therefore
Answer
electrical output, of3%your solar PV system was…
No opinion
Larger Figure 18: Does your solar system keep track
21% No Answer
48% of the total amount of energy used and generated?
3%
No opinion
21% Larger No Does
Answeryour solar system keep track
Figure 18: No
48% 4%
No Change of the total amount of energy6% used and generated?
27% Larger Don't Know
Smaller FigureNo18: Does your solar system keep track
1% 48% 22% Answer No
of the total amount
4% of energy used and generated?
No Change 6%
27% Don't Know No Answer
Smaller No
1% 22% 4%
No Change 6%
27% Don't Know
Smaller
1% 22%
Yes
68%

Yes
Have you had
Figure 13:California any problems 68%
Page 12 Environment Research & Policy Center
with your solar power system? Yes
Yes 68%
Not Sure
Figure 13: Have you had any 8%
problems
6%
 The Benefits of Solar Homes
Developing clean, abundant solar power
resources can provide numerous benefits
to homeowners, homebuilders and soci-
ety at-large by reducing air pollution, pro-
tecting consumers from volatile electricity
prices, and reducing the need for expensive
upgrades to electric transmission and distri-
bution systems.
Creating a Mainstream Solar Market
With year-round sunshine, a robust hous-
ing market, high energy costs and an envi-
ronmentally-conscious public, making solar
power a standard feature of new homes, just
like double-paned windows and insulation, is
a unique opportunity to literally build a truly
clean and independent energy future.
With 200,000 new homes built each year in
California alone, the new home market is one
of the best opportunities we have to lower the
cost of solar power and meet growing energy
needs in a sustainable, economically viable
manner.4
Further, with growing public concern over
energy prices and the environment, building
solar homes could benefit builders as well,
increasing sales and adding to customer sat-
isfaction.
This idea has not been lost on state leaders.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for exam-
ple, has made it a goal to build at least half of
all new homes with solar panels5. On January
12, 2006, the California Public Utilities
Commission adopted the nation’s largest solar
power incentive program designed to build a
million solar roofs in ten years and create a
robust new solar home market.6
Other states such as Arizona, New Mexico,
New Jersey, Washington, and many more,
have also begun to aggressively invest in solar
power, adopting policies such a tax incentives
for homeowners, consumer rebates, and net
metering programs.7
As the market for solar power grows in the
United States and world-wide, the cost of
manufacturing and installing solar systems
will decline, removing the greatest barrier to
mainstream application of solar power—its
high upfront costs8. In the meantime, gov-
ernment programs at all levels of government
can help lower the cost of solar power, help-
ing build a sustainable energy infrastructure
in the near term.9
Solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems
being added to new homes in San Diego built by
Shea Homes (Photo Credit, NAHBRC)
While dozens of states have programs to sup-
port solar power, California’s solar market is
the third largest in the world and represents
around ninety percent of the US market.
As Figure 19 shows, California’s demand for
solar since adopting the first solar rebate pro-
gram in 1998 has grown more than 2,800%.10
Today, there are more than 18,000 homes in
California running off of solar power. (Note:
Figure 19 shows annual growth in solar instal-
lations. Cumulative figures are much higher).
The bulk of these solar homes, however, are
the result of retrofit projects as opposed to the
more cost-effective method of incorporating
the solar panels on a home while it is being
built. Approximately 1,000 new homes have
been built with solar panels as a standard
feature in California, although this number
is rising.12
Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 13
 Integrating solar systems into new home
construction is an effective way to surmount
many of the hurdles to greater solar power
penetration.
First, by including solar in initial plans,
builders can choose home and site layouts
that can take maximum advantage of the
solar resource – for example, by preserving
southern exposure or by integrating solar into
plans for high energy efficiency homes.
all of the day, not under trees or other sources
of shade. Since the sun is always in the south-
ern half of the sky in the North America,
south-facing roofs are generally preferable,
though east or west-facing roofs may also
work for certain homes. Solar panels can also
lie flat on a roof, but are optimized if they are
tilted at an angle toward the south, increas-
ing the amount of time that the full panel is
exposed to the sun’s rays.

Second, including solar technologies in ini- Helping Stabilize Electric Grid

tial plans can reduce the cost of the system Ultimately, policies that encourage the devel-
in a variety of ways. For example, builders opment of “solar homes” can best take advan-
may gain experience with solar installations tage of the nation’s abundant solar energy
and/or be able to achieve discounts on bulk resources providing relief to stressed and
orders of solar systems, while the building’s aging electric grids.
electrical systems can be specifically designed
to take advantage of solar power.
Of course, not all homes, new or existing,
are equally suitable for solar power. For solar
homes to operate most effectively, the solar
system needs to be in the sunlight for most or

Table 1: Economic Benefits of 2.5 kW DC Solar PV System on a New Home with $2,800/kW
Buydown Grant
(year 1) Net Monthly Year 1 Savings Cumulative Monthly Net Present
Loan Payment Cash Flow (30 Electric Bill Value
(after tax) yrs.) Savings
San Jose $57 $44 $152 $7,662 $2,722
Bakersfield $53 $44 $100 $5,718 $1,989
San Diego $54 $44 $122 $6,534 $2,296
Murrieta $47 $44 $32 $3,144 $1,018
Fontana $46 $44 $20 $2,702 $851
Rancho
$46 $44 $20 $2,702 $851
Cucamonga
Irvine $49 $44 $58 $4,116 $1,384
Long Beach $49 $44 $58 $4,116 $1,384
Chula Vista $49 $44 $52 $3,910 $1,307

Page 14 Environment California Research & Policy Center

A 2003 study of new homes built with solar
panels as a standard feature in San Diego,
for example, concluded that equipping 1,000
homes with solar panels could reduce electric-
ity demand by over half a megawatt on hot
summer afternoons when the local electric
grid is stressed from high demand.13

Further, this same study found that solar hot

water systems incorporated into the homes
during construction significantly reduced the
demand for natural gas supplied by the same
local utility company.14

Saving Homeowners Money

A recent report by Environment California
Research & Policy Center shows that with
a buy-down grant of $2,800 per kilowatt of
installed solar capacity, a solar homeowner
could be expected to generate modest eco-
nomic benefits.15

Based on outputs from an economic model

developed for the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, the installation of a
2.5 kW DC (2.14 kW AC) solar PV system
priced at $6.00 per Watt can be expected
to generate net economic benefits for new
homebuyers in nine of California’s fast-
est-growing municipalities with a buydown
grant of $2,800 per kW. (See Table 1.)

Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 15

California’s Solar Home Developments

A small but growing number of homebuilders are realizing the many benefits, economic, envi-
ronmental and otherwise, of incorporating solar panels into new housing developments. Over
the past five years, approximately ten companies have incorporated solar panels into twelve dif-
ferent housing developments throughout northern and southern California. Other states, such
as Nevada, have also seen some developers design new housing projects with solar. In total,
California has approximately 1,200 homes in which solar panels have been included as a stan-
dard feature. According to some studies, another 1,000 new homes are in the process of being
built with solar panels in California (See endnote 12). Below is a map showing completed solar
home developments in California.

Page 16 Environment California Research & Policy Center

 Build er : Prem ier Homes
D eve lopmen t: Prem ier Oaks
Location: Ro sev ill e
N o. Solar H om es: 49

Build er : Treas ure Homes

D eve lopmen t: F allen L eaf
Location: N ato mas
N o. Solar H om es: 32 Build er : M orrison H om es
D eve lopmen t: Lakeside
Build er : Prem ier Homes Location: El k G ro ve
D eve lopmen t: Prem ier Gardens N o. Solar H om es: 12 out of 1 20
Location: Sac ramento
N o. Solar H om es: 99

Premier Homes: Sacramento’s first all solar housing project.

(Photo credit: Premier Homes)
Build er : C larum H ome s
D eve lopmen t: H am ilton Park
Build er : C larum H ome s Location: M enlo Park
D eve lopmen t: C herry Bl osso m N o. Solar H om es: 47
Location: W atso nvill e
N o. Solar H om es: 31
Build er : C larum H ome s
D eve lopmen t: Shore breeze
Build er : C larum H ome s Location: Palo Alto
D eve lopmen t: V ista Mo nt an a N o. Solar H om es: 39
Location: W atso nvill e
N o. Solar H om es: 257 Build er : C astle & C ooke
D eve lopmen t: Wi nderm ere H om es
Location: Bakersfield
N o. Solar H om es: 239

Build er : Shea, P ardee, R ichman, K. Hovanian

D eve lopmen t: Ladera R anch
Location: O range Count y
N o. Solar H om es: 375

Build er : KD H omes
D eve lopmen t: Th e T rails
Location: San D ieg o
N o. Solar H om es: 6 A partm ents Build er : Pardee
D eve lopmen t: Soleil
Location: San D ieg o
N o. Solar H om es: 30

Clarum Homes’s all-solar development in northern California.

(Photo Credit: Clarum Homes)

Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 17

Policy Recommendations
Policies targeted at increasing demand for
solar power installations are the best way
to simultaneously increase solar generating
capacity and drive down the cost of solar
technologies in the long-term. This will
increase the amount of electricity generated
from clean, distributed sources, build the
strength of the solar industry, and pave the
way for further growth in generation from
clean solar power in the decades ahead.
California’s Governor Schwarzenegger set
a goal of 3,000 MWp of total new solar PV
capacity and half of all new homes built
with solar power over the next 10 years, and
meeting that goal will require bringing down
the cost. The strongest policies to achieve
this goal combine market-based mechanisms
with design standards for new construction.
Establish Solar Requirements for New
Construction
To achieve economies of scale and build
more sustainable communities, state and
local governments should not just set goals
but rather establish minimum solar energy
requirements for new construction. At the
very minimum, solar energy systems, includ-
ing photovoltaic and hot water, should be
required to be a standard option on all new
homes, just like marble counter tops where
all new buyers are given the option and
information needed to add a solar energy
system to their new home. States should
also consider policies that make solar energy
technologies standard features of new homes,
as it was in the five developments surveyed
for this report. Such policies will maximize
ratepayer and taxpayer investments by driv-
ing prices down and increasing installation
efficiencies.
Dedicate Funds for a Solar Incentive Program
Dozens of states already offer some form of
consumer rebate program to help buy-down
Page 18 Environment California Research & Policy Center
the cost of installing a solar energy system.
The nation’s largest rebate program was just
adopted by the California Public Utilities
Commission on January 12, 2006. This pro-
gram, called the California Solar Initiative,
created a combined $3.2 billion solar fund,
paid through a surcharge on electric bills,
to build a self-sustaining solar market in ten
years. To accomplish the goal in California,
this program must be fully implemented to
give the solar industry a secure dedicated
fund to attract investment and lower prices
over time. Other states should adopt similar
programs to ensure solar power becomes a
self-sufficient and affordable technology in
the next decade.
Net metering
Net metering programs offer consumers the
ability to get a retail credit for any excess
electricity generated by their solar system on
their monthly electric bill. This program is a
key financial driver for growing the nation’s
solar home market as it essentially allows
consumers to forego the need to buy an
expensive battery and instead use the elec-
tric grid as a storage device. In return, solar
homeowners provide critical benefits to the
electric grid, providing peak-time electricity
and helping to stabilize the grid. Forty states
have some form of a net metering program
for solar energy systems upon which to
expand to maximize this financial incentive
(AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID,
IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN,
MO, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH,
OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, VI, WA, WI,
WY).16 For example, California currently
has a statewide net metering program that is
capped at 0.5% of a utility’s total aggregated
electrical load.17 This means that once the
total amount of solar energy exceeds this
0.5% cap, the utility company is no longer
obligated to offer and sign new net metering
contracts.
To meet the state’s new goal of building
3,000 megawatts of solar power on a million
roofs throughout the state, the net metering
cap will need to be lifted to at least 5% and
ultimately should be eliminated altogether.
Other states should do the same. Further,
moving beyond net metering, states should
look to adopting a feed-in tariff program
for large scale installations. Feed-in-tariff
programs have been established in Germany
and also the state of Washington. Instead
of giving an upfront consumer rebate and
a credit on monthly electric bills for excess
electricity, feed-in-tariff programs allow solar
system owners of any size to receive a guar-
anteed price for all the electricity generated
by the solar system. The price is then set at
a level that provides a financial incentive for
consumers to invest in the solar system.
Encourage Solar Through Utility Billing
Practices
Other important policies can help ensure
that homeowners who install solar systems
maximize the return on their investment.
One such policy is to make time-of-use billing
an option for all electric power customers.
Time-of-use billing is simply a structure in
which the price of electricity varies by day
and by season, with higher prices charged
during peak hours, usually hot summer after-
noons. With this form of billing, coupled
with net metering, the credit given to a
solar system owner by day is higher than the
electricity consumed by night when the solar
system is not generating electricity. Time-of-
use billing allows a net metered customer to
receive a credit for their pollution-free, peak
electricity power that is closer to its actual
worth. In other words, electricity supplied
during peak hours is worth more than elec-
tricity supplied during low-demand hours,
such as midnight, and therefore should be
duly compensated.
Continue Tax Incentives
States should offer tax incentives for solar
technologies, including solar photovoltaics
and solar hot water systems, and the fed-
eral government should extend the existing
federal tax credit for at least five years to
provide greater stability to the solar market
nationwide. States and local governments
should also adopt tax-based incentive pro-
grams to attract more manufacturing of the
various components of a solar system and
to discourage anti-solar zoning and local
ordinances that are designed to discourage
solar energy systems. Several states already
have some form of tax incentives including,
AZ, CA, CT, FL, HI, ID, IL, ID, IA, KS, LA,
MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM,
NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT,
VA, WA, WI, WY.18
Consumer protections
A rapid growth in the American solar mar-
ket should be accompanied by improved
standards and consumer protections such as
mandatory system inspections and minimum
system warranties. States and local govern-
ments should improve installer and building
inspector training and licensing standards.
Research and Development
Governments should also continue R&D
programs that support improvements in the
various photovoltaic conversion technolo-
gies, inverter engineering, factory produc-
tion, and other technical aspects that can
develop knowledge and then disseminate
it through the industry to help companies
make better decisions about how to reduce
costs as they meet increasing demand.
Solar Rights for Homeowners
All homeowners should have the right to
install a solar energy system on their home
as well as have reasonable access to sunshine
Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 19
 provided that all safety and installation
standards are met. Many states have “solar
rights” or “solar access” laws prohibiting
local zoning or neighborhood ordinances
from denying private property access to sun-
shine or from prohibiting the installation
of solar systems on private rooftops. All of
these programs could be improved upon at
the state and local level.

Conclusion
Growing the new solar home market, as well
as the existing home and commercial mar-
kets, will create the demand needed to drive
down prices in the long term while providing
a more stable, pollution free energy resource.
Doing so will also benefit ratepayers by
reducing peak demand, reducing the need
for polluting power plants and reducing the
need for expensive upgrades to transmis-
sion and distribution systems. Building a
mainstream, self-sufficient solar market will
also decrease the nation’s reliance on fossil
fuels while bringing cleaner air and more
local jobs. Ultimately, building solar homes
can benefit the next generation of new
California homeowners by providing a stable
source of pollution free and local energy.

Page 20 Environment California Research & Policy Center

Appendix:
Solar Home Survey
Survey results detailed in this report were collected through a combination of direct mail and
door-to-door canvassing during the spring and summer of 2005 with the survey found on the
following two pages.

The completed survey’s came from the following developments:

Total Number Number of Survey

Builder Development Location of Homes in Returns from
Development Development

Clarum Homes Shorebreeze East Palo Alto 39 8

Clarum Homes Vista Montana Watsonville 259 21

Clarum Homes Cherry Blossom Freedom 31 6

Premier Homes Premier Gardens Sacramento 99 34

Shea Homes Ladera Ranch Orange County 87 40

Total 515 109

Rave Reviews for Solar Homes Page 21

 SOLAR HOME SURVEY
Thank you for taking the time to complete our Solar Home Survey. We are conducting this survey to better
assess the quality, convenience, and benefits of solar homes in California. Your experience with a solar
photovoltaic (PV) system is extremely valuable to our research assessing the value and quality of solar homes.
We would greatly appreciate it if you would complete this 20-question survey and return this form to us by either
fax or mail (see contact information on last page). All information will be kept confidential.

Contact Information (optional):

Please Print
Your Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________ City: __________________ Zip: ____________

Phone : _________________________________ Email: _________________________________________

Your S ola r Hom e

1) What was your top motivation in purchasing a 5) If you were to sell your home, do you think the
solar powered home? solar PV system would be a selling feature?

Saving money/Lowering electric bill Yes No Not sure

Lessening my environmental impact
Promoting green technologies/Interest in solar 6) What is your overall impression of solar power?
technology of solar power
Positive Negative No opinion
None of the above. I didnʼt know my home was
solar powered until after I purchased it or it
didnʼt matter to me. 7) Do you think more homes should be solar?
Other (please specify) __________________
Yes No No opinion
________________________________________
8) How knowledgeable were you about solar power
________________________________________ prior to purchasing your home?
________________________________________ Very Somewhat
Barely None
2) How important was the solar PV system in your
decision to buy your home? 9) What kind of solar power system do you have?
Very Important: major reason for choosing home Modular – mounted to roof
Somewhat Important: an interesting bonus Building Integrated – part of roofing material
Very Little Importance On top of a trellis/Other structure
No Importance: little to no impact on decision Other (please describe) ________________
I donʼt know

3) Would you recommend a solar home to a friend? 10) Have you had any problems with your solar
power system?
Yes No Not sure
Yes No Not sure
If yes, please describe briefly: ______________
4) If you were to buy another home, would you prefer
a solar powered home again? ________________________________________

Yes No Not sure ________________________________________

________________________________________

Please continue on back

11) Do the panels affect your homeʼs appearance?
No, the system is not noticeable
Yes, the system affects my homeʼs appearance
If yes, would you say the effect is positive or
negative? ___________________________
17) How do your electric bills today compare with
your bills at previous non-solar homes?
My electric bills today are significantly less than
when I lived in a non-solar home
My electric bills today are significantly more than
when I lived in a non-solar home

12) What is the size of the solar photovoltaic (PV) I donʼt notice any difference. My electric bills are
system on your home (in kilowatts, kW)? the same as when I lived in a non-solar home.
< 1 kW From 1 to 3 kW
I donʼt know/No means of comparing.
From 3 to 5 kW > 5 kW

Donʼt know 18) Do you and your family try to further reduce
your energy consumption?
13) Do you wish the size, and therefore electrical
output, of your solar PV system was… No Yes
Larger
If yes, please check all those that apply to you:
Smaller Buy efficient products, i.e. compact fluorescent
No change desired. It is perfect as is. bulbs, Energy Star appliances, etc.
No opinion Lifestyle controls, i.e. temperature control,
turning off lights when not in use, etc).

14) Does your solar system keep track of the total Other (please describe): _________________
amount of energy used and generated? (This is
usually a digital display on a panel inside your _______________________________________
home/garage)
_______________________________________
No, there is no record
_______________________________________
Yes. How much has it generated (kWh)?

____________________________________ 19) How frequently would you say you and your
family consider/think about your solar system?
____________________________________
I donʼt know Every day Once a month
Once a year Never
15) Does your home have any other energy efficiency
features such as a solar hot water heater or an on-
demand hot water heater? If yes, please describe: 20) Would you be willing to be involved further in our
campaign to promote solar power in California?
_____________________________________________ Yes/Maybe* No
_____________________________________________ *If yes or maybe, please be sure to provide your
contact information on the top of this form so that we
_____________________________________________ can contact you.

_____________________________________________

16) What is your average monthly electric bill?

$ _____________ I donʼt know

Please return by fax or mail to:

Solar Home Survey, 1107 9th St, Suite 601 Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-448-4560 (fax)
For more information: Bernadette Del Chiaro, Environment California Research & Policy Center,
(916) 446-8062 x 103 - bernadette@environmentcalifornia.org - www.environmentcalifornia.org
 End Notes
1
Cheryl Katz, Baldassare Associates, “Public Attitudes and Support for Solar Power A Survey of
Likely Voters in California Conducted for Environment California Research & Policy Center”
June 2004.
2
According to the California Energy Commission, the average California home consumes 550
kilowatt hours of electricity per month where as the average new California home, while more
efficient is larger in size and filled with more electronic appliances and gadgets, and therefore
consumes an average of 770 kilowatt hours per month. According to the California Energy Com-
mission, the average electric rate for California homes is approximately thirteen cents per kilowatt
hour.
3
The listed effect of the solar system on the home’s appearance was “big”. This same respondent
also expressed a desire to have an even larger system later on in the survey.
4
California Construction Review Private Building Construction (Construction Industry Research
Board, Burbank, CA.), May 27, 2004.
5
Press Release, Californians for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger Details Specifics of
Environmental Action Plan (Sept. 21, 2003) at http://www.schwarzenegger.com/news.asp?id=1287.
6
Press Release, CPUC, PUC Creates Groundbreaking Solar Energy Program (Jan. 12, 2006).
7
See Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy for complete list of state by state incen-
tives for solar power, available at http://dsireusa.org/.
8
Dave Algoso, Mary, Braun & Bernadette Del Chiaro, Environment California Research & Policy
Center, Bringing Solar to Scale: California’s Opportunity to Create a Thriving, Self-Sustaining
Residential Solar Market (April 2005).
9
Ibid.
10
Based on CEC Emerging Renewables Program, Data Showing Approved and Completed Sys-
tems Pre-2005, at http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/emerging_renewables/2005-11-02_pre_1_
1_2005_pc.xls; and post 2005 at http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/emerging_renewables/2005-
12-13-post_1_1_2005_update.xls.
11
Ibid.
12
There currently is no official count of the number of homes built with solar panels in Califor-
nia. The 1,000 number reported here comes from the author’s survey of builders and the media
regarding built solar home developments. Other reports indicate there may be as many as 1,000
more homes that are in the process of being built or part of a promise from a developer interested
in incorporating solar panels. See Galen Barbose, Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger, “Supporting
Photovoltaics in Market-Rate Residential New Construction: A Summary of Programmatic Expe-
rience to Date and Lessons Learned” (Feb. 2006, LBNL-59299).
13
Moore, Mike. “Final Report for Field Evaluation of PATH Technologies”, Partnership for Ad-
vancing Technology in Housing, October 2003, pg. 1.
14
Ibid, pg. 1.
15
Bernadette Del Chiaro, Tony Dutzik & Jasmine Vasavada, Environment California Research
& Policy Center, “The Economics of Solar Homes in California: How Residential Photovoltaic
Incentives Can Payoff for Homeowners and the Public” (Dec. 2004).
16
See Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy for complete list of state by state incen-
tives for solar power, available at http://dsireusa.org/.
17
S.B. 656, 1996 Leg., 1995-96 Sess. (Cal. 1995), available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/
postquery?bill_number=sb_656&sess=9596&house=B&author=senator_alquist_(coauthor:_as-
sembly_member_takasugi) (last visited Feb. 21, 2006).
18
See Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy for complete list of state by state incen-
tives for solar power, available at http://dsireusa.org/.

Page 24 Environment California Research & Policy Center