California is leading the nation when it comes to greener and cleaner energy use. It’s like a life style almost in California. With large cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, it is no wonder we want to regulate what emissions we’re putting out in the world. That is why it comes as no surprise that California is becoming one of the first states to require solar panels on newly constructed houses.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) support the passing of a mandate that will require any new single home to have solar panels or solar arrays.
It won’t just be single resident housing, multi-family buildings up to three stories will have to follow the mandate as well. The CEC voted for this proposal in May this year, and the measure was unanimously approved. This is a big step toward a green future for Californians.
If you’re worried about the costs of building a new house in California, try not to stress too much. This mandate will add roughly $9,500 on to the price tag of new houses. However, the CEC believes the benefits outweigh the upfront costs. They estimate that by requiring the solar setup on new houses, homeowners will save up to $19,000 in the long run. The electricity bill will be cut down, and benefit the owners.
Going green is a common sight for Californians driving out toward Bakersfield or through the Mojave Desert where there are plenty of windmills to be seen. Some schools have even opted for solar panels instead of landscapes. Driving through various parts of California, you will sometimes think that you’re seeing water, but it’s actually just a sea of solar panels. This is what helps us California’s generate energy and not use fossil fuels.
This move is not a surprise for Californians. What will be interesting to watch is, which states will follow suite. Northern states like Washington and Oregon are seem likely to follow, but they get way less sunshine than California. It will be interesting to see what the next step for California be. We’re currently working on banning all plastic waste, but what is the next step to making this Earth last a little bit longer.