Santa Cruz Real Estate News & Information

If you’re looking for ways to save money, reduce your impact on the environment, and add value to your Santa Cruz home, then you should definitely consider switching to solar power. Here are the top 5 reasons why now is the best time to invest in this awesome renewable energy.

1) Save Money Every Month On Your Electric Bill

Recent statistics show that the average electricity bill in Santa Cruz is $88, and the average home requires 573kHw per month. Residents in Santa Cruz are paying nearly 31% more for their energy than the national average. While switching to solar power probably won’t entirely eliminate your dependency on the local power grid, it will substantially reduce it.

2) Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

According to an article on the Forbes website, installing solar panels can decrease your carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 35,180 pounds each year. California is one of the best states to invest in solar energy because of our bright and sunny climate, so why not put those beautiful rays to work for you?

3) Solar Adds Value To The Home

Similar to renovating a kitchen or bathroom, installing solar energy will add value to your home. Solar panels can be set up in the backyard, however its more common to see them added on rooftops. There is an excellent return on investment with solar energy. This is one of those investments that will hold onto the value it’s added to your home for decades to come.

4) Renewable Energy Technology Has Improved

The materials and methods used to produce solar panels has improved over the past few years. Manufacturers and scientists have developed new ways to increase the efficiency of the technology, making now a great time to invest in it.

There’s been some discussion on how the methods of producing the solar panels can be not-so eco-friendly, but California’s very own SunPower has one of the best track records in the world for production.

5) It's Built To Last

The initial startup costs for a solar addition are quite hefty, but it pays for itself in the long run. Many solar panels come with a 25-year guarantee and continue to work even longer than that. I wish we could say the same for other home repairs and additions!

Curious About Switching To Solar?

If you’re interested in learning more about solar energy or would like to see if it’s the right fit for your home, here are a few great resources to check out. There's also some great information about federal, state, and municipal funding and grants available for clean energy home upgrades. Check them out below!

• The Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HER0)
• Go Solar Santa Cruz on the City of Santa Cruz’ website.

Send me a message if you'd like to learn more about how investing in solar energy can enhance your home's value and other real estate market data.