Starting Jan. 1, 2014, all new residential and commercial buildings in California will need to have “solar-ready” roofs thanks to new building guidelines approved by the California Energy Commission last week. This does not mean, however, that all homes will have to have solar panels installed; they must simply be able to accommodate them.
After Jan. 1, 2014, when the new guidelines are scheduled to take effect, all new residential and commercial roofs will have to meet a series of ideal conditions as closely as possible to be deemed solar-ready, including:
- Having part of an angled roof facing south
- Having as much access to unobstructed sunlight as possible
- Having skylight and chimneys that can work around the system
The new standards build on the initial guidelines established in 1978, which the commission says have saved Californians $66 billion on their energy bills.
The solar-ready requirement is part of a larger group of new building guidelines approved by the commission; the others include updates on window insulation, lighting, and air-conditioning systems.
To read the rest of the story, click here.
Related Stories
High-Performance Homes
How This North Carolina Builder Does High-Performance Homes
The latest series from the National Association of Home Builders takes viewers on a tour of high-performance homes, with the latest installment…
Solar
Record Number of Solar Panels Installed in 2020
The U.S. solar industry didn't just endure the pandemic, it thrived. Solar installations increased 43% year over year in 2020, resulting in a…
Sustainability
Top Sustainable Features Buyers Want
Homebuyers say energy efficiency is a top priority when searching for a home, according to a survey by The National Association of Home Builders.…
