Recent Research Confirms That Homes With Solar Sell For More!

     Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California has conducted a study comparing 2,000 homes equipped with photovoltaics to comparable homes without solar. The Lawrence Berkley lab is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and was conducted by the renewable energy research group, which conducts public-interest studies on renewables, including policies, costs and financing.

     Their research suggests that a house with a 5 kW solar system sells for $19,500 to $32,000 more than comparable homes without solar systems. This is useful and hopeful information for those looking to invest money into PV systems and are worried about being in their homes long enough to earn back the money that they put into their solar investment. This study also found that new homes with PV systems had a lower premium than existing homes, $2.30 to $2.60 per W compared to over $6 per W value.

     This study proves that there can be great financial benefit in more ways that just one when you invest in solar, however local market conditions do vary from state to state. Electricity prices and installation prices do affect the financial benefit of solar, so the next step to take is to apply this study to other states and see if the results coincide with those from California. Overall, the results of this study are very positive for the solar industry. Not only do solar consumers save on their electricity bills, but they can see money coming back to them if they decide to sell their homes.