California Passes Mandate Requiring Solar on All New Construction

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Demetrios Panteleakis is the president of MacMillan Group, LLC, a full-service commercial real estate firm. There, Demetrios Panteleakis has managed a number of projects related to solar power. Both large-scale and residential solar installations continue to grow in popularity, as more and more states set ambitious goals related to energy usage. Last year, the state of California passed a mandate that will require all new homes, major remodels, and low-rise multifamily homes to incorporate solar power in their construction. 

The California Energy Commission passed a resolution in May 2018 that will require all new homes under three stories to incorporate solar capabilities in their design by the year 2020. With each new building or structure producing 2-3 kilowatts of energy, they will essentially attain net zero energy status, producing enough energy individually to avoid having to purchase energy from outside sources.

Long recognized as a leader and trendsetter in goals related to clean energy, California’s unanimously-adopted resolution is the first of its kind in the nation. Officials predict that the measure will ultimately benefit consumers by increasing their energy independence. Though the average initial investment will fall between $8,000 and $18,000 for each residence, experts believe that homeowners will earn that money back in accumulated energy savings.