Do sun-powered homes sell faster in a slow market? (LA Times)

[jpak]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/pardonourdust/2007/09/do-sun-powered-.html

An article by Elizabeth Douglass in today's L.A. Times says buyers are seeking out solar-powered homes and solar industry officials say growth is going through the roof.

And it makes sense that when the housing economy is shaky homeowners are looking for stability. What could be more stable than the certainty that the sun is gonna shine? I don't mean to be glib, but the sun is one natural resource global warming is not going to destroy. Our self-destructive tendencies are powerful, to be sure, but our reach is not that great.

<snip>

With foreclosures rising and home prices diving, there is a bright spot in California's residential real estate market: Solar-powered homes are starting to outsell traditionally electrified new homes in several markets, and developers are stepping up their use of the technology.

<snip>

"Those builders are seeing that they'll get more buyers coming to their developments when they have solar. They sell like hot cakes," said Bernadette del Chiaro, energy specialist at the advocacy group Environment California.

<more>

[displacedtexan]

1. Remember when people made fun of Ed Begley, Jr.?

They're not laughing anymore.

Thanks for the post!

[jpak]

2. Senate Dems restored homeowner solar tax credits to the so-called "stimulus" bill.

that Republics rescinded in the 2007 Energy Bill.

It's probably the only provision that will actually *do* something to remedy the Bush/GOP Depression...

[displacedtexan]

3. Last night...

Clinton sounded positively FDRish when describing the
jobs that can be created in a green economy. By creating
manufacturing jobs here at home, we can divest ourselves of most
foreign oil, and we can return to an investment in our infrastructure
(bridges, roads, railways, etc.).

She didn't say "WPA," but she might as well have.

[diane in sf]

4. This is the way to go.