The housing recovery is bringing people back into the market–people who were previously reluctant to buy or sell out of fear of doing either at the wrong time. In the process, homeowners are making upgrades that are essential to closing sales. In the past, such upgrades often meant stainless-steel kitchens and luxury baths, but today, “upgrade” also increasingly means solar electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), homes with solar energy can sell twice as fast as those without it, and homeowners who invest in solar power systems see payback or “recoup” rates of up to 97 percent–far greater than the typical returns on investments, such as granite countertops or pedestal sinks.
Interest in residential solar is on the rise in both new construction and existing home sales, and buyers want systems that are easier to look at and more user-friendly. Innovative commercial and residential examples can provide builders, buyers and homeowners with some lessons in aesthetically pleasing solar design.