Month: June 2022

There are many things that make San Diego a perfect city for residential solar panels. From the excellent weather, which leads to sunny days almost year-round, to the cultural conscience that translates to solar panels increasing the value of a home, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more solar-power-friendly city than San Diego.

This preference for renewable energy also shows itself in the form of financial programs, tax rebates, discounts, credits, and other forms of incentives that are designed to make solar power all the more attractive.

Here are some of the residential solar panel programs you can find in San Diego!

Public Benefits Funds for Renewables and Efficiency.

Also known as EPIC, this program dedicates more than $130 million toward the research and development of renewable energy, as well as the incentivization of renewable energy use, which extends to residential solar panels. However, this program’s benefits are even greater when it comes to commercial solar panel installation.

Partial Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Agricultural Solar Power Facilities

If you’re a farm owner operating in the San Diego area, you can apply for this program, which can save you thousands of dollars through partial sales and use tax exemptions as long as you’re using solar panels to produce and harvest at least 50% of your crops.

California Solar Initiative – Single-Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH) Program

Designed to benefit low-income, single-family households, this program provides enrolled families with up-front incentives for residential solar panel installation, and education on the benefits of solar technologies.

Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems

A versatile option that can be used for commercial and residential solar panels in San Diego, this program is one of the most versatile in the city, as it offers tax exclusions to buildings that have a “solar energy system,” which can translate to a multitude of things.

If you’re in doubt: If your solar system allows you to collect, store and distribute electricity, you’re eligible for this tax exclusion.

PACE Financing Programs

Also known as the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, this is a government-funded loan that can be used to pay for the installation of residential solar panels.

The best thing about this financing program is that, if you move out of your house before you finish paying off the loan, the person who buys your house also buys the debt, releasing you from the responsibility.

California Solar Initiative – Low-Income Multifamily Solar Housing Program.

Designed to benefit low-income, multifamily households, this program provides enrolled families with up-front incentives for residential solar panel installation, solar rebates, and education on the benefits of solar technologies.

The programs listed in this article are programs that can benefit homeowners, but California and San Diego offer a multitude of solar programs to benefit business owners as well.

Some require things as simple as installing a few solar-friendly upgrades, while others are more hands-on and benefit only people directly working in the solar industry.

What’s certain is that San Diego makes a big effort to support citizens to make the jump to renewable energy, and with EZ Solar & Electric, you can make the jump with no hassle or risk!

While every house in San Diego can benefit from installing solar panels, not every rooftop is suitable for their installation, so it’s crucial to know whether your roof is right for solar before you even consider making the jump to residential solar panels.

Luckily, determining whether your rooftop is suitable for solar panels or not is fairly easy.

Roof Size

Solar panels are all about surface, which means the bigger your roof, the better. The more solar panels your rooftop has, the more electricity it will produce; by contrast, if your rooftop is too small, the electricity produced might not be worth the expense of installing a solar panel.

Roof Orientation

Even in a city as sunny as San Diego, solar panels work best when they’re facing East, as that way they receive direct sunlight for longer and can generate energy more efficiently.

A rooftop that doesn’t face the right direction can still generate electricity, but it won’t be as efficient, and this might translate to having to install more solar panels to compensate.

Roof Condition

The biggest determining factor will be the state of your roof. If your rooftop is too old or is damaged, installing solar panels is very risky, as the solar panels can fall and break or, even worse, injure someone.

Luckily, EZ Solar & Electric can handle both roof replacements and solar panel installations, removing the hassle of having to hire two contractors for the same job.

The biggest determining factor will be the state of your roof. If your rooftop is too old or is damaged, installing solar panels is very risky, as the solar panels can fall and break or, even worse, injure someone.

Luckily, EZ Solar & Electric can handle both roof replacements and solar panel installations, removing the hassle of having to hire two contractors for the same job.

Roof Construction

While they all serve the same purpose, not all rooftops are made equal, and this can have a big impact on residential solar panels:

• A too steep rooftop can make installation more complicated and costly, as adjustments will need to be made to compensate for the angle.
• Tile roofs, though beautiful, are nowhere near as effective as asphalt shingles when it comes to installation, and nothing beats a metal rooftop when it comes to efficiency.
• Finishes, like soffits, may need to be replaced if they’re not sturdy enough to hold the weight of a solar panel, or they might need to be removed entirely.
• Gutters will need to be inspected and possibly replaced, as if they’re not sturdy enough, they can compromise the integrity of the residential solar panel installation.

The Verdict

While a roof inspection is recommended to determine whether your rooftop is suitable for solar panels or not, it boils down to three things:

Its age, its shape, and how willing you are to change the way it looks.

• A damaged rooftop will never be suitable for solar panels and will need to be replaced before doing anything else.
• The size and shape of your rooftop will determine just how cost-effective solar energy will be for your house.
• To put it bluntly, solar panels change the way a house looks, and while they’re capable of raising a house’s resale value in the San Diego market, some people care more about a house’s sentimental value, and appearances matter a lot when it comes to that.

If you’re still unsure if your rooftop is suitable for solar panels, just give EZ Solar & Electric a call.

We’ll answer your questions and take the time to explain how the installation process usually works, giving you the tools you need to make an informed decision!

EZ Solar & Electric is the company you need to call when it comes to roofing, no matter if it’s for your house or your business.

Our company specializes in providing professional, turnkey roof repair and roof replacements, and we have a long track record of happy customers in both small and large projects alike.

As a San Diego-based company, we’ve helped many clients around the city with significant roof repairs or complete renovations, and we’ve done so efficiently, effectively and, sometimes, even repairing damage other companies have left behind.

With 10 years of experience, a dedicated team of hard-working experts, a growing pool of customers, and the desire to provide high-quality service in every installation, EZ Solar & Electric is here to stay.

Residential Roofing

Your home is a place for relaxation and comfort; A sanctuary where you can drop your guard, relax and rest either alone or with the people you love. Because it plays such an important part in our life, it makes sense to ensure your house is in good shape, and keeping your roof in good shape is a crucial part of that.

Unfortunately, roof repairs are the kind of upkeep most people forget about, preferring to focus their attention on something that requires more immediate attention.

This means that people often hire roofing companies when the damage is extensive, and when that happens, most of the roof needs to be replaced.

When it comes to extensive repair jobs such as a roof, it’s always a good idea to leave the task to the experts, as they know exactly what needs to be done to replace your rooftop and can do so safely and efficiently.

Replacing a roof is expensive even if you do it yourself, so it makes sense to invest in a high-quality replacement done by experts such as EZ Solar & Electric.

Commercial Roofing

Replacing the roof of your business or workplace is different than replacing the one on your house, thanks in no small part to laws that differentiate between residential and commercial buildings.

With this in mind, EZ Solar & Electric provides San Diego business owners with professional, high-end, turnkey roof repair and replacements, and has worked on small projects that required only a small touch-up, and large projects that required critical attention.

All commercial roofing replacements done by EZ Solar & Electric are up-to-code and have all the necessary permits, ensuring your property’s roof can be replaced with no headaches or extra hassle on your part.

Transparency in every job

Different roofing materials require different maintenance, and there’s not an established industry standard that you can refer to when it comes to roofing, something you’ll find out very quickly if you’ve ever attempted to replace your own roof.

Because of this, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused, which can lead you to regard roofing companies with suspicion and mistrust.

This is why we make it a point to not only be completely transparent but also to talk to our clients and answer all of their questions so that they’re as involved in the roof replacement process as any property owner should be.

If you’re in the market for a new roof in San Diego, look no further. EZ Solar & Electric is only a phone call away.