Leasing Makes Solar Panels Affordable, But It Can Complicate a Home Sale

Leasing Makes Solar Panels Affordable, But It Can Complicate a Home Sale

March 27, 2015 by Pacific Union • Posted in Homeowner Tips

Rooftop solar panels continue to grow in popularity in the Bay Area, offering homeowners a “green” source of electricity as well as dramatically lower energy bills — and sometimes a surplus. In addition, a typical solar array can add $15,000 or more to the sales price of a home.

But there’s a catch.

Homeowners thinking about adding a solar array may be tempted to lease the panels instead of buying them. After all, purchasing a rooftop solar system can cost $15,000 or more after rebates. But while leasing can be an attractive option, it can complicate matters immensely when the owner puts the house up for sale.

Kenneth Harney, one of the nation’s most respected real estate writers, warned recently that leased solar panels can be a deal-killer.

Potential homebuyers may not want to take on a solar-panel lease contract in addition to a mortgage,Harney wrote in a recent column. A lease contract can run 10 to 15 years, and new buyers often have to qualify on credit from the solar companies themselves. In addition, some buyers may hesitate to sign a contract because they’re concerned that solar equipment will become obsolete or won’t add up to big savings after the leasing fee is paid.

Some homebuyers have insisted that the seller buy out the remaining lease, which could be $15,000 or more, as a condition of the home sale.

Harney told the story of a couple near Fresno, Calif. who received multiple offers on their home, but two sets of buyers backed out of the contracts due to the leased solar panels on the roof. Ultimately, the couple had to pay $22,000 to break the lease with the solar company so that they could sell the house.

Harney’s advice: “Be aware of the potential complexities that can occur when you lease, rather than buy, solar panels.

“If you opt for a lease, understand your long-term obligations, and talk to your current utility company about the savings claimed,” Harney wrote. “Most important, if you’ve got a leased system and plan to sell, contact the leasing company well in advance to learn about the lease transfer and buyout options. That way you’ll be ready if prospective buyers have problems with your panels.”

(Photo: Flickr/Michael Coghlan)

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Article and photos sourced from : http://blog.pacunion.com/leased-solar-panels-can-complicate-sale/

Shoes Made From Plastic Waste Found on UK Shores

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With so many products being made out of plastic, it seems inevitable that when us humans are done with said products, we toss them. They, in turn, end up in the landfill or washed ashore on some poor, polluted beach. Three friends, Charles Duffy, William Gubbins, and Billy Turvey, got together to come up with a way of communicating the link between waste and consumerism, “and the disposability of contemporary products” in a project they call “Everything You Buy Is Rubbish”.



After collecting plastic waste along the UK shores, including the Thames, the trio made a pair of shoes completely out of the rubbish they found.










Take a look at how the shoes were made:
















Article and Photo Sourced From: http://design-milk.com/shoes-made-plastic-waste-found-uk-shores/

Plenty of Eco-Friendly Options for Homeowners

Homes are increasingly going green these days, and we’re not talking about a fresh coat of paint.

 
Builders and designers are rapidly expanding their use of eco-friendly features in new homes, but owners of existing properties have plenty of options too — simple choices, without the expense or complications of solar panels or geothermal devices.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Homes website serves as a portal to a broad mix of resources and information from a variety of federal agencies on environmental issues in the home, whether you’re a property owner or renter.

The site lets you consider eco-friendly options for every room in your home, and offers suggestions at varying levels of resources and effort, from minor changes to major renovations.

For the latest in energy-efficient products, visit the EPA’s stand-alone Energy Star website. By now we’re all familiar with the Energy Star logo on appliances, but the website also offers buying guides for home electronics, computers, heating and cooling devices, light fixtures, and building supplies.
It also offers assessment tools to gauge your home’s overall energy efficiency.

Another valuable consumer resource is the Green Seal program, which makes it easy to identify home products that meet rigorous standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. Thousands of products are listed on the website: cleaning products, personal care products, paper towels, writing paper, food packaging, and many more.

The U.S. Green Building Council has compiled an online Green Home Guide with articles and tips from green-home experts, a question-and-answer service, and local resources for 11 U.S. cities, including San Francisco.

Looking for a quick overview of steps you can take to improve your home’s energy efficiency? The AOL Real Estate site offers “10 Eco Friendly Things to Do for Your Home,” including installing energy-efficient light bulbs, changing air filters regularly, sealing windows frames, and putting in ceiling fans.

In the mood to shop for eco-friendly products? San Francisco-based Greenhome.com has been selling environmentally friendly products for homes and businesses since 1999. It also offers a free resource library and tips for sustainable living.



(Photo courtesy of Nick Long, via Flickr.)