GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Lancaster, California: Solar Panels On All Homes Will Be Required By 2014	Post a Reply Back to Topics

beta11 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:3 Points:665,810 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 6:37:34 AM Ignore beta11 Report Abuse In the high desert city of Lancaster, Calif., not too far from where telephone pole-hoarding folk hero Alan Kimble Fahey was forced to demolish his home and where a former member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad known only as The Bride had her nuptials officially ruined, mayor R. Rex Parris recently announced a pioneering update to the city’s residential building code: Starting on Jan. 1, 2014, all newly constructed single-family homes must include a 1.0 kW solar system at bare minimum. A law mandating solar for all new homes? That’s right … a bold — and certainly historic — move but not entirely surprising for the Los Angeles County city of more than 155,000 that leads the state of California in solar generating capacity. Visit Huffington Post for full article

beta11

Rookie Author
Illinois

Posts:3
Points:665,810
Joined:Feb 2011

Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 6:37:34 AM

Ignore beta11 Report Abuse

In the high desert city of Lancaster, Calif., not too far from where telephone pole-hoarding folk hero Alan Kimble Fahey was forced to demolish his home and where a former member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad known only as The Bride had her nuptials officially ruined, mayor R. Rex Parris recently announced a pioneering update to the city’s residential building code: Starting on Jan. 1, 2014, all newly constructed single-family homes must include a 1.0 kW solar system at bare minimum.

A law mandating solar for all new homes? That’s right … a bold — and certainly historic — move but not entirely surprising for the Los Angeles County city of more than 155,000 that leads the state of California in solar generating capacity.
Visit Huffington Post for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First

Next Last

teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,842 Points:275,910 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 10:32:01 AM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Eroding freedom of choice one step at a time through government mandates. And some just don't recognize their freedoms being denied as they allow themselves to enslavement.
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,893 Points:618,470 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 7:20:28 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:7,078 Points:2,143,215 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 6:51:51 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Sounds like something that ought to be suggested in OTHER "sunny" states.
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,750 Points:1,167,995 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 5:51:28 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse Thank you for submitting this article, beta11.
DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,201 Points:1,653,850 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 3:58:45 AM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse where 'sun' days are a high percentage, go for it
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,955 Points:669,240 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 12:21:42 AM Ignore bston Report Abuse Another intrusion by big government in our lives.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,209 Points:1,475,050 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 4:37:27 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse All new homes in a desert city equipped with solar? Great idea. That will help make utility bills smaller. People in existing homes would then have the option to get solar.
Robert44 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,668 Points:1,243,430 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 2:13:00 PM Ignore Robert44 Report Abuse Also, Predict a boom to new houses being built and finish by December 31, 2013. When those houses are bought up then used house market will go thru the roof ( & solar panels) !!
Robert44 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,668 Points:1,243,430 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 1:59:05 PM Ignore Robert44 Report Abuse So I am guessing the homeowners pick up costs of piece of green crap strap to my new house that no one right frame of mind would every buy!!!!!!!!!!
MadFueler Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:1,079 Points:199,235 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 1:24:49 PM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse Should help to smooth out the brownouts that happen during the day when everybody's A/C is chugging away.
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,842 Points:275,910 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 12:30:29 PM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Well here come another elimination of freedom of choice from Kaliformia!
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,084 Points:1,043,345 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 12:26:11 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Way to go! Hawaii already takes advantage of the sun and other sunny states should too.
mitt4prez Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,883 Points:1,272,925 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 11:45:25 AM Ignore mitt4prez Report Abuse Just what the Lancaster real estate market needs. Green imbecility at its worst.
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,760 Points:270,915 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 11:40:17 AM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse Nanny government is popular over there.
DesertRat2011 Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,756 Points:511,330 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 11:22:57 AM Ignore DesertRat2011 Report Abuse To me it would make more sense to make them more energy efficient. ie better insulation, dual pane windows etc. [Edited by: DesertRat2011 at 3/7/2013 11:24:47 AM EST]
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,235 Points:823,975 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 11:10:41 AM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse We need to say no to these mandates. Government has to much control over our lives.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,609 Points:757,945 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 11:09:24 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Lets see what happens.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:5,319 Points:1,144,365 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 10:50:44 AM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse Sounds like a Soap Opera.
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,890 Points:1,879,830 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 10:35:53 AM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse They will soon force citizens to wear uniforms and eat broccoli on Tuesdays.
jeffbone Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,408 Points:414,850 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 10:11:24 AM Ignore jeffbone Report Abuse Another Big Brother mandate from the nanny state of Kal-ee-foorn-ee-ahh. Let me guess, there'll be a state tax credit from the empty coffers in Sacramento, too...
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,930 Points:1,896,225 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 9:38:23 AM Ignore ss70 Report Abuse great ... give them free ..
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,508 Points:2,006,685 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 9:18:16 AM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse A 7000 square foot lot? Lancaster is a ghetto??? The cheap houses that can be built in such allotments will be priced out of the market by adding that much to the costs of construction..
fora_7 All-Star Author Montreal Posts:990 Points:232,850 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 9:05:02 AM Ignore fora_7 Report Abuse Big brother is controlling your life more and more
merlinCO Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,775 Points:368,120 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 9:00:26 AM Ignore merlinCO Report Abuse All new homes should be required to recycle grey water, have geothermal heat and have their own solar panels with a windmill!
gbs1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,136 Points:769,325 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:52:26 AM Ignore gbs1 Report Abuse More government regulation
beachd8 All-Star Author Orange County Posts:868 Points:139,120 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:49:30 AM Ignore beachd8 Report Abuse I also disagree with mandating stuff like this in general.
beachd8 All-Star Author Orange County Posts:868 Points:139,120 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:48:31 AM Ignore beachd8 Report Abuse The cost of solar still far exceeds the potential benefit for an average house. With a utility bill of only $100/mo the payoff won't be seen for years -- longer than many people own their homes.
pilotmass Champion Author Boston Posts:1,966 Points:529,335 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:47:23 AM Ignore pilotmass Report Abuse Since you are financing it with a mortgage, go larger!!!
Wally3023 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,116 Points:557,075 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:42:47 AM Ignore Wally3023 Report Abuse A 1kw system is really small, about 3 panels and fairly inexpensive. Most single family homes could handle 7 - 10 kw or more.
wavery Veteran Author Philadelphia Posts:453 Points:269,125 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:42:46 AM Ignore wavery Report Abuse Might hurt in the short run, but that's a lot of solar power when all said and done.
Evilmaddog Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,461 Points:984,275 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:32:46 AM Ignore Evilmaddog Report Abuse WOW
FPLREP Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,395 Points:2,474,835 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:23:26 AM Ignore FPLREP Report Abuse One KW minimum? That will not run your hot water heater or a hair dryer for that matter. Hairdryers draw 1.5 Kw.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,339 Points:546,280 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:21:46 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Look for a dip in housing starts in Lancaster, California!
Bou Champion Author Maine Posts:12,333 Points:2,693,090 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:11:39 AM Ignore Bou Report Abuse More big brother, and who will pay for them?
BEGTWO Champion Author Maryland Posts:2,072 Points:750,640 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:10:58 AM Ignore BEGTWO Report Abuse I would love to have some
AVKZ All-Star Author Kalamazoo Posts:929 Points:315,335 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 8:02:01 AM Ignore AVKZ Report Abuse Who makes the money on that deal?
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,760 Points:1,143,275 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:59:28 AM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse just the beginning. get used to it(a tough concept for many gasbuddyers). solar is here.
sabre75 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,663 Points:340,795 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:52:46 AM Ignore sabre75 Report Abuse Don't think this will fly well with most people.
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,202 Points:1,768,560 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:49:48 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse While this is a great idea, the fact that it's mandated will likely make it more costly even with panel and installation costs being the lowest ever. I wholly recommend solar Pv. If you're not onboard , you are falling behind and missing out on what power is available from my best friend in the sky, old man sol!
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,731 Points:460,630 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:46:58 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse This is a big first. Some day all new homes will make use of solar energy.
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,298 Points:898,730 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:45:36 AM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse The people there must be a special kind of stupid.
BigRedVTX Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,010 Points:529,780 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:42:42 AM Ignore BigRedVTX Report Abuse It is interesting to note that these are all new builds beginning in 2014. Based upon what I know about housing costs in California (not a whole lot), seems this added expense is going to be just a drop in the bucket for most. Interestingly, it's not a bad plan, but the expense on older homes (not required) might be a sticking point for a great deal of the population.
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,425 Points:1,494,370 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:40:42 AM Ignore car253 Report Abuse You cannot cure stupid.
Dennis783 Champion Author Des Moines Posts:13,730 Points:2,729,860 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:38:52 AM Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse we don't need more government mandates/regulation
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,905 Points:758,100 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:31:17 AM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse I know from my solar air heater and solar hot water systems that solar really pays for itself, and fast, even in the cold Great White North 3500 miles or so away from sunny Lancaster CA. Complete payback time less than 4 years, annual savings in heating oil/electricity about $4000, year after year after year. My entire house even in dark dreary winter averages only about 10 kW/hours of electricity a day after switching to LED lighting etc, and about 4 or less in summer when I hang washing on the line instead of using the electric dryer. My payback time for installing solar PV electric panels would be about 8 years at current prices, north of 46 degrees. Lancaster is south of 35 degrees...payback in half the time I betcha. Wished I lived in a place as relentlessly sunny and warm as Lancaster CA. (my place is more like Germany hahaha!) [Edited by: orphancarguyPE at 3/7/2013 7:31:41 AM EST]
mandoid Champion Author Alabama Posts:7,417 Points:1,553,080 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:29:25 AM Ignore mandoid Report Abuse so right humblepie
hokieburgh Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,226 Points:490,580 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:27:39 AM Ignore hokieburgh Report Abuse sounds like maybe some Lancaster officials are hooked into the local solar businesses.
wrunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,582 Points:1,163,310 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:23:01 AM Ignore wrunner Report Abuse Solarpactacular! Let the sunshine in.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,336 Points:1,324,945 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:14:40 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse And not a drop of baseload
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:35,301 Points:2,398,095 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:13:34 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse just like obamacare.........a stupid expense