So much can occur in three many years. It’s been no completely different for the photo voltaic trade. Because the longest standing photo voltaic firm within the U.S., our almost 40 years of expertise have led us by means of some unbelievable milestones. SunPower’s newest achievement revolves round new residence building, just lately topping our 100,000th residence with a recent set of photo voltaic panels. However to really have a good time this momentous event, we’re looking again at all the occasions that received us up to now in our story. So, take a stroll down reminiscence lane with us and stick round to see what we’re planning on doing subsequent.
In 2006, California’s former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown signed a legislation that may be the catalyst for a brand new marketplace for the photo voltaic trade. The 1 Million Photo voltaic Roofs Initiative helped diversify rooftop solar energy by encouraging new residence builders to include photo voltaic programs as a normal function on properties inside their communities. Throughout this time, SunPower’s affect in new residence building actually kicked off. The housing market was booming and SunPower started to craft key relationships with the nation’s prime residence builders, however issues would quickly change with the recession in 2008.
As new residence building builders seemed for methods to face out to potential new residence consumers in a gradual market, eco-friendly choices like photo voltaic vitality grew to become a key differentiator. And whereas this definitely helped, extra was wanted to offset the prices of photo voltaic installations throughout a declining economic system. In consequence, we developed further inexpensive financing choices to assist new residence builders present their communities with high-quality photo voltaic programs that would scale back rising electrical energy prices for his or her owners. This helped the brand new residence building sector pull by means of the recession and showcase the resiliency of the photo voltaic trade throughout to our subsequent main milestone.
The 12 months 2019 introduced a number of massive wins for photo voltaic vitality. For one factor, the Golden State hit its purpose of internet hosting a million rooftop photo voltaic properties. One other improvement that may in the end change the trajectory of fresh vitality within the state was an replace to its Title 24 vitality code. The code would now require that each one new properties have solar energy. Whereas SunPower had been working with among the nation’s prime residence builders for a lot of years earlier than this variation, this new requirement accelerated photo voltaic installations inside new residence building.
Since 2019, the Title 24 vitality code has undergone further iterations, however one factor stays the identical, renewable vitality is now a continuing. Title 24 requires solar energy on an array of varied residence sorts, together with multifamily properties. It is also paving the best way for the adoption of photo voltaic battery storage. Builders are actually inspired to develop properties which might be geared up for the straightforward set up of a photo voltaic battery. Specs with the vitality code are sometimes up to date and may get fairly detailed. That’s why extra builders are selecting photo voltaic firms like SunPower to companion with. Our crew helps single household and multifamily builders maximize their revenue by staying compliant with the Title 24 vitality code because it pertains to wash vitality options like solar energy and photo voltaic storage.
One of the crucial latest milestones that has helped spur on new residence improvement with photo voltaic vitality is the passage of the Inflation Discount Act (IRA). The local weather invoice comprises tax credit and incentives for sustainable People seeking to scale back their carbon footprint and electrify their properties. Amongst its benefits are advantages particularly designated for brand spanking new residence builders. The nationwide footprint of the IRA helps SunPower additional develop entry to its extremely wanted photo voltaic panels, photo voltaic battery storage and electrical automobile chargers throughout the US. Presently, SunPower’s prime 5 states with essentially the most solar-topped new building properties are Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Florida and Maryland.
Our journey has come full circle, arriving on the 100,000th photo voltaic set up which was put in throughout the Sterling Ranch improvement in Littleton, Colorado. This space is a grasp deliberate neighborhood that’s actively pursuing a clear energy-based future for the residents. One of many seven builders throughout the improvement – Dream Finders Properties – has partnered with SunPower to assist make a clear energy-based future come to life for his or her residence consumers. The 100,000th set up of photo voltaic on one among their properties symbolizes the motion of a cleaner vitality future.
When you ever catch your self there gazing on the mountain view, you might simply go by a historic second for SunPower and the house that proudly adorns our 100,000th new residence photo voltaic array.
