{"id":909,"date":"2019-04-22T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtrends.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/22\/eco-friendly-home-trends-in-2019-solar-panels-top-list\/"},"modified":"2025-03-13T02:11:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T02:11:37","slug":"eco-friendly-home-trends-in-2019-solar-panels-top-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtrends.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/22\/eco-friendly-home-trends-in-2019-solar-panels-top-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco-Friendly Home Trends in 2019: Solar Panels Top List"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eco-Friendly Home Trends in 2019: Solar Panels Top List<\/h2>\n

Many homes today sport solar panels and other amenities for the environmentally conscious homeowner. Here’s what real estate agents should know.<\/em><\/h6>\n

When real estate professionals look at home components, they try to identify those items that have a certain and definitive lifespan. In Texas, air conditioner condensing units have a 10-year life expectancy, and prospective buyers need to be informed that if they are considering the purchase of a home with an air conditioning unit that is reaching its upper serviceability range, that replacement may be on the horizon. Shingle roofs have similar issues; while they typically last longer than 10 years, some may need replacement after 20. With the cost of energy rising, many homeowners have installed solar panels.<\/p>\n

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Not only can adding solar panels to a home save energy costs<\/a> and help the environment, it also can potentially increase a home\u2019s value. According to a Zillow Group<\/a> analysis, homes with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar power in the last year. For the median-valued home, that translates to an additional $9,274.<\/p>\n

The Evolution of Solar Panels<\/h4>\n

The potential for solar power<\/a> was realized as early as 1876, when two scientists found that electricity was produced when light reacted with selenium. These researchers created selenium cells, and proved that light could be converted into electricity without the use of additional heat or moving mechanical parts. Fast forward a century, when President Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed in the White House. The technology has come a long way since then.<\/p>\n

Generally, solar panels lose about 1 percent of efficiency per year, and this is called the degradation rate. Engineering.com tells us that most solar panels come with a 20-year warranty that also states that solar panels will produce at least 80 percent of their original energy amount after 20 years.<\/p>\n

While 30-year-old solar panels may be 30 percent less efficient than brand new ones, they still should supply a reasonable amount of electricity. The industry is rapidly evolving, with improvements in efficiency seen with new chip architecture and maxim cell optimization.<\/p>\n

Innovations<\/h4>\n

In a recent article in SolarReview, industry expert Andrew Sendy<\/a> examined upcoming trends:<\/strong><\/p>\n