• Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Location
  • About
    • Libby Guthrie
    • Ken Guthrie
    • Brittany Armenta Perez
  • Search the MLS
  • Sell
    • Sell My House
    • What’s My Home Worth?
  • Buy
    • Search the MLS
    • Home Buyers Guide – How to Avoid Costly Mistakes When Buying a Home
    • Frequently Asked Questions of Home Buyers
  • Reviews
    • Leave Your Review
  • FAQs

Guthrie Group Homes

Real Estate

Call Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate at (925) 628-2436 | DRE #01117537Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate - Keller Williams East County
Real Estate - Home » Blog » Home Improvement » How to Install a Solar Energy System for No Money Out of Pocket

How to Install a Solar Energy System for No Money Out of Pocket

May 26, 2015 By Ken Guthrie Leave a Comment

Ken GuthrieAs promised in our last newsletter, if you’ve decided to purchase a solar system to save on your electric bills or are thinking about it, I have a great tip to share with you.

First let me recap. In our last newsletter, we discussed the problems with leasing solar systems. There can be problems when you decide to sell your house, you don’t get the tax credits, the solar company does, etc.

So, on to purchasing. The advantages are of course lower electric bills, and government tax credits to the owner, which, in this case, would be you. But what about the upfront costs you ask? Can my savings justify the cost? I can’t answer that. Every situation is unique. You have to figure that out yourself. I do however know of a way to purchase that system without any money out of your pocket.

Solar PanelsThere is a California state program called “CaliforniaFIRST” that will pay for your system. Here’s how it works. You apply for the program with “CaliforniaFIRST Efficiency Financing.” Once approved, you contact one or more of their approved solar contractors to determine what system works best for you, etc. Once you figure that out and select your contractor, they install the system and bill CaliforniaFIRST for payment.

The amount paid for the system is then amortized like any loan and added as a special assessment to your property tax bill. This is transferable to a buyer if you sell the property before the assessment is paid off.

You now have a solar system saving you possibly a lot of money each month on your electric bill. You also are getting the tax credit that goes with the system you have installed. It is just possible that the tax credit and electric bill savings could go a long way to paying for the system over time. You will need to crunch the numbers yourself to see how it would play out for you.

Other benefits of financing this way are that the financed amount does not show up on your credit report and does not affect your debt-to-income ratio.

Besides solar systems, CaliforniaFIRST will finance a long list of energy-efficient products, renewable energy products, and water-saving products as well.

Element Power SystemsYou have until the end of next year when the program will end.

I do know someone who has used this program and is very satisfied with the results.

Go here to check it out for yourself: https://californiafirst.org. See if this might be just the thing for you.

I would like to end by thanking Liz Leppelmeier of Element Power Systems for sharing this information with me. Element Power systems is a local company specializing in solar and wind power systems for home and commercial use and is an approved CaliforniaFIRST contractor.

You can find out about them at www.elementpowerinc.com.

 

Correction!

We stated in this article that the “CaliforniaFIRST” program will end at the end of next year. Actually it is the tax credits that will end, not the “CaliforniaFIRST” program.

Sorry for any confusion.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Pocket
Buffer
0 Shares

Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With: Ken's Korner, Solar Energy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Find Us on Social Media

Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Twitter
Follow Me

Our Most Popular Content

  • First-Time Home Buyer TipsFirst-Time Home Buyer Tips I’ve put together 15 First-Time Home Buyer Tips for you
  • Trilogy at Rio VistaTrilogy at Rio Vista Over 55 Community Have you been thinking about moving to a senior
  • A Homeowners Guide to Home Insurance A Homeowners Guide to Home Insurance Does Your Insurance Cover That? No one likes to
  • Real Estate - Home » Blog » Real Estate » You Just Listed Your Home, Now What? You Just Listed Your Home, Now What? You Just Listed Your Home, Now What? While listing and selling your home can feel
  • What $500,000 Will Buy You In Brentwood, CA vs. San Jose, CA What $500,000 Will Buy You In Brentwood, CA vs. San Jose, CA OK, we all know that buying a home
  • How Much Is My Home Worth? How Much Is My Home Worth? Get a FREE home valuation from expert

Blog Topics

  • FAQ's
  • Financing
  • Home Buyers
  • Home Improvement
  • Home Sellers
  • Homeowners
  • Libby and Ken Recommend
  • Local Communities
  • Page
  • Real Estate
  • Seasonal

guthriegrouphomes

Libby Guthrie, Realtor
@ Keller Williams 865-966-5005
🏡 Helping You Make the Move to Knoxville
📱 Cell: 865-364-0200
🏡 Good People, Great Homes!

Want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar? Want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar? These proven strategies will put you on the fast track to a speedy sale! 🏎️Schedule a FREE home value assessment—and let’s make your sale a success!📲 865-364-0200
📧 Libby@GuthrieGroupHomes.com#RealEstate #RealEstateAgent #HomeSellerTips #SellYourHomeFast #MarketReady
Are you dreaming of owning a home but unsure if yo Are you dreaming of owning a home but unsure if you’ll qualify for a mortgage? 🏡✨Here are some ways to boost your chances!✅ Improve Your Credit Score – Pay bills on time & dispute any errors.
💳 Lower Your Debt – Less debt = a stronger application.
💰 Look Into Home Buyer Programs – You may qualify for assistance!
📝 Consider a Co-Signer – A trusted family member could help secure your loan.Ready to take the next step? Check out our blog for more tips! [Link in Bio]#RealEstate #RealEstateAgent #HomeBuyingTips #MortgageReady #FirstTimeHomeBuyer
Follow on Instagram

Hours & Info – Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate

Location
191 Sand Creek Rd #100,
Brentwood, CA 94513

Contact Us
info@guthriegrouphomes.com
Office: (925) 628-2436

Broker:
Keller Williams East County

Real Estate License
Lic #01117537

Hours
Monday - 9AM–5PM
Tuesday - 9AM–5PM
Wednesday - 9AM–5PM
Thursday - 9AM–5PM
Friday - 9AM–5PM

Weekends by Appointment
Call (925) 628-2436

See Location

Real Estate Menu
How We Market Your House
Home Search
Blog
Sitemap
FAQs

Search Here

Visit our Sister Site in Knoxville Tennessee

Libby Guthrie Real Estate, Knoxville TN
Libby Guthrie Realtor, Knoxville TN

Guthrie Group Homes, Knoxville TN

Discover the history, beauty, and affordability of the Greater Knoxville area. Each neighborhood in Knoxville has its own charm and is worth exploring to get a true sense of the city's diverse character!

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Location
  • About
  • How Much Is My Home Worth?

Copyright © 2025 · Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate · Lic #01117537 · 925-628-2436 · Brentwood, Antioch and Oakley, California · Log in

If your home is currently listed or you are a buyer represented by another real estate agent, this website, article, or blog post is for informational purposes only.

It is not our intention to solicit the offerings or clients of other real estate agents or brokers.

All information on this site is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Terms of Use  | Cookies Policy | Privacy Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy