Keeping up with the City of San Diego’s recent initiatives to encourage homeowners and businesses to install green, renewable energy products such as photovoltaics, the County of San Diego is following in the Finest City in America’s footsteps. San Diego County has just announced that it is partnering up with the private sector to offer property owners both information and access to a variety of commercial banks willing to make loans to qualified borrowers. This effort, the County claims, is for those “who are interested in making energy efficient and/or solar energy property improvement in an effort to promote regional energy independence.”
So how attractive are the loan rates one might ask? Well, the County’s “Go Solar” website gives the disclaimer that “the details of individual loan programs available will vary based on the participating bank and the property owner’s qualifications.”
Here is the 5 step process that the County outlines in order to begin the process:
- Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more details about the program and how to get started.
- Obtain written estimates from a minimum of three licensed contractors.
- Contact the commercial banks that have agreed to make funds available to qualified borrowers for making energy efficiency improvements, and apply for a loan.
- Apply for any necessary building permits, together with your contractor at your local building or planning office. Residents of the County’s unincorporated areas can contact the County of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use.
- The assessed value of your property will not increase as a result of adding most solar systems, with the exception of swimming pool and hot tub heaters. For more information contact the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk at (858) 505-6262
Anyone interested in the details of the program can to go the Go Solar website at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/fg3/gosolarfaq.html. Its an encouraging beginning…