Why Solar Panel Ownership Is Reshaping Residential Construction The residential solar market has undergone a fundamental transformation. Just a decade ago, the majority of homeowners who wanted solar panels signed long-term leases with third-party installers. Today, that picture has been turned on its head as solar panel ownership has become more popular than leasing them. […]
The Market Shift from Solar Leasing to Solar Ownership The way homeowners pay for rooftop solar has changed dramatically in recent years. In 2014, solar leases and power purchase agreements accounted for 72 percent of residential solar installations. By 2017, that share had dropped to an estimated 57 percent, and the trend has only accelerated
The debate over distributed solar energy has intensified as utilities and regulators grapple with how to value the electricity that rooftop solar systems feed back into the grid. Recent studies have demonstrated that distributed solar offers measurable financial benefits to all ratepayers, not just those who install solar panels on their homes. For residential builders,
Hydrogen Energy Storage for Residential Construction: Understanding the Technology Behind Off-Grid Solar Power Systems Builders evaluating renewable energy options for residential projects are encountering a growing range of technologies beyond standard rooftop photovoltaic panels. One of the most promising developments is hydrogen energy storage, which solves the fundamental limitation of solar power: how to keep
Home buyers often worry that their new kitchen will look dated within a few years. That concern is well founded. Trends come and go, but the kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to renovate, and getting it wrong means costly rework. The good news is that certain design principles and material choices
How Solar-Hydrogen Technology Powers the World’s First Self-Sufficient Residential Development Builders around the world are watching the Phi Suea House project in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where CNX Construction has delivered the world’s first 24-hour solar-powered hydrogen storage multi-house complex. This development proves that off-grid, renewable energy systems can sustain multiple homes and support buildings year-round
Why EIA State Solar Data Matters for Residential Builders The U.S. Energy Information Administration now provides monthly, state-by-state estimates of small-scale distributed solar photovoltaic electricity generation and capacity. Before December 1, 2024, the EIA only released annual data for residential-scale solar systems through the Electric Power Monthly report. This shift to monthly reporting gives home
Metal cladding has emerged as a defining exterior treatment in residential construction, offering builders a combination of durability, cost efficiency, and contemporary visual appeal. In Brooklyn, homeowners have increasingly turned to metal exteriors to give their properties a sleek, modern look that stands out in dense urban settings. Aluminum cladding, in particular, provides a luminous
Rooftop solar photovoltaic systems have become an increasingly common feature in new home construction. Homebuyers want energy independence, builders want to offer modern amenities, and sustainability goals push the industry toward renewable energy. Yet as demand for rooftop solar panels has surged, a growing backlash from utility companies has introduced new challenges that every builder
Building homes that produce as much energy as they consume has moved from experimental to achievable. A precast concrete duplex in Edmonton, Alberta, built by Habitat for Humanity, demonstrates that high-performance construction can work even in harsh northern climates. By combining precast concrete panels with geothermal heating and photovoltaic electricity generation, the project achieves net-zero
