Condo Community Uses Solar Hot Water to Increase Property Value
In 2010, the Mission Heights Condominiums homeowners association explored solar water heating systems for three buildings to increase property values and curb appeal while reducing energy usage and operating costs.
An overwhelming majority of association members approved the solar thermal project, in large part due to the advantages of rebates from the California Solar Initiative – Thermal program and federal tax credits that greatly decreased system installation costs.
The Mission Heights Condominiums comprise 116 residential units in three buildings. Each building has a separate hot water system and a boiler that provides heated water for all domestic uses, including showers, sinks and shared laundry facilities.
The systems have an anticipated lifetime of 25 years and provide an annual energy cost savings of more than $7,036. As an added benefit, the energy saved reduced the property’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 43%.