State of California is constantly making its effort to move all new construction in the direction of sustainability and renewable energy. The Energy Code /Title 24 2022 code defines compliance requirements by whether an ADU is an Addition to an existing residence or a New Construction Building.

■  Constructing a new ADU that is attached to an existing home or existing garage, it is an            Addition.
■  Building an ADU detached from an existing home or attached via breezeway/covered                walkway, it is a Newly Constructed Building.

All New Construction Buildings must have solar panels installed if they’re non-manufactured and detached from the main home. As per California Energy Commission, these panels can either be installed onto the ADU or on the primary dwelling unit.

Exempt additions or conversions to add Solar Panels to ADUs may include:

■  Shaded ADUs: ADUs that are shaded, by pre-existing sources, & having annual solar access less             than 80 contiguous sq ft, do not need ADUs.
■  Attached ADUs: ADUs that are attached to the house are considered home additions and therefore      do not need solar panels.
■  Converted ADUs: Converting an existing space of a home to an ADU, you typically do not need to          add solar panels.

BENEFITS OF SOLAR PANELS ON ADUs

1)   Part of the ADU Permit Process – Compatible permit process with Solar.
2)  ADUs built with Solar Panels in Mind – By adding solar to an ADU early while still in the               design stages, shall save money and time. We can avoid retrofit of ADU later to                             accommodate critical solar specific design specifications to produce the most energy.
3)  Decreases the Cost of Maintenance and Living – Solar Panel Installation serves as a                 long-term investment needing a very minimal maintenance. Adding solar panels to the           ADU shall reduce the ongoing cost of electricity consumption and provide additional                 benefits as well.
4)  Can Offset the Cost with Rent Increase – By Installing Solar, homeowners, can increase            the rent and improve their rental property valuations. Plus, this can benefit the tenants              since they can enjoy the benefits of a lower cost of living by not having to pay for                        expensive electricity bills.
5)  Increases Home Valuation – Solar panels can increase the value of your ADU and,                      therefore, your whole property, depending on your market.
6)  Lower The Carbon Footprint – By switching to solar energy, we can reduce the world’s                energy consumption on fossil fuels and combat global warming. This is why solar energy          is the cornerstone to sustainability.

Solar panels do not necessarily to be installed on the ADU. They can also be:

     ■ Installed on the primary house, ground, other eligible structures.
     ■ Added to existing on-site arrays or, in some cases, community solar arrays.

Regardless the decision to go with solar for your ADU project, our team at FORTUNE ADU is ever ready to help you plan the ADU project that’s right for you and that abides the respective code. Contact us today for your free project consultation.