With new research revealing that a third of people are more likely to purchase a new home if the house had solar panels, PHPD takes a look at the new solar offering from Wienerberger.
Solar panels – the public know what they are, but what do they really think of the technology, and do prospective house buyers really see the value of them?
Despite some recent challenging times for the solar sector, it is clear that solar remains very much on the public’s radar. News from earlier this year indicated that solar power recently hit new record highs in the UK, providing almost a quarter of the country’s electricity at one point in early summer. At its peak in early June, solar energy generated enough to power the equivalent of 3.8 million homes.
On a more immediate level recent research revealed by Wienerberger has unveiled that almost a third of people would be more likely to purchase a new home if the house had solar panels.
These new findings from Wienerberger offer valuable insight for housebuilders that are considering the value of installing solar on new build homes, with 30% of prospective buyers seeing the value in the technology. The research also showed that a further 54% are undecided on the technology due to a lack of understanding around the subject, revealing an opportunity for housebuilders to educate their target markets.
Solar solution
Wienerberger commissioned the research alongside the launch of its complete solar offering, providing a complete solar solution for all sustainable energy requirements. The full solution comprises of the PC1 model that utilises polycrystalline units for a cost-effective solar panel solution, and the MC1 and MC2 – both monocrystalline unit solutions. The company now believes it is able to offer a solar solution to suit every requirement. Richard Bishop, Category Marketing Manager for Roof at Wienerberger, commented: “We’re thrilled to be launching our all new solar offering – we’ve worked with experts in the field of solar power on to help us develop a complete solution for the future of renewable energy in the UK.”
For housebuilders, Wienerberger’s message is straightforward – adding panels to a home can improve its retail value once built and by installing a solar solution, the home also boasts an additional unique selling point.
“although people across the UK do consider solar as a prominent factor when looking into buying a new home, there is a serious lack of understanding of the technology.”
Little thought into saving money
Despite being able to save upwards of £200 per year through switching energy supplier, over 50% of people haven’t changed their supplier in the past year. This is even more prominent in the older generation; where 58% of people aged 55+ haven’t switched in the past 12 months. These findings illustrate that much of the population isn’t engaged with the energy conversation; but the fact that properties offering a solar solution also have a money-making capability through feed-in tariffs, should encourage house hunters to consider a new home with solar, as financial reasons ranked very highly as an important factor in decision making (see below).
| Most important factors when installing solar | Percentage of respondents |
| Price | 78% |
| Reduced energy bills | 74% |
| Aesthetic | 32% |
| Availability of a specialist installer | 27% |
| Time to install | 17% |
Richard Bishop, Category Marketing Manager for Roof at Wienerberger, noted:
“The research we carried out into the understanding of solar energy has proven that although people across the UK do consider solar as a prominent factor when looking into buying a new home, there is a serious lack of understanding of the technology.”
First-time target
When it comes to attitudes towards solar panels, Wienerberger’s research demonstrates that there is a generational difference. When asked if solar panels are worth the monetary investment, almost half of people aged between 18 and 24 stated yes, whilst only a quarter of those aged over 55 responded positively.
This was also the case when asked whether solar panels on a new home would affect their purchasing decision, with 35% of 18 to 24 year old buyers saying they’d be more likely to purchase a home if it had solar panels, compared to just 27% of those over 55s.
In addition, 18% of the older generation stated they’d be put off purchasing a home with solar power, as opposed to just 12% for the 18-24 bracket. For housebuilders, this generational difference indicates that homes aimed at first time buyers could be the more lucrative option when introducing a solar panel offering at a new development.
