Public in Favour of Mandatory Solar Panels on New Builds
The benefits of sunshine are not to be underestimated. Now, more people are understanding the advantages solar power can bring. A new survey has revealed that 70% of the public are in favour of making it compulsory for solar panels to be installed on new build properties.
Considering the public appetite for solar, future government policy could be influenced by this. Mandatory compliance with the Future Homes Standard will come into effect next year, and this aims to ensure all new homes built will reduce carbon emissions by 75–80% compared to current Building Regulations. Making solar compulsory is one way to enhance energy efficiency.
The Study
Censuswide surveyed 1,000 adults aged 25 and above on behalf of Project Solar UK. They were looking at various attitudes towards this renewable form of electricity generation. The research discovered wider misconceptions and motivations behind going green.
Energy Price Cap
For starters, changes in the energy price cap played a big part in whether homeowners were considering installing solar panels. Since the onset of the energy crisis, people are becoming more aware of how much they are spending on importing electricity from the grid.
Despite the April energy price cap having come into effect last week, prices have only come down to their lowest in two years. An average reduction of £238 will be seen on typical energy usage, but, as always, the more you use, the more you’ll pay. By swallowing the cost of solar panels early, you’re able to cut up to 96% from your electricity bill.
Misconceptions
According to the research, there is quite a high percentage of people believing solar panels only work in the summer. This is totally inaccurate. You can generate electricity through solar panels all year long, as they work on solar radiation, i.e., whenever the Sun is out. If there wasn’t sunlight during an overcast day, we wouldn’t be able to see.
It’s true that the most amount of electricity can be generated by solar panels in the summer, but they still work the rest of the year. It’s all to do with how high the Sun sits in the sky during different seasons, as the tilt of the panel affects how efficiently they convert the energy.
Finance
Similar to how you might pay for an expensive item through finance, solar companies can also offer you the same option. A large percentage of respondents in the survey were unaware that you could spread the cost. With the average solar array costing £6,000, it’s a large upfront cost to shoulder.
Fortunately, you don’t have to let the price you’d pay affect your decision to go solar. By getting a quote for solar panels, you can talk about the finance options available to help spread the cost and make it more manageable.
Solar Appetite
According to the survey, a huge 42% were looking to install solar panels within the next five years. Considering the amount of confusion about the systems, this figure would most likely be higher if misconceptions weren’t abundant.
In our latest Home Energy Survey, almost 70% of UK homeowners would purchase solar panels if money was no object. This affirms the suspicion that cost is the biggest barrier to adoption of renewable technology.
Going Solar
If you’re interested in solar panels, the next step is to find out how much you’d pay. Click on the button below to start your journey. You’ll receive tailored quotes from local suppliers to help you reduce your electricity bill.