Jun 2 2008 10:24AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (1) |
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The latest research from the California Energy Commission shows that in the face of rising energy costs, the majority of new and potential home buyers in California are looking for energy efficiency when purchasing a new home and that solar panels are an important feature in the minds of today’s buyers.

According to the study, the overall results of the market research are encouraging. New construction home buyers have positive perceptions of solar electric power: they see it as a proven, reliable technology that can pay for itself and will help reduce global warming. In addition, a solid majority of home buyers. It also found:

• In choosing a newly constructed home, energy efficiency and costs are not at the forefront of respondents’ thinking. However, home buyers are strongly motivated by the utility cost savings promised by solar electric systems. In fact, 96 percent believe electric bills will continue to increase steadily in the years ahead and 88 percent say the high cost of electricity has now become an important factor in their home buying decisions.
• Respondents believe that rooftop solar electric systems are cost-efficient. More than eight in ten (82%) believe this system would “pay for itself.” Furthermore, nearly all of those familiar enough to give an opinion consider rooftop solar electric systems to be “user-friendly,” “reliable,” and “low maintenance.”
• In addition to seeing the cost-saving benefits, respondents also believe the use of solar electric systems is environmentally responsible, with 86 percent saying using these systems is “the right thing to do” and “helps to reduce smog and global warming gases.”
• Respondents consider builders who provide solar electric systems to care about the environment and believe these builders are more likely to offer high quality construction.
• As a result of these views, 62 percent of respondents say they would be willing to consider purchasing a solar electric system as an option for a newly constructed home, with one-third saying they would definitely consider it.
• Support increases further to 72 percent when respondents hear a brief description of how these systems work and save electricity and money.
• The principal factors motivating purchase interest are perceptions of savings on monthly utility bills and doing something meaningful to improve the environment. Resistance to solar electric’s initial capital cost and doubts about solar electric maintenance costs, long term reliability and long pay-back periods are the dominant factors against solar.

View the Full Report here