According to our latest research, 1 in 10 homeowners is concerned that solar panels could look unattractive on their house.
In the early days of solar, around 10 – 15 years ago, you’d expect to see huge blue panels jutting out of people’s roofs. They were often installed unattractively in a mixture of portrait and landscape format and looked rather dreadful.
In recent years, however, we’ve made huge strides from an aesthetic perspective; panels are now black so when they sit on dark tiles or slates, they look part of the roof and are much more attractive.
In fact, data suggests that energy-saving home improvements like adding solar panels could significantly increase the value of a property. A 2013 report by the government found that, on average, solar PV boosts home values by 14%, rising to 38% in some parts of England.
Considering the cost of installing solar has dropped since then, and the fact that UK homeowners are more sustainability-focused than ever, this figure is likely to have increased significantly in that time. It makes sense that if a property has lower energy bills and is cheaper to run, people will be prepared to pay more for it.
The I Love My Solar website suggests that those who own visible solar panels, in a way, take leadership in encouraging the community to take action toward alternative energy without actually verbalizing it. “These days,” it says, “Solar panels are valued. People who are looking to buy a home will usually pay a premium to own a home that already has solar panels installed.”
Keep checking back on our blog for more insights on climate change attitudes and opinions, or download the full research paper here.
