Solar homes can boost sales

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Feb 1, 2008

Housebuilders and developers can significantly reduce carbon emissions of their projects, making them more appealing to buyers and increasing profits.

At EcoBuild Solarcentury, Europe's leading solar energy company specialising in the design and supply of building integrated solar technology, will be demonstrating how housebuilders and developers can significantly reduce the carbon emissions of their projects, making them more appealing to buyers and increasing profits.

Stand E850, Earls Court 1, and the Solar City will play host to the latest innovations in building-integrated solar photovoltaic (pv) technology.

The C21e solar electric roof tile resembles a standard tile, and can be installed in the same way.

Requiring only a south-facing pitched roof, C21e roof tiles require just 8 sqm per kWp to generate 850kWh of electricity per year.

This means that a standard three bedroom family house will generate around 2,500kWh of electricity per year, equating to a saving of 1.5 tonnes of CO2.

Combining the innovative design and simplicity of the C21e with its solar thermal counterpart, the C21t tile, Solarcentury's latest product for housebuilders and self- builders is the CompleteSolarRoof.

Delivering up to 60% of a typical three-bedroom home's hot water requirements, in combination with about half of electricity needs, the CompleteSolarRoof represents a logical solution to lowering the carbon emissions of new homes.

With 62% of respondents in a recent MORI survey for the Sponge Network claiming they thought sustainable features should be compulsory on all new homes, there is clearly a market for solar powered homes.

Recognising the main challenges to promoting solar and other renewables to potential purchasers, housebuilders will need to counter arguments about the aesthetics, maintenance and cost.

Because of the smooth profile of the CompleteSolarRoof, and the fact that it sits flush to the roof line of the house, the solar pv and solar thermal tiles are virtually un-discernable from the ground, meaning that of all the renewable technologies solar presents one of the least obtrusive.

With no moving parts solar roof tiles generate energy silently, requiring no maintenance.

They are cleaned of dust and debris by natural rainfall, ensuring that they operate to optimum performance.

With a 20-year power warranty each CompleteSolarRoof is expected to provide generation for 50 years.

The CompleteSolarRoof adds as little as 4% to the cost of the overall development, and this can be less with economies of scale.

The payback is worthwhile though, as homes with solar power have been known to command at least an 8% premium over those that don't.

"As every housebuilder knows, carbon savings are a key part of the Code for Sustainable Homes," Jeremy Leggett, founder and Executive Chairman of Solarcentury says, "So far solar power is the most mature of the renewables markets, providing a tried and tested means of boosting the attractiveness of a new development for buyers, tenants and investors.".