do solar panels reduce property value?

[agent orange]

I can understand how solar panels are great for the environment and may even look snazzy on new homes but many people are wary of putting them on old houses for fear they're going to look awful and erode the value of their property.

Any views on this?

[Andrea]

I think that if you place a solar panel on old properties, such as a Victorian house, then it might affect the value of that property because a large part of the value is in the 'old-ness' of the property itself.

I don't see any reason why energy efficient technologies can't be used on all new houses though.

[MarkuisMellvile]

Andrea's right. PV facades are designed to be both efficient and to fit in with modern slate roofed buildings. On old listed properties, well hidden PV systems don't detract from value (as the reduced dependence on the national grid appeals to many).

My worry (as a homeowner) would be whether the PV installation would be as waterproof as my existing roof. As a professional engineer in the field, I see no reason to suspect problems of this kind, but it is worries about new technologies that reduce the speed of uptake along with the many political and cost factors.

If a PV system saves the average homeowner £150 a year on electricity bills, the payback period should be sufficiently short to attract anyone with the money to buy the system. After the capital is repaid, your electricity is almost free for the lifetime of your cells (subject to being washed regularly to maintain efficiency!).

[seven]

Don't forget that there are many ways for houses to be energy efficient without having to install solar panels on the roof. Just as easy to cut down on energy usage as it is to generate energy from renewable sources.

[Bilby]

Originally Posted by seven

Don't forget that there are many ways for houses to be energy efficient without having to install solar panels on the roof. Just as easy to cut down on energy usage as it is to generate energy from renewable sources.

You are on the money.If you did an analysis between buying PV solar panels and lead acid batteries verses replacement of far more efficient appliences , I think the latter would be more cost effective.I know these days it is possible to buy new LCD PC monitor for not much more than a conventional one but they use only a fraction of the energy in use.

[debs]

Originally Posted by Bilby

You are on the money.If you did an analysis between buying PV solar panels and lead acid batteries verses replacement of far more efficient appliences , I think the latter would be more cost effective.I know these days it is possible to buy new LCD PC monitor for not much more than a conventional one but they use only a fraction of the energy in use.

Exactly. I don't think the manufacturers do enough to push home this benefit to consumers. You always here of the great quality image etc. but never the great cost savings people can make by using a LCD monitor instead of a regular one.

[Bilby]

One other thing solar panels only go on the south facing roof (northern hemisphere) and vice-versa for southern hemisphere.

[mattholimew]

I read a study on this, and fortunately it is not necessarily the case. North facing roofs in the north hemisphere receive lower gain sunlight, but it is constant, as most of it is reflected. Southern facing PVs often lose light due to cloud cover. And visa-versa in the southern hemisphere. Although obviously you are right if you live in a country where it does not constantly rain!

[mgopilot]

With my house, I had to try to educate the appraisers of the value added of solar power with my system. I gave them a paper on different types of alternative power systems, the characteristics of good systems, and various values added.
I had to get a company that would give a loan for a solar powered home. They don't always do loans because they originally felt solar power wasn't a reliable or constant power supply. My loan company originally put a 1 point penalty on it.
Appraisals also use similar home sales in your area, and if there are no similar homes, you lose value, too. Super insulated? They are dummies. Efficient appliances and CF lights? They don't count to them. Thermal mass and solar gain are way over their little heads.
I think the loan and appraisal industry are coming around, but very slowly.

[railgal]

Personally, I would think that it would increase the value of the property.
I mean, when you sell your home you can show the potential buyers the smaller electric bills they would be getting with your home.