Solar energy changes give homeowners more options
If you are a regular reader of our Updates, you’ll already be aware of the strong buyer demand we have been reporting for all categories of property in Melbourne’s inner-north. There is no doubt that the past few months have seen an increasing heat in the property market, with this week’s preliminary auction clearance rate from the REIV coming in at 70%, the highest it has been for quite some time.
Having said that, there is another form of heat that is also set to make a change in the way we live, and it seems to have slipped past most people’s attention with little comment. According to recent reports, anyone considering moving to solar power in their homes has a new option, and it is particularly relevant to anyone about to build a new home or add an extension to an existing home.
Apparently, the company most of us associate with electric cars is releasing a new style of roof tiles that collect solar energy without the need for separate panels. There has been talk of the concept for a while now, but Tesla has announced that they have begun production of their solar roof tiles and are now visiting the homes off early adopters who paid a deposit to be at the front of the queue once installations began.
The idea involves installing special roof tiles made of tempered glass with a solar cell inside. Importantly, Tesla is also manufacturing matching tiles without the solar cell, so there is no discernible difference between the solar tiles and others on your roof. According to Tesla, most people will only need to use between 40 and 70 percent of their roof space for solar collection, depending on the area of your roof. They also claim that their solar tiles are around three times as durable as traditional roof tiles, so they should provide long-term benefits.
Not surprisingly, Tesla does say that the up-front cost of their solar tiles will be more expensive than standard roof tiles. However, the economic benefits of producing your own solar electricity, particularly if you have a battery storage system installed, should make the long-term economics more attractive.
Clearly, making major changes to your home if you are considering selling in the foreseeable future is unlikely to be viable. But if you are planning on staying long-term, this form of solar energy might be worth looking into.
Of course, if you’re considering taking advantage of the heat in the current market, and are wondering whether you might be able to gain an advantage by selling now rather than later in the year, feel free to give our team at Barry Plant Inner-North a call.
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