Summer Solstice Survey: 70% of American adults in favor of requiring solar on new homes
Summer Solstice has arrived: June 21st is the longest day of 2019 for us Northern hemisphere folks. And lucky for us, it lands on a Friday this year! (Who doesn’t want more Friday?) Technically speaking, the northern summer solstice occurs each June when the sun hovers over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude), giving us a day with extra-long sunlight hours.
While Americans with solar panels gear up for their annual bonus from the sun, we conducted a national online CITE survey1 to find out what influences Americans in their solar efforts.
The study revealed that 70% of American adults are in favor of requiring solar on all newly built homes. Among those in support, 32% said they strongly support it and 38% said they somewhat support it, while 16% said they somewhat oppose it and 14% said they strongly oppose it. This new study only adds to a growing body of research, like findings from the PEW research center that, “almost nine-in-ten U.S. adults (89%) favor expanding use of solar power, while only 9% oppose it.”2
Age Groups Supporting a Mandate
Young adults were in highest support of a solar mandate, with age 25-34 74% in favor, followed by adults 35-44 (73%), 45-54 (71%), 55-64 (66%) and 65+ at just 61% in favor.
Spouses have an influence, it turns out.
Since residential solar is currently optional for existing homeowners, survey takers were also asked who would most influence their decision to install solar panels on their home for the good of the environment. According to the survey: out of spouses, friends, family, politicians, and environmental experts, spouses have the greatest influence.
58% of survey takers claimed they would be influenced by their spouses (36% a great deal of influence, and 22% some influence). Environmental experts were next in line, with 57% of surveyors saying they would be influenced by their opinion (28% a great deal of influence, 29% some influence).
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And the least influential award goes to…
Politicians, by far. Just 19% of surveyors claimed a political figure would influence their opinion to go solar for the environment.
Other solar decision influencers include friends (45% influenced by them), their children (36%), other family members (36%) and parents (34%). Specific to children, the influence is greatest when they live in the home—in this case, 22% of survey takers say their children have a great deal of influence, and 29% say they have some influence.
Summing it Up
As you enjoy the longest day of the year, whether it be by the pool or your backyard, it’s reassuring to know that you may have a greater influence on your significant other’s and family members’ environmental habits than you realize. In an article for Fast Company, Eillie Anzilotti, emphasized this exact point: “if consumers are demonstrating an appetite for a policy that would require solar on any new home they might purchase, it could indicate support for broader renewable energy schemes that could transition the U.S. energy supply entirely away from fossil fuels.”3 Clean energy really is a fight we can only win together.
About Solar Mandates
California is the first state to pass a solar panel mandate on new homes, going into effect in 2020. The state is often a leader in environmental practices across the nation, so it’s possible that more states will head in the direction of adopting residential solar requirements. “With nearly a million new single family homes built annually, if all of them took advantage of solar energy, it would be equivalent to driving 12 billion fewer miles a year or consuming 12 million fewer barrels of oil.”4 David Bywater, Vivint Solar CEO says.
Endnotes
CITE Research (www.citeresearch.com), on behalf of Vivint Solar, conducted a nationally representative online survey of 2,000 U.S. Adults age 25+ from June 13-16, 2019.
Americans strongly favor expanding solar power to help address costs and environmental concerns. PEW Research. By Brian Kennedy, October 5, 2016.
What most Americans are looking for in a new home: solar panels. Fast Company. By Eillie Anzilotti, July 13, 2019.
New single family homes completed in a year = 890,000 (HUD data quoted by US Census). Average residential solar system size = 6kW (EnergySage).
Average energy generated by a 6kW system = 8.212 kWh/year
8.212 x 890,000 = 7,309,125,000 kWh/year - Equivilant impact conversions from https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator