A New Zealand developer is promising zero power bills for five years to the buyer of a new solar-powered home in Canterbury, but the upgrade comes with a $30,000 premium and the savings are, for now, untested.
Fletcher Living has built two identical four-bedroom homes side by side in Lincoln as part of a five-year trial. One was fitted with solar panels and a battery while the other was is a standard build used as a control to measure what the solar system actually saves. The solar home was listed at $999,000.
Chief executive Steve Evans said the potential savings were significant — but acknowledged the numbers were Fletcher Living's own estimates, which the trial itself would put to the test.
"The benefits are huge when you think about saving yourself $3000 a year or thereabouts — it's a question of what you can then use it for."
Evans said the company was targeting a 10-year payback period on the upfront cost, and hoped to halve that over time as solar technology became cheaper.
Christchurch was chosen because its distinct seasons allow summer and winter usage to be modelled with the findings extrapolated nationally.
"You only have to look overseas to see that's already working — we're the first to bring it to New Zealand at scale and we think it's the positive way forward," he said.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk visited the home and said the trial could influence future building regulations.
"From a regulator point of view it's good to see the win-win-win potential and of course that gives us some guidance into how we can shape the building code into the future."
Penk also noted that solar panels on residential roofing currently require no building consent, removing one potential barrier to wider uptake.
Locals who came through the open home were enthusiastic, though the upfront cost gave some pause.
"It seems quite extravagant," said one visitor.
"I'm hoping that competition for power keeps the bills down."
Others were more convinced. "I think it's a no-brainer, really," said another.
"It's the future, energy efficient, and with the cost of living, any saving is a good saving."
Fletcher Living said the trial is the first step in a longer-term plan to develop entire solar-powered housing subdivisions.
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