Some 61% of Americans show great interest in home solar - survey

Oct 17, 2013 - American consumers are showing serious interest in installing solar systems at their homes, with 61% willing to equip their houses with photovoltaic (PV) arrays, according to data from a research by Market Strategies International.

The New E2 (Energy + Environment) research, released on Wednesday, shows that interest in solar power facilities is strong in almost all age and income groups, even among those aware of the related costs. Some 46% of participants in the survey aged over 55 showed interest in solar power. Three-quarters of the 18-34 age group and two-thirds of the 35-54 age bracket are "somewhat" or "very interested" in going solar.

People taking part in the survey were notified that the cost of a residential solar system stands at about USD 30,000 (EUR 22,000) and can cover about 60% of the home’s power needs. Participants also received information that the final cost of a solar system can be lowered by 30% through federal tax incentives, with further options available on state level.

The interest of some 51% of the people was boosted by this information, while consumers aged over 55 were the only group showing less interest. After being informed of the financial details, most respondents continued to be interested in solar power, even households with income of less than USD 25.000.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.738)

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