Newcastle Residents Think The House Of The Future Will Have Solar Panels, Rainwater Collection Devices And EV Charging Points To Help Reach “Net Zero”
Landfill waste gadgets, heat pumps and wind turbines also make into the top half dozen suggestions for what houses of the future will feature to help reach the 2050 government target for global control of carbon.
A survey among Newcastle residents questioning what the houses of the future will have to help reach net zero showed that 50% thought solar panels to generate electricity should feature, 37% would have rainwater collection devices and 31% would have electric vehicle charging points. Gadgets to help with landfill waste came in at 5th with 30% and heat pumps came in at 6th with over 27% of those surveyed thinking they would be useful for a house of the future to reach net zero.
Devices using data to optimise your food shops (i.e. to help identify food waste) were cited by 14% and devices that use data to show the clothes you never wear and products you should stop buying were recognised by 7% of respondents. Robots to undertake household chores, such as switching on the oven, were mentioned by 9% when asked what the house of the future would have to help reach the government goal of net zero by 2050. Reducing the human population by several billion, and therefore needing fewer houses, was not offered as a possible response in the questionnaire.
The natural resource of the sun received a further mention with 14% of respondents suggested the house of the future should be sun facing to maximise warmth. Having south facing roofs is often mentioned an important factor when installing solar panels. However, this is not the case as solar panels can attract energy from the sun, even on the cloudiest of days, from any angle.
Installing solar panels as the most popular answer in the survey underlines the trend towards using natural resources to generate energy. Gas and electricity bills continue to spiral and alternatives such a solar and wind power are now actively being considered in Newcastle.
Simon Peat, CEO of Project Solar UK, said, ”Solar panels are a genuine alternative and will definitely feature in new builds and houses of the future. Not only are they cost effective, but they also will stand the test of time by using natural resources from the sun, rather than relying on fuel sources from other parts of the world.
We are encouraged that so many people in Newcastle are actively considering going solar and would be happy to share the information we have gathered over the past decade in the industry, with anyone thinking about future proofing their house.”
