PV solar panels ''to help homeowners avoid rising energy costs''

Posted by Andrew Marshall

Sustainable construction products, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and other renewable energy devices are all measures that homeowners will need to adopt if they are to offset a £300 rise in annual energy bills.

The Daily Express reported today that, in his first annual energy statement to the Commons, energy secretary Chris Huhne outlined plans to install smart meters in every home, as well as building nuclear power stations and 44,000 more wind turbines.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change revealed that the policies could potentially raise the average family''s energy bill, from £1,100 to £1,400 a year.

Mr Huhne warned that homeowners would have to make ''ambitious'' cuts in their use of electricity and gas, with PV solar panels and solar thermal heating systems among his suggestions for how this may be achieved.

Earlier this month, a survey by Knight Frank revealed that nine out of ten homeowners were considering renewable energy upgrades such as solar PV.

Christopher Smith, head of the company''s renewables and energy department, said the results ''show how successful the introduction of renewable energy feed-in tariffs have been in encouraging people to invest in renewable schemes''.