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“If our sector is to lead on the shift towards implementing Net Zero, and the creation of a ‘clean, reliable power system’, then navigating consumer apprehension will underpin just how successful, and quick, this transition will be.”


Google search data provides a nice insight into how serious this installation


interest is too. From March 2020 to May 2024, there was a 300% increase in searches for the query “are solar panels worth it”, indicating a proactivity on behalf of the consumer to get to grips with the benefits of renewable energies. However, despite political will and general consumer sentiment nudging us closer and closer to our Net Zero target, there remain clear barriers to be broken down amongst consumers. As an indicator of what type of barriers currently exist, just over one in five of our survey respondents (21%) think – incorrectly - that solar power can only be generated in the summer months. To get to grips with how entrenched these misconceptions are (are they an anomaly, has belief increased or declined, how can we address this?), we regularly repeat survey questions to understand how sentiment changes over time. For example, a survey of ours from 2021 highlighted that 21% of respondents


agreed with the statement that “you can only store solar energy if you live in the desert”. When we asked this question again this year, this figure had surprisingly grown to 37% of respondents. Ian Rippin, CEO of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, the standards


organisation for small-scale renewable energy and heat in the UK, recently discussed the hurdles faced by those in the renewable energy sector in educating consumers about the upfront investment required for installation of solar panels, amongst other areas. If our sector is to lead on the shift towards implementing Net Zero, and


the creation of a “clean, reliable power system”, then navigating consumer apprehension will underpin just how successful, and quick, this transition will be. We’re convincing millions of consumers to change engrained habits and to adopt renewable practices. Our survey evidence shows that while good intentions might be there, it’s another thing entirely to convert this into action. However, it’s important to not dampen the great progress that has been made


so far. Using MCS’ data dashboard, we can see that since 2009 there has been over 1.5m MCS certified solar PV installations on homes and businesses in the UK. In the top five areas with the most installations, there is representation from


regions in England, Scotland and Wales. Stirling, the top region in the UK, has 17.8% of households with solar panels installed. A recent report from the International Energy Agency, published in May, highlights that as of 2024 there are 25 million households globally relying on solar PV for their energy. Comparing this to the UK’s 570,000 households with solar panels installed, we can see that UK households currently account for about 2.3% of the world’s domestic solar installations. This figure might seem like a drop in the ocean, but it’s clear evidence that the UK is punching well above its weight and is at the forefront of the global push towards widespread renewable adoption. Of course, this can always be improved. Misconceptions about the benefits of solar and other renewable energies continue to persist and need to be clarified. This is even more important when we take into account the ‘ticking clock’ of Net Zero requirements and the increasingly dramatic effect that climate change is having. But we’re now hopefully approaching the point of critical mass. With political backing – such as the introduction of the FHS from 2025 and ‘green’ policies becoming a non-negotiable aspect of politics – we’re moving in the right direction, and hopefully, the installation and championing of renewable energies continues with it. Ultimately, it’s critical that we continue to work to preserve what we have. Whether we do this by addressing misconceptions or capitalising on positive sentiment, industry leaders must continue to step up and lead from the front, ensuring the UK continues on its path towards a brighter and more sustainable future.


boilingpoint E


Trade body calls for action on damp and mould in homes


xperts at the Property Care Association are pressing for policy level action from


the next UK government to tackle the blight of damp and mould in homes.


As part of its mission to build Sarah Garry, CEO at PCA


a safer future for all, the PCA is pressing for better ventilation in UK properties, based on a ‘360-degree’ approach in setting a minimum standard through education, best practice and enforcement. The trade body says that while


it is optimistic that the new Building Safety Act will lead to improvements, more needs to be done to deliver better air quality in homes. Sarah Garry, chief executive of the PCA, said: “We hope the Building


Safety Act will provide the catalyst for change, and drive forward a greater emphasis on best practice, requiring anyone carrying out design, construction and refurbishment work to be competent in their roles. “However, such is the seriousness of ventilation and indoor air quality that we need to see the issue covered at a national policy level, with an agreed framework and robust reporting structures in place to deliver healthier homes and buildings. “There’s a pressing need for action. All too often, we hear of people’s


lives being blighted by the presence of mould and poor indoor air quality in their homes. “Such conditions can exacerbate respiratory illness, affect mental


health, diminish comfort and increase the cost of heating. Sadly, there can even be fatal consequences. “That is the seriousness of damp and mould. “Effective ventilation plays a vital part in controlling the issue, but there


are too many cases where installations are carried out by well-meaning contractors who simply do not have any understanding of ventilation, or the various regulations and guidance documents. “This is coupled with few building control checks or enforcement action


taken to ensure ventilation is installed that is fit for purpose. “This has huge repercussions for residents. In 2020, research amongst PCA members revealed that they believed fewer than 30% of installations complied with Building Regulations. The PCA recently launched the Certificated Specialist in Dwelling


Ventilation (CSDV), which offers a benchmark for installers and building control professionals to provide better understanding of compliant ventilation systems - competences which all align with the Building Safety Act’s requirements. PCA members, including those in the trade body’s specialist Residential


Ventilation Group, can also signpost homeowners to appropriate and reliable ventilation solutions, based on diagnostic investigations and best practice.


The PCA will be leading the conversation on air quality in homes and issues with excess moisture at its annual Property Care Conference, taking place later this year.


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