Builders provide big discounts for solar energy/co-generation homes.
Residential homebuilders are providing discounts for homes equipped with solar power devices as competition increases. Led by major companies, like Sekisui House, and also mid-sized companies like Sanyo Homes, an offer of free installation of 3 Kilowatt power solar units is being made to homeowners until the end of August.
SxL, Ltd. has 1 kilowatt units costing about 640,000 yen (approx. $6,700 USD)which are being sold at half-price as the starts for new homes are being held down by the sluggish economy, even as interest in solar power generation, as a way to combat global warming and green-house gases, continues to grow. The building companies are all reducing prices as a measure to shore up sales of new residential construction. Sanyo Homes has begun offering a program where they reduce the overall cost of a new home by deducting the price of their 3.15 kilowatt generator units, available until the 31 August. A 3 kilowatt class generator for a residential home costs about 1,850,000 yen (approx. $19,000 USD). They are currently offering a home network system that allows homeowners to monitor their power generation versus consumption on their cell phones.