UPOWA talks all things solar and renewable energy on Barratt Homes sustainability podcast
John Southern, Head of Product & Strategy at UPOWA recently joined marketing pioneer Megan Hamlyn from Barratt Homes on the developer’s new sustainability podcast series to discuss the future of solar energy in new build homes.
UPOWA, a sustainable technology solutions specialist, has a key focus in supporting the top housebuilders to achieve their green goals and has worked with Barratt Homes for 12 years.
In the podcast, John talked to Megan about changing consumer habits, myth busting during the cost-of-living crisis and delved into the many ways homeowners can save energy and reduce bills when living in a new Barratt home.
John said: “We’ve noticed that customers now want to be seen as green and forward-thinking. And it isn’t just current homebuyers that are changing their buying habits. The next generation are already making demands that are shaping a more sustainable future – such as wanting electric cars.”
Demand for sustainable options is a trend that Barratt Homes has already started to factor into its building values. It installed 12,000 solar panels in 2021, and, on top of that, its homes already save 58% - more than £2,600 – on energy bills, thanks to good levels of insulation, quality construction and high-efficiency heating systems.
Megan from Barratt said the housebuilder’s partnership with UPOWA is significant as the developer commits to ensuring all its new house types are zero carbon in use from 2030.
She said: “Barratt Homes is committed to bringing high-quality, sustainable homes to the region, and with this fantastic partnership, we can do just that. It has been great to hear from John today regarding UPOWA’s purpose-built solutions that can future-proof our new properties.”
As the nation feels the effect of the cost-of-living crisis however, Megan wanted to understand from John about the impact this might have on people choosing to go electric. According to John, there are myths that need busting during this difficult time for the country.
He added: “There are still people who believe that the initial expense of installing solar panels, for example, is much greater than the benefit received, and that they don’t work in the winter because of the lack of sunlight. We’ve also seen a lot in the press about the cost of charging electric cars during the energy crisis.”
“The truth, however, is that the cost of solar panels is coming down and their energy efficiency is going up, which is giving buyers a much better return on their investment. Solar panels also get their energy from light, so will still generate plenty of energy throughout the winter months. In addition, it is also still fairly cheap to charge a car overnight at off-peak times, and although energy prices are at an all-time high, so too is the cost of petrol.”
Barratt’s new sustainability podcast brings together Barratt Homes’ ambitions, targets, and activities to ensure that important issues and solutions are deeply rooted in every business decision and day-to-day action the company takes.
Megan added: “This is another fantastic episode, and we can’t wait for our eco-conscious community to tune in.”
Podcast on solar energy with Barratt Homes and UPOWA
Barratt Homes is determined to be the leading national sustainable housebuilder and is building eco-friendly homes across the region.
UPOWA provides housing developers, construction companies and commercial businesses with a “one-stop-shop” of sustainable technology products and specialist services to accelerate the journey to net-zero.
For more information on the Barratt Homes Sustainability Podcast, and to watch the episode featuring UPOWA in full, please visit YouTube. For online streaming visit Spotify or Podbean.
To find out more about UPOWA and its sustainable technology solutions purpose-built for housing developers, click here.
About Barratt Developments PLC
Barratt Developments plc is the country’s largest housebuilder, comprising Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and Barratt London, and is committed to building high quality homes.
This year the company received more NHBC Pride in the Job Quality awards than any other housebuilder for the eighteenth year in a row and was awarded 5 stars by its customers in the HBF satisfaction survey for the thirteenth year in a row.
Barratt / David Wilson Homes’ Southampton division is currently building at 17 actively selling developments across Dorset, West Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The division donates £12,000 per year through its Community Fund, a dedicated financial resource that helps to support local causes which improve the quality of life for those living in the region.
To find out more about Barratt Homes, please visit www.barratthomes.co.uk.