Survey

 SURVEY SHOWS AMERICANS
SUPPORT SOLAR-POWERED HOMES**

According to a recent Roper Public Affairs survey commissioned by Mahwah, N.J. based Sharp Electronics Corp., eight out of 10 Americans believe that home builders should offer solar power as an option for all new home construction. The survey was conducted in May among 1,004 adults through random digit dialing to measure their perceptions of solar power.

The survey showed that two-thirds of Americans are willing to pay a premium for homes that have solar systems installed, when told that solar homes have a proven higher resale value (84% of Americans ages 25-49 supported solar on new homes and 69% of those over 65 years agree).

"Solar has been popular for a long time in areas like California and Arizona. Now we're seeing that the rest of the country is ready to embrace solar energy, and consumers want the option of having solar power in their new home," says Ron Kenedi, vice president of the solar energy group at Sharp Electronics Corp.

Those living in the South and West are more likely to favor solar on new homes (83%) than those living in the Midwest or Northeast (74%). One-half of those surveyed would spend up to 10% more for a solar-equipped house, indicating that the cost of a solar system will not prevent Americans from embracing forms of clean, renewable energy.