Market Demand for Sustainable Homes
87.2%
of buyers say energy efficiency influence their buying decision
18%
ROI for Builders who install solar and battery
14.5% Premium
Average sale increase for sustainable homes
$21,000
Potential ROI for home buyers in the FIRST year of ownership
The research into Sustainable Homes benefitting Buyers & Builders:
Sustainable homes aren’t just an environmental responsiblity, they generate measurable financial returns for both builders and buyers. Research conducted by Deakin University has evaluated the financial benefits of installing sustainable products during the construction of a property.
This breakdown has calculated the cost v benefits of building-in energy efficient features for both builders and buyers. While “adding on” sustainable solutions post-construction can break-up the up-front costs, it is also more expensive to retro-fit these upgrades.
What are the benefits for Homeowners and New Home Buyers
New Home Owner Outlook on Solar & Battery Installations
Building a dream home and planning for one, are two different things. While it’s one thing to design the perfect home with your dream shed, kitchen, pool, spa, air-con, etc, it’s another to design for financial peace of mind. i.e. a utility resilient home. Because the last thing you need from your dream home is a power-draining nightmare. One way to prevent this, is to plan ahead with an Energy Management Plan.
There’s a lot to think about when including sustainable features into your new home. Does it make good financial sense? Can we afford it? Will it help the environmental? Will it look good? Lets see…
Financial Opportunities
Average sustainability upgrade cost: $6,547
Potential first-year benefit: $21,000
• Savings > Investment Costs: The ‘Rise and Thrive’ report by GBCA and Gateway Bank, demonstrates the cost to invest is HUGELY out-weighed by both the long-term and short-term financial benefits.[3]• Green Loans and Green Mortgages are available, making solar and batteries more accessible than ever.
• Increased energy efficiency = lowered running and maintenance costs [4]• Independent energy generation = improved financial predictability
• Properties benefit from “Eco-Premiums”
• Generous Government Solar Grants and Rebates are available, meaning you can install solar at a discounted price.
With the ongoing technological advancements, solar and batteries are becoming more affordable. So households can now install the power they NEED, not just what they can afford.
Environmental Benefits
• Future-proofs your property against increasing environmental pressures
• Generates renewable energy
• Reduces carbon emissions
• Lowers reliance on the grid while buffering households from rising utility costs [6]• Due to the climate (long hot summers and high humidity) the average Queensland family of four, in a 4-bedroom home, can use around 8,000kWh of power each year. That’s 85MWh over 10 years! Powering your home with Solar and Battery minimises or even (with the right set-up) neutralises your environmental impact. For some perspective, over a decade, you could either:
— Burn the equivalent of 16.8 tons of coal, OR
— Reducing carbon with 33.6 acres of sequestered forest. [7]
Streamlined Installation
Streamlined Installation that looks good:
If you’re building your new home, we ALWAYS urge home owners to build their solar INTO the home. “Build it in. Don’t add it on.” What do we mean by “build it in”? Well we mean, make it invisible (sort of).
Before your walls are cladded, our team comes to site and completes a “pre-wire”. This is where the internal electrical wiring is pre-prepared, so that it’s “invisible” once the walls go up. With the pre-wiring complete and walls cladded, the solar can then be installed SEAMLESSLY.
No wires. No mess. No worries.
Because building a dream home, also means PLANNING for one.
Summary Benefits for Homeowners:
• $21,000 potential first year benefit
• Higher property value
• Lower electricity bills
• Greater energy independence
• Reduced environmental impact
Discover how much you could save with a customised Home PowerStation design.
What are the benefits for Home Developers & Builders
The Building Industries Outlook on Solar & Battery Installations:
We know that the popular opinion in the building industry is that solar can be “added-on” AFTER the build is complete. As a post-construction upgrade. However this view on solar lacks numbers. Specifically, the stronger financial profits that go to builders.
While it’s well known that homeowners save money on their on-going energy bills with solar, this research shows that come time of sale, buyers are ALSO paying a premium for sustainable properties.
Market Demand + Increased Sale Prices
How can you be sure? Market demand + increased sale prices. Here are the numbers:
• 87.2% of respondents said energy efficiency of a property would influence their buying decision. [3]• 81% of buyers see sustainable property features as either ‘critical’ or ‘important’ in their decision-making.[3]• 58% of respondents believe construction companies should be responsible for incorporating energy efficient home features
• Real estate listing platforms now have sustainability filters, due to this market demand
Builder ROI %
When builders deliver on this demand, they’re seeing ROI of up to 18%.
“In projects where multiple sustainability features were incorporated simultaneously, the research found an average 18% return on their investments in more sustainable initiatives. That means for every dollar spent on greener features during design and construction, the benefit to the developer was $1.18.” [1]
So the market demand is there, but what does this look like for builders profits? In the Green Building Council Australia’s ‘Sustainability in Property Report’ (2025), energy-efficient homes are selling on average for $118,000 MORE than non-efficient homes. That’s a 14.5% premium over non-efficient homes.[2]
Additional Benefits
Additional benefits for builders include:
• Investment < Profit. i.e. Premium property sale prices exceed the upfront costs of embedding sustainability features [1]
• Properties with sustainable initiatives boost buyer market, sell faster and reduce marketing time [4]
• Insures compliance with legislation and CSR [4]
• Demonstrates industry leadership [5]
Despite the popular opinion (or misconceptions) the numbers add up. It’s time to start delivering the sustainable homes that people actually want.
Summary Benefit for Builders:
• Up to 18% ROI
• $118,000 average sale premium
• Faster sales
• Increased buyer demand
• ESG and compliance advantages
Increase project profitability with integrated solar and battery solutions.
Sources:
[1] PV Magazine Australia, by Tom Keel & Ameeta Jain ‘Including solar, batteries boosts developer profits, cut owner costs’ (June 2026)
[2] Green Building Council Australia, ‘Green homes are mainstream – now let’s build them lighter’ (May 2025)
[3] The Fifth Estate, by Willow Aliento, ‘Green Star Apartments paves way to cheaper loans and healthy low carbon homes’ (February 2025)
[4] Deakin University, by Tom Keel, ‘BCFS in PD Explained’ (June 2026)
[5] Green Building Council Australia, ‘What is Green Star?’
[6] Solar Calculator, (May, 2026)
[7] Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, (November, 2024)
