Over the years that I have been involved in the real estate industry, I have seen a great number of property trends and changes evolve before me. These have involved the colours people are using to decorate with, the popularity of certain rooms over others and many more.
But one movement that has caught my attention and pleases me greatly is that of the increasing residential use of solar power. And according to the Clean Energy Australia 2010 Report, released in December 2010 by the Clean Energy Council, there was more solar power installed on rooftops between January and October last year than there was over the entire previous decade.
The report stated that more than 100,000 solar power systems were installed during 2010, compared with a total of 81,232 from 2000 – 2009.
This increase is incredibly substantial and reflects a changing attitude within residential Australia. It seems that homeowners are taking proactive action to not only combat rising electricity prices, but to also join the fight against climate change – doing so through quite a sizeable personal investment.
The report also provided some insights into the state of the renewable energy industry over 2010, all of which points to the continued growth of clean energy in 2011. 8.67 per cent of Australia's electricity was generated by renewable sources such as solar and wind in 2010, the equivalent of three million houses. Additionally, the sector received just under $1.8 billion in new financial investment over the 2009-10 financial year.
The report has also modelled the changes that are expected in the renewable energy sector by 2020, and predicts that the area will see more than 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade, with many to be in regional areas.
I especially liked the thinking of the chief executive of the Clean Energy Council, Matthew Warren, who said that solar technology was fast becoming "the Hills Hoist of the 21st Century". Given the cult following that such a clothes line received and its status as an essential household tool, to even be able to start to draw the comparison is a huge, exciting step forward for solar power.