Homes with Solar Panels are Selling for More, New Study Finds
Research suggests buyers are willing to pay thousands more for homes with solar panels and heat pumps, but many sellers fail to advertise them.
A new study examining 143 million U.S. property listings found that homes marketed with solar panels and heat pumps sold for thousands of dollars more than comparable properties, highlighting the growing value buyers place on energy efficiency.
Homeowners who invest in rooftop solar panels or high-efficiency heat pumps may recover a meaningful portion of those costs when they sell, according to new research from U.S. home energy intelligence firm 257.
The study analyzed 143 million property listings and transactions spanning three decades and found that homes marketed with energy-efficiency features consistently attracted higher sale prices.
Buyers Are Paying a Premium
Among homes sold between 2024 and 2025, listings that specifically mentioned rooftop solar sold for approximately 2% more than comparable properties, adding roughly US$10,000 to the median home sale price.
Heat pumps also delivered a measurable premium. Homes where listings highlighted a heat pump sold for 0.6% to 1% more, representing an additional US$2,300 to US$3,900 in value.
The findings align with broader market trends. Separate research cited in the report found that 61% of recent homebuyers ranked energy efficiency among their top three purchasing considerations, reflecting growing concerns about energy costs, grid reliability, and long-term operating expenses.
A Missed Marketing Opportunity
Despite the apparent value, most homeowners are failing to promote these features when selling.
Only 8% of U.S. home listings in 2025 referenced energy-efficiency upgrades, even though roughly one-quarter of homes contain significant energy assets such as solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, smart thermostats, or EV chargers.
Solar stood out as the exception, appearing in two-thirds of listings where systems were installed. Heat pumps, however, were mentioned in only 8% of listings despite their increasing adoption across North America.
Why It Matters
As government incentives for residential clean energy become less certain in some jurisdictions, resale value could become an increasingly important part of the homeowner value proposition.
For contractors, installers, and manufacturers, the message is straightforward: energy upgrades should not be marketed solely as a way to reduce utility bills. They may also increase a home's marketability and resale value.
The ClickSabi Perspective
The industry has spent years focusing on payback periods and energy savings. What this research suggests is that homeowners should view solar panels and heat pumps as property improvements, not just energy products. In a housing market where buyers are increasingly conscious of operating costs, energy efficiency is evolving from a "nice-to-have" feature into a tangible asset that can influence both demand and price.