[For New Homes] Zero Compromise in Solar Panel Selection. Energy Professional 'Eneco of Ohisama Tech' Strengthens Direct Consultation and Subsidy Application Support from Pre-Construction Stage

Eneco Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuma Sawada; hereinafter "our company"), which develops one-stop services across energy, construction, and real estate, has strengthened its "Direct Design Support" for customers considering new homes, allowing them to consult directly with "solar experts" without going through house builders. By providing consistent support from optimal design at the blueprint stage to subsidy applications, it structurally resolves the "compromises" and "regrets" traditionally associated with new home solar installations.

■ Background: "Structural Disadvantage" Hidden in Solar Selection for New Homes

In recent years, against the backdrop of soaring electricity prices and growing environmental awareness, the number of households installing solar power generation in new homes has increased. However, it is not uncommon to hear comments like the following after installation:

- "I should have been able to install more."
- "It was more expensive than I thought."
- "There were no options."

These are not problems with individual staff members, but rather issues that are likely to occur due to the structural nature of going through a house builder.

■ Policy Trends: "De Facto Mandatory" Solar Installation Progressing in Tokyo and Kawasaki

In recent years, institutional development regarding the installation of solar power generation equipment for new detached houses has been progressing in Tokyo and Kawasaki, and the trend of requiring installation under certain conditions is strengthening.

As a result, for new homes, the important consideration is not "whether to install solar power" but "how to design and optimize it." While there are cases where minimum equipment is installed to comply with regulations, significant differences in power generation efficiency and economic rationality can arise depending on the design, increasing the importance of pre-design from a professional perspective.

■ Diversifying Installation Patterns: What is the Optimal Solution for Solar + α?

The introduction of energy equipment in new homes has expanded from the conventional "solar power generation only" to more flexible options.

For example, the following cases are also seen to some extent:

- House builders install only the minimum solar equipment.
- Solar power is minimized due to initial costs and design constraints.
- Considering energy design centered on storage batteries.

Especially in recent years, the option of installing only storage batteries is also being considered, requiring designs tailored to lifestyle and electricity usage.

Against this background, comprehensive energy design, including solar power, storage batteries, and EV integration, is becoming important, not limited to a single type of equipment.

■ The True Nature of Invisible Costs: "Subcontracting Structure" and "Division of Expertise"

In many cases, solar power installation in new homes adopts a "subcontracting structure" where house builders outsource construction to external contractors. The problem is not the structure itself, but rather the following discrepancies that are likely to arise:

- Cost increase due to intermediate margins: Costs accumulate in the process of flowing from the prime contractor to the construction company.
- Restrictions on manufacturers and models: Choices are limited by affiliated partners, and in many cases, proposals are made with standard specifications rather than the latest models.
- Insufficient optimization of capacity design: Standard plans are prioritized over roof shape and future design, often resulting in proposals for "smaller capacities."
- Division of design and construction: In many cases, the proposer is not an energy expert, making it difficult to design with power generation efficiency and future prospects in mind.

As a result, a mismatch where "prices are high, but the design is not optimized" is likely to occur.

■ Eneco Challenges This Industry Structure

Eneco Co., Ltd. dares to change the starting point of design against these "norms" of the industry. This is the "Direct Design, Direct Construction" model that does not go through house builders.

■ Three Essential Benefits of Direct Consultation

① Manufacturer, Capacity, Design, all are "Free"

Eneco designs optimal panels, capacity, and layout for each house from scratch, without being tied to specific manufacturers or specifications.

- Design that maximizes the use of roof shape.
- Optimization of power generation and cost-effectiveness.
- Future design that anticipates storage batteries and EV integration. We provide "optimal design based on 30 years of use" rather than "just attaching solar power."

② Fair Price Eliminating Intermediate Margins

Our direct system realizes "reduction of unnecessary intermediate costs," "transparency of estimates," and "fair comparison of equipment and prices." Even with the same equipment, the price changes depending on "where you buy it from." Eneco's system simplifies this structure.

③ Design Based on New Home Subsidies

Subsidies are not something to be used "later," but rather an element that should be incorporated into the design from the beginning. Eneco provides consistent support, including "minimizing actual burden," "preventing application errors," and "responding to risks of institutional changes," by designing based on the subsidy systems of Tokyo and various municipalities, annual institutional changes, and schemes for utilizing pre-applications.