[New Service Announcement] Launch of 'Direct Design Energy Support' Bypassing House Makers — Providing Optimal Solar and Battery Design for New Homes from the Blueprint Stage

Eneco Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuma Sawada; hereinafter 'our company'), which provides one-stop services across energy, construction, and real estate, has launched a new 'Direct Design Support' service for customers considering new homes, allowing them to consult directly with 'solar experts' without going through a house maker.

This service structurally eliminates the 'compromises' and 'regrets' of conventional new-build solar installation by providing optimal energy design from the pre-construction drawing stage and consistently supporting the process up to subsidy applications.

New Service Overview: What is 'Direct Design Energy Support'?

This service is a new support model where energy experts are directly involved from the housing design stage, without going through a house maker, to achieve an optimal energy design that includes solar power, storage batteries, and EV integration.

Its feature is to derive the optimal solution from a 'design-first' perspective, rather than the conventional 'equipment-first' approach.

Background: The 'Structural Disadvantage' Hidden in Solar Choices for New Homes

In recent years, the number of households installing solar power when building a new home has been increasing due to rising electricity prices and growing environmental awareness. However, it is not uncommon to hear the following comments after installation.

'I should have been able to install more.' 'It was more expensive than I thought.' 'I had no choice.'

These are not problems of individual representatives but are issues that tend to arise due to the structure of going through a house maker.

Regulatory Trends: 'Virtually Mandatory Solar Installation' Progressing in Tokyo and Kawasaki City

In recent years, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Kawasaki City have been developing regulations regarding the installation of solar power generation equipment on new detached houses, strengthening the trend of requiring installation under certain conditions.

As a result, the key consideration for new homes is not 'whether to install solar power,' but 'how to design it and how much it can be optimized.' While there are cases of installing minimal equipment to comply with regulations, the importance of pre-design from a professional perspective is increasing, as design can create a significant difference in power generation efficiency and economic rationality.

Diversifying Installation Patterns: The Optimal Solution of Solar + Alpha

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

For example, cases like the following are also seen to some extent: - The house maker installs only minimal solar equipment. - Solar power is minimized due to initial costs or design constraints. - Considering an energy design centered on storage batteries.

Particularly in recent years, the option of installing only storage batteries is also being considered, and design tailored to lifestyle and power usage is required.

Against this backdrop, comprehensive energy design that is not limited to a single piece of equipment but includes solar power, storage batteries, and EV integration is becoming more important.

The True Nature of Invisible Costs: 'Subcontracting Structure' and 'Fragmentation of Expertise'

In solar installation for new homes, a 'subcontracting structure' where the house maker outsources the work to an external contractor is often adopted. The structure itself is not the problem, but the fact that the following discrepancies tend to arise is the essence of the issue.

Cost increase due to intermediate margins: Costs accumulate as work flows from the main contractor to the施工 company. Restrictions on manufacturers and models: Choices are limited by affiliated partners. Proposals are often made with standard specifications rather than the latest models. Lack of capacity design optimization: Standard plans are prioritized over roof shape or future design, often resulting in proposals for 'smaller capacity.' Separation of design and construction: The proposer is often not an energy expert, making it difficult to create a design that considers power generation efficiency and future potential.

As a result, a mismatch of 'high price but unoptimized design' is likely to occur.

Eneco Throws Down the Gauntlet to this Industry Structure

Eneco Inc. is taking an approach that dares to change the industry's 'norm' from the starting point of design. That is the 'direct design, direct construction' model that bypasses house makers.

The 3 Essential Merits of Direct Consultation

① Complete 'Freedom' in Manufacturer, Capacity, and Design

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

- Design that maximizes roof shape - Optimization of power generation and cost-effectiveness - Future-proof design considering storage batteries and EV integration Instead of 'just-in-case solar,' we provide 'optimal design on the premise of 30 years of use.'

② Fair Pricing by Eliminating Intermediate Margins

Our direct system achieves 'reduction of unnecessary intermediate costs,' 'transparent estimates,' and 'fair comparison of equipment and prices.' The price of the same equipment changes depending on 'where you buy it from.'