Battery First? What Homeowners Really Want in Energy Upgrades
What’s really driving homeowner interest in home energy systems—and is solar still the star of the show?
In this post, we take a closer look at findings from the Voice of the Homeowner study, which surveyed 576 U.S. households about their energy-related goals, challenges, and investment plans.
Here’s what we learned when we dug deeper into the home energy section of the study:
Battery Storage is Outpacing Solar for Some Homeowners
Among homeowners who haven’t yet invested in home energy infrastructure but are considering it, both solar panels and battery storage top the list of potential upgrades.
Surprisingly, battery systems edged out solar by a small margin—suggesting that energy resilience and storage capabilities are gaining ground, even among those just getting started.
Many of these homeowners are considering both together, but a notable segment is exploring standalone battery storage—not just for backup during outages, but also to:
Manage energy during peak and off-peak times
Integrate with electric vehicles (EVs) for bi-directional charging
Reduce reliance on the grid
This shift points to a growing demand for flexible, intelligent energy systems rather than traditional one-off solutions.
Hybrid Inverters Are a Top Wish List Item for Existing System Owners
For homeowners who have already installed solar, EV charging, or battery systems, their next area of interest is telling. One of the most cited future investments? Hybrid inverters.
Unlike standard inverters, hybrid inverters can manage energy from multiple sources—solar panels, batteries, and the grid—while enabling better control over when and how energy is used.
They’re often described as the “brains” of the home energy system:
Storing energy during low-demand times
Using or exporting power strategically
Helping households get more from their self-generated energy
This finding suggests that today’s homeowners aren’t just thinking about energy savings—they’re focused on control, flexibility, and system integration.
What This Means for the Future of Home Energy
From first-time buyers to seasoned early adopters, homeowners are rethinking what it means to upgrade their home’s energy system. The research shows strong interest in smarter, more resilient energy ecosystems—not just hardware, but holistic systems that adapt to evolving needs.
Habitelligence will continue tracking this trend closely as technologies like hybrid inverters, bi-directional EV charging, and intelligent load management reshape how homes generate, store, and use power.
Watch the full video above to explore the data and insights in more depth.
To read the full Voice of the Homeowner report, visit habitelligence.com or follow the QR code at the end of the video.
