Man has transformed his home into an energy-efficient property with zero energy bills that even makes him a $163-a-year profit

Published on May 07, 2026 at 9:54 PM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on May 07, 2026 at 9:54 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by Mason Jones

Man has transformed his home into an energy-efficient property with zero energy bills that even makes him a $163-a-year profit
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In a move to save loads of money, this guy has transformed his home into an energy-efficient property with zero energy bills, saving him some serious cash.

The UK homeowner completely upgraded his late-1990s house with futuristic clean energy tech including roof solar panels, wall-mounted solar panels, a Tesla Powerwall battery, and a heat pump.

It started as a simple idea to make use of a sun-soaked brick wall, which quickly turned into one of the most unusual home energy setups around.

Now, the property not only costs virtually nothing to run, but actually earns him money back every year too.

How he transformed his home into an energy-efficient property

When most people think of traditional solar panel tech, they picture the panels sitting on rooftops.

But a YouTuber named David looked at the large south-facing wall on the side of his home and wondered why it wasn’t being used to generate power too.

Speaking on the Everything Electric YouTube channel, he explained that the wall was ‘getting baked by the sun’ every day, so he decided to find a way to capture that energy.

But the unusual project wasn’t easy to pull off.

David said many companies refused to install the vertical wall-mounted solar panels because the setup was so uncommon, but eventually he found one willing to take on the challenge and the results ended up being far better than expected.

During winter months, the wall-mounted solar array can generate around 50 percent of the home’s total solar energy because the lower sun angle hits the panels directly.

Alongside the wall panels, David also added 4 kW roof solar panels, a Tesla Powerwall 2 battery, extra loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and a Tesla backup gateway system that allows the house to keep running even during a power outage.

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He makes a $163-a-year profit despite charging two EVs

The full retrofit cost around £24,000 ($32,000), including roughly £5,600 ($7,400) for the wall-mounted solar setup alone.

He even created a miniature smart-home model of the property that displays live energy flow and electricity data through illuminated windows and digital screens, turning his energy-saving setup into a futuristic desk display.

David also upgraded the property with a heat pump after receiving support through the UK’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Despite the large upfront investment, the savings have been massive.

He estimated a similar-sized property would usually cost around £1,800 ($2,400) per year to run, but his setup has completely wiped out those bills.

According to David, the energy-efficient property now earns about £120 ($163) annually through exported energy.

Even more impressively, the final bills figure includes charging two electric vehicles and driving roughly 22,000 miles every year.

“It works fantastically,” he said.

Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.