The UK government hasn’t done enough to support households with rising energy bills, according to new research out today.
More than half (53%) of consumers don’t believe the government has provided enough support to help them with the rising energy costs, and more than a third (39%) would now look to buy a sustainable eco friendly house that is cheaper to run as a result of the energy crisis.
The findings come from planning and development consultancy Turley, which looked at consumer attitudes towards purchasing sustainable homes.
After location, the survey showed low upkeep costs are the second most important factor when buying a property, and more than a third (35%) of consumers would now be willing to pay more for a new build house or flat to benefit from enhanced energy efficiency features.
The most popular eco features that house buyers would look for include high performance insulation (71%), high specification glazing (65%) and solar panels (63%).
Almost half (47%) of those surveyed also said a heat pump would appeal to them. However, one in five (20%) admit to not knowing what a heat pump is, despite the government banning gas boilers in all new builds from 2025, effectively mandating heat pumps in new homes.
Similarly, despite electric vehicle charging points having been made mandatory in all new build homes to support the rollout of EVs, 43% of people say it would still not appeal to them when house hunting.
The UK’s residential sector currently accounts for 20% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. Improving the EPC rating of homes is key to reducing that. However, only 42% of UK homes have an EPC rating of C or above.
Despite people’s appetite for more energy efficient homes, the cost of living crisis has significantly dented consumers’ ability to afford to move or purchase a property. A third of those surveyed admitted that current financial challenges have made them less likely to buy or move home in the next five years.
Barny Evans, director, sustainability at Turley, said: ‘New homes built during the 2020s will change more than in the previous 40 years. Heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, much better insultation and solar power will be standard on almost all homes very soon. These features, as well as improving environmental performance, can reduce bills substantially.
‘Although there is still a way to go, our survey shows a growing awareness and appreciation of these features. That is a great incentive for housebuilders to embrace them and showcase them on new developments.’