3 in 4 people worried about energy performance of their home

Concerns around the energy crisis and a desire for more sustainable living appear to play a major role in home-moving decisions in the UK, according to new research from the Home Builders Federation.

The research found 3 in 4 people are worried about the energy performance of their current home, with 1 in 4 saying energy efficiency will be ‘crucial’ to their next home move.

Being ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘having a good EPC rating’ are now the second and third most desirable features in a new home, behind outdoor space.

The report also found that house builders hold the key to unlocking the UK electric car industry, as over 70% of Brits state they would be persuaded to buy an electric vehicle if their home had a charging point.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation commented: ‘”Location, location, location” has been the driving mantra of the UK home-movers for as long as we’ve known, but these results suggest we’re now entering the era of “location, location, insulation”, with energy efficiency becoming an ever more crucial factor in how we select our next home. And with energy bills rising it’s never been more important for homebuyers to weigh up these costs as they consider their next move.

‘This research highlights the crucial role that residential developers play in not only making UK housing stock more sustainable and energy efficient overall, but also meeting the demand of an increasingly eco-savvy public who want to cut down their energy bills and live in more sustainable homes. As an industry we have made major steps forward year-on-year in making all elements of housebuilding as sustainable as possible, with many developers well on the way to reaching net carbon zero throughout their operations.’

Stewart Baseley added: ‘Mortgage lenders have a vital role to play in helping homebuyers to make the cost efficient and carbon saving steps that households are increasingly keen to make.’

Photo by Blake Wheeler