A recent survey has shown that the majority of respondents consider environmental sustainability when choosing a new home.
Of the people asked, 78% said that they believe the consideration to be an important part of the decision.
When asked if the long term environmental and sustainable performance of a new home is important, 81% of respondents in London said yes, as did 75% in Newcastle and 68% in Sheffield.
When asked about environmentally sustainable features, almost a quarter of the 2,000 participants in the BLP Insurance survey ranked energy efficient heating and hot water systems as their top priority if they were choosing a new home, followed by double glazing and solar panels.
Environmentally friendly fittings were seen as the main advantage of buying a new build home over an older property.
The study showed that smart meters, which allow homeowners to monitor their energy usage, are still not popular. Just 5% of respondents saw them as important - with 10% of 16-24 year olds and 2% of over 55s citing them as a significant addition to their new home.
BLP Insurance CEO Kim Vernau said: “As people become increasingly concerned about environmental issues, demand for environmentally sustainable features for new homes will continue to grow.
“It’s not just buyers but prospective tenants that are more alert to sustainability. With more detailed and transparent data now available to consumers at all levels, and new energy standards being implemented, landlords and developers will need to adapt, taking steps to improve the efficiency of properties in the market.”
