Brits valuing sustainable elements over aesthetic changes to their homes

It may still be true that for many, their home is their castle, but if so, it better be a well-insulated castle, as new research shows that Brits increasingly value energy efficient and environmentally friendly houses.

A survey from Hive revealed that the top selling points on a dream home for modern Brits are related to sustainability, with solar panels (68%) and good roof insulation (67%) valued more than design features such as natural lighting (53%), wooden flooring (22%) and reclaimed woodwork (21%). Smart home technology such as a smart heating system (62%), a smart energy meter (48%) and an EV charger on the driveway (39%) were also top considerations.

Over half (55%) agree that making our homes sustainable is something that everyone should be thinking about and almost half (47%) have already made changes to their current home for the purpose of making it greener. Installing a smart meter (37%), adding energy efficient lighting (34%), upgrading their roof insulation (33%) and installing a water meter (26%) were the main changes.

Whilst only 4.5% of the UK own an electric car, with the sale of new petrol and diesel cars being banned in 2030, four in 10 (39%) said they would like to install an EV charger onto their driveway if they could afford to – demonstrating the move towards making your home more sustainable and fit for a green future.

When it comes to being more sustainable, a third (32%) say they would be willing to pay an extra £11,730 for a home that was eco-friendly. It’s not just those looking for new homes that desire a greener property. Over two thirds of Brits (69%) would be willing to invest in their current home to make it more sustainable as it can help save them money and increase the resale of their home. In fact, data has shown adding smart elements like an EV charger to your home, can increase the value by up to £5,000.

When it comes to installing more efficient elements into the home, those surveyed were particularly interested in smart technology, with 87% of Brits saying they would love to introduce more smart devices into their homes, citing increased control of energy costs (67%) and being able to better track energy usage (63%) as the top reason for this change.

“This research shows how important sustainability is in the modern home,” says Gavin Murray, Hive and EV Director at British Gas, who commissioned the study to promote the launch of their new EV charger. “It’s clear that Brits are increasingly prioritising energy efficiency in their home over aesthetic changes so that they have greater control over their emissions. And there is true value in making these changes – as net zero technology from solar panels to smart thermostats and EV chargers, is helping customers to better track their energy usage, set schedules and keep costs down. As electric cars increase in popularity, at home chargers, like our new EV charger, will likely become the norm and worth investing in now.”

Whilst people are interested in installing chargers to their home, common perceptions are putting people off from making the switch. Concerns that EVs aren’t able to cover enough miles without recharging (27%), that it takes too long to charge (25%) and that the price of electricity will soon overtake the price of petrol (21%) were all reasons cited.

Formula E reporter and British television presenter, Nicki Shields has partnered up with Hive to combat these myths and share why an at-home charger is worth considering. She says, “Being able to charge from home is not only super convenient but can actually help you to save money in the long run – costing around 55% less than public charging and 35% less than running a petrol car. If you go for a smart charger, like Hive’s new EV charger and exclusive British Gas PeakSave tariff, you can also have greater control over your charging via the smart Hive app where you can schedule and track your usage.”