Demand for homes with green energy surges

Nearly two-thirds of movers would ideally like their home to generate most or all of its own energy.

According to property portal Rightmove’s 2026 Greener Homes Report, more than half (53 per cent) also say recent energy-price rises have increased their interest in technologies, such as solar panels and home battery storage, while just eight per cent would prefer to remain fully reliant on the grid.

Several years of higher and more volatile energy costs have changed what many people want from their homes.

Rather than simply seeking lower bills, households are increasingly interested in generating, storing and managing more of their own energy.

Alongside greater energy independence, a year of unprecedented heatwaves has also changed what many people expect from their homes.

Almost half (45 per cent) say their current home does not cope well in hot weather, while 87 per cent say a home’s ability to stay cool during summer is important when choosing where to live next.

Searches for homes for sale on Rightmove with air conditioning more than doubled this summer, up 104 per cent compared with the same period last year.

As summers become hotter, comfort and climate resilience are becoming more important considerations alongside energy efficiency.

Households are increasingly looking for homes that are cheaper to run, remain comfortable during periods of extreme heat and are better equipped for changing weather conditions.

While climate resilience is becoming a bigger consideration, energy costs remain a key driver of interest in greener homes.

Bills may have fallen from the peak of the 2022 energy crisis, but the difference in running costs between efficient and inefficient homes remains substantial.

Rightmove’s Energy Bills Tracker estimates that an EPC A-rated home has annual energy bills of £706, compared with £2,337 across all homes.

An EPC G-rated property faces estimated annual bills of £6,379, more than nine times the figure for an EPC A-rated home.

Technologies that can help households generate and manage more of their own energy are also becoming more visible in the housing market.

Since 2022, mentions of heat pumps in newly listed homes have risen by 151 per cent, while mentions of solar panels are up 94 per cent.

Rightmove’s data shows that many of the features associated with both energy independence and climate resilience, however, remain concentrated in higher-priced homes.

Properties advertised with air conditioning have an average asking price of £947,509, compared with the national average asking price of £367,440. Homes mentioning heat pumps have an average asking price of £545,220, while those mentioning solar panels average £412,901.

Many of the features associated with greater energy independence and climate resilience are already standard in many of Britain’s newest homes, highlighting the gap between new-build and existing housing stock.

Rightmove’s analysis finds that 89 per cent of new-build homes are rated EPC A or B, compared with just 6 per cent of resale homes.

Almost a quarter, 23 per cent, achieve the highest EPC A rating, compared with only 1 per cent of resale properties.

Wales has the highest proportion of EPC A-rated new-build homes at 54 per cent, followed by the North East at 44 per cent and the East Midlands at 31 per cent.

These figures demonstrate what can be achieved when energy efficiency and modern technology are built into homes from the outset.

However, with most of Britain’s housing stock already built, improving existing homes remains essential if more households are to benefit from lower running costs and greater energy independence.

Some 74 per cent of home-movers surveyed believe more should be done to help households improve the energy efficiency of their home.

Yet only five per cent of homeowners currently rank green home improvements as a priority.

This highlights the challenge facing many households. Interest in greener, more energy-independent homes is high, but affordability remains a significant barrier to action.

Greg Jackson, founder and CEO, Octopus Energy, said: “This Rightmove Greener Homes report shows a massive shift in consumer sentiment around electrification at home – the turbulence in the Middle East means people are voting with their feet, Octopus has seen demand for heat pumps double, and solar and EVs surge.

“Greener homes are not only cheaper to run, but they also reduce our reliance on a system still controlled by global fossil fuel markets.

“They mean we take back control of our energy bills, and our independence.”