Two-thirds (65%) of UK homeowners plan to make green home improvements within the next decade, research from NatWest’s Greener Homes Attitude Tracker has revealed.
In the shorter-term, a quarter (25%) of homeowners want to make green improvements within the next 12 months, a record high.
The most popular features include EV chargers (34%), solar panels (34%), triple glazing (33%) and heat pumps, with more than a quarter (26%) expecting to install a heat pump within 10 years.
Lloyd Cochrane, head of mortgages at NatWest Group, said: “It’s promising to see that two-thirds of UK homeowners now have long-term plans to improve the environmental sustainability of their homes, but the research clearly shows that cost remains a significant barrier. Our challenge is to ensure these improvements are as accessible and affordable as possible.
“We are committed to supporting our customers in making their homes more energy-efficient through a range of products and services, including the NatWest Home Energy Hub. We want to help households make informed choices that are right for their homes, budgets, and futures.”
Insulation tops buyer priorities, with one-third (33%) calling double glazing “essential” and 36% saying it is “very important.”
A property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating remains very important to 42% of buyers, though it now marginally ranks below local green space (43%) and access to public transport (43%), in a change from the findings of the second report of 2024.
Immediate plans include composting bins (10%), smart energy meters (9%) and rainwater harvesting systems (9%).
