Homeowners prioritise new windows and doors
New figures show that windows and doors top the list of energy efficient home improvements for homeowners.
With energy prices still at record highs and with only weeks to go before Government support for home energy bills is lowered, the survey of UK homeowners by YouGov and commissioned by Deceuninck, found that 90% of homeowners were ‘very worried’ or ‘worried’, about the price of energy.
The findings also found that concern about home energy costs was a key driver of sales with 44% stating that despite the associated cost of living crisis, higher energy costs made them more likely to spend on energy saving home improvements.
The survey also revealed that energy-efficient windows and doors topped the list of home energy efficiency measures (13%); solar panels came in second at 12%; a new boiler 10%; with cavity wall and heat pumps each polling around 5%.
“The findings reinforce something which many retailers have experienced first-hand since April last year, which is that the record highs we’ve seen in energy prices have driven window and door sales,” said Rob McGlennon, managing director, Deceuninck.
He continued: “It also goes someway to explaining the high levels of demand that we have continued to see this year.
“Energy efficient windows and doors are a far more tangible energy efficient home improvement compared to cavity wall insulation, and with continuing pressure on energy prices, energy efficiency will continue to drive sales for a long time to come.”
Electricity prices increased by 67% in the 12-months to February, while gas rose by 129% taking average bills beyond the £2,500 a year mark.
While wholesale energy prices have fallen, they remain at historically high levels, while the Energy Price Guarantee, which was extended in March’s budget for three months and which has helped to keep a lid on bills, runs out in only a few weeks’ time.
The Deceuninck survey found that despite this, continuing high energy prices would encourage approaching 30% of respondents to take the plunge and invest in energy saving home improvements.
This, however, pails into insignificance compared to the 57% of homeowners who said a government grant scheme to help to lower energy bills would make them more likely to invest.
“If the Government is looking for a long-term solution to climate change and high energy bills, improving the energy efficiency of UK homes, which account for around 21% of total UK emissions, is going to be key.
“A ‘green grant scheme’ also has clear potential to support job creation and economic growth, while the findings of our survey show that homeowners would be highly receptive to it.”