REH Blog

Recent government data has revealed that UK greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) have continued to fall with fossil fuels providing just a third of UK power last year. The UK is now halfway to net zero as emissions have been cut by 53% between1990 and 2023 or 50% if you include emissions from international aviation and shipping. 

Provisional figures suggest the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) fell by 5.4% in 2023 after a drop in gas usage to heat homes and generate electricity. Reductions were seen in sectors such as electricity supply and residential areas indicating an increased reliance on renewable energy sources. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said reliance on gas is decreasing as the UK shifts to renewable energy sources. The electricity supply sector reported a cut in emissions of 19.6%, followed by homes at 7.2%, and industry with an 8% fall. The latest statistics surpass the previous official 2022 data that saw the UK become the first major economy to halve its emissions. 

This is a remarkable and historic achievement. The UK has reduced emissions further and faster than any other major industrialised nation, while still managing to grow its economy by 80% since 1990. It is the first major economy to halve its territorial carbon emissions across several key sectors. DESNZ says the UK reduced territorial GHG emissions by 428 MtCO2e between 1990 and 2023 surpassing the combined emissions reductions from the US, Canada, France, Italy, and Japan during a similar time period.

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

“This latest drop in our emissions follows the UK’s achievement in becoming the first major economy to halve its polluting carbon emissions. We have done all this whilst growing our economy by 80% and shielding families from unnecessary costs.”

Total GHG emissions were estimated at 384.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023. The electricity sector, which makes up about 11% of Britain’s GHG emissions, recorded the biggest drop at 41.1 MtCO2e, compared with 51.9 MtCO2e in 2022.

DESNZ said: 

“This decrease in 2023 is primarily due to a reduction in gas demand from the electricity supply and buildings and product uses sectors.”

Another factor to take into account suggested by DESNZ is a rebound in French nuclear power output in 2023 which meant the UK was able to import more electricity, reducing the need for British fossil fuel power production alongside a drop in demand. 

The UK is on the right path with the latest figures reflecting its ‘world-leading record’ on renewable electricity. It boasts the five largest operational offshore wind farm projects in the world and almost half of the electricity that is generated in the UK now comes from renewables, compared to just 7% in 2010. The UK has also significantly expanded its capacity of solar parks and bioenergy plants.

Right across Europe electric vehicles and heat pumps routinely account for between 10 and 20 percent of the market. These technologies are fast becoming mainstream as costs fall and demand grows. 
Furthermore, advances in technology are providing ways of decarbonising everything from steel and aviation to proteins and shipping. 

However, the UK still has a long way to go. Global emissions are still climbing, and the UK’s imported emissions remain persistently high. A large portion of the UK’s emissions reductions can be attributed to deindustrialisation and more recently flat-lining economic growth. Far more emissions could have been cut if it weren’t for the many policy missteps over the past twenty years and the continued subsidising of polluting industries. 

It's important to note that much of the decarbonisation achieved in the power sector has been through energy efficiency improvements and the closing of coal power plants which cannot be repeated. Emissions from transport, buildings, heating, industry, and agriculture are still far too high. It’s not clear whether power sector emissions reductions can be sustained especially in the face of failing power auctions, delayed nuclear projects, and parts of the government that remain enamoured with the fossil gas industry. 

It isn’t far-fetched to consider that if the UK has halved emissions in a little over 25 years it should be possible to eradicate the other half over the next 25 years in line with the UK’s climate commitments.

The latest government data also features some new stats demonstrating how renewable generation exceeded fossil fuel generation for the fourth time in 2023. Wind generation in particular has set a series of new records. Overall renewables accounted for over 47% of the power mix in 2023 while coal, gas, and oil together generated just 34.3% of the UK's electricity which was a record low. Due to the healthy pipeline of clean energy projects, this trend is not only likely to continue but also accelerate during this decade. If this pace is maintained the grid will be mostly clean by 2030 and entirely clean by 2035. 

The UK has attracted £300 billion in low-carbon investment since 2010 and a further £100 billion is expected by 2030. This investment supports up to 480,000 UK jobs. 

DESNZ said:
“Companies have announced plans for £24 billion of new low carbon investment since September alone, showing confidence in the UK to support its green transition.”
The UK has exceeded expectations against three consecutive carbon budgets and is one of very few major economies to have a legally binding emissions reduction target covering 2035. The 77% target goes beyond many other countries. 

The recent government data shows that the UK is making continued, significant progress towards net zero. Though statistics from recent years remain affected by the unprecedented economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term trend demonstrates that the UK is quickly reducing emissions and meeting and exceeding carbon targets.  

Evidently, the UK is committed to reaching its climate targets with emissions having already been cut faster than any other major economy while continuing to secure more clean energy investment.

The Spanish energy and utility giant, Iberdrola has announced ambitious plans to invest $44 billion to accelerate electrification and upgrade grids in various countries across the world. This pledge is a significant boost to its already diverse portfolio of renewable initiatives. 

The announcement follows Iberdrola’s recent Power Purchase Agreement with tech giant Amazon which cemented its commitment to supplying 159MW of electricity from the East Anglia Three offshore wind farm, which is currently in development in the North Sea. 

The primary focus of the company’s investment will be on enhancing grid infrastructure, expanding renewables capacity, and integrating storage technologies to guarantee a balanced energy supply. The best part of two-thirds of the investment will target distribution and one-third will target transmission. 

As well as committing to invest $44 billion Iberdrola also plans to recruit 10,000 individuals by 2026 to expedite the electrification drive across its portfolio.  

A considerable portion of Iberdrola’s investment, over a third (35%), will flow into the US market, with almost a quarter earmarked for the UK and 15% destined for projects in Brazil and the Iberian Peninsula.

As the parent company of Scottish Power in the UK, Iberdrola is set to create 1,000 jobs in the UK through £12 billion investment in new wind, solar, and network projects. 

According to a press statement from Iberdrola, electrification is now “unstoppable in all sectors” due to the rapid pace of decarbonisation of industrial processes and transport networks as the energy transition ramps up. Due to the speed of the transition, it is crucial that electricity network infrastructure can be located where it's needed in advance and strengthened to accommodate increasing capacity. The largest part of the investment (60%) will go to expanding and strengthening networks in the US, UK, Brazil, and Spain.

Ignacio Galan, Iberdrola’s Executive Chairman, said:

"The electrification of energy is unstoppable and will expand exponentially in the years ahead, supporting decarbonisation, boosting energy security, and reducing the volatility caused by fossil fuels. Our strategic pillars focus on networks, geographical diversification, and a balanced energy and customers mix. This plan will allow us to grow our asset base, grow our profitability, and strengthen our finances, as well as increasing dividends and driving jobs and skills and economic growth".

Ignacio Galan pointed out that customers have been driving this change for some time now. Once people move to electric power, they are not returning to fossil fuels. Those who make the change from petrol to electric vehicles do not move back and the same is true for customers who replace gas boilers with heat pumps.

The $44 billion investment includes the $2.5bn purchase of 18.4% of Avangrid announced earlier this month. Gross investment of €15.5 billion, including €5 billion contributed by partners in projects previously identified, will go to renewables projects. All projects subject to funding are already under construction. 

Iberdrola has said that more than 50% of the renewables investment will go to developing offshore wind in the US, UK, France, and Germany. A total of €21.5 billion will go towards the expansion and strengthening of grid networks in the US, UK, Brazil, and Spain. A further €1.5 billion of investment will go to boosting global energy storage systems. The company aims to reach 120 million kilowatt hours of pumped storage capacity over the next 3 years, an increase of 20% which will give greater stability to renewable energy output. 

“Our strategy will focus on delivering enhanced grid to support the security of supply, now 60% of our total investment, as well as a strong expansion of renewables capacity, driven by the substitution of fossil technologies and additional demand. We also recognise an increasing role of storage technologies to preserve the balance between supply and demand 24 hours a day.”

Not only will these strategic investments drive Iberdrola’s net profits to $5.6 billion and on to $5.8 billion by 2026 but they will set Iberdrola on a path toward achieving zero emissions from generation as soon as 2030 while creating 10,000 new roles globally in the industry by 2026 at the same time. 

Iberdrola’s network expansion plan comes at a time when investment in grids is seen as a key constituent to enabling the achievement of global climate goals.  According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) 80 million kilometres of power lines will need to be added or replaced globally by 2040, which is roughly equal to the entire global grid today if we are to remain on track to achieve the Paris Agreement goal to limit temperature rise to 1.5 centigrade and keep up with the increasing deployment of new renewable energy capacity. This will lead to investment doubling to over $600 billion per year by 2030.

Back in 2022, Iberdrola outlined plans to take a more selective approach to renewable energy projects and this investment builds on that strategy. Italy’s Enel made a similar business decision last year. 

Iberdrola is hoping to have an additional 3MW of offshore wind in operation by 2027 building up to 5GW by the end of the decade. It also has a target to increase solar and onshore wind capacity by 6GW by 2027. The company has said that it will have a total renewables pipeline of 100GW for future development by 2030. 

If you take into consideration all the crucial factors of their investment plan you can see that Iberdrola’s $44 billion investment is certainly going to be a game changer in the renewable energy sector.

In recent years heat pumps have been recognised as having an important part to play in decarbonising our homes. It is expected that 80% of homes will move to a heat pump in the future although the exact timings for this are not yet known. The remaining 20% of homes will most likely be connected to heat networks using a large heat pump or other sources of clean energy. These networks will be communal systems that heat entire blocks of flats, villages, and even towns. 

A heat pump is an excellent way of using electricity to heat your home in an energy-efficient way. As heat pumps don’t produce heat by burning fossil fuels, they are a better choice for the environment than gas and oil boilers. A heat pump uses technology very much like that found in a refrigerator or an air conditioner. It extracts heat from a source such as the surrounding air (air source heat pump), geothermal energy (ground source heat pump) stored in the ground, or nearby sources of water (water source heat pump) or waste heat from a factory. The heat pump then amplifies and transfers the heat to where it is needed. Unlike an electric panel heater, for example, a heat pump has a compressor, which increases the amount of heat that can be generated from each unit of electricity. For a panel heater, that ratio is 1:1 but for most heat pumps such as the air source heat pump on the UK market today the ratio is likely to be 1:3 to 1:4 making it a very efficient substitute although many factors can affect this. Heat pumps are also easy to maintain and operate. 

There are, however, some disadvantages and factors to consider when installing a heat pump. As heat pumps require electricity to work you will probably see a small increase in your electricity usage unless you are replacing fuel types such as LPG when you will definitely save money.  Currently, electricity is still more expensive per unit than gas. It’s worth contacting your energy supplier to see whether they have a heat pump electricity tariff which may be cheaper and more suitable for an electric-based heating system. 

Unlike boilers which are high-temperature systems most heat pumps operate at a lower flow temperature which means that to ensure heat can be effectively transferred into the space within your home, sufficient heat emitter surface area is needed, and this is why correctly sizing the heat emitters is so important. It is not always possible to use your existing radiators with a low-temperature heat pump. It will very likely be necessary to replace them with larger radiators or an underfloor heating system. 

The design and installation of a heat pump system needs more planning and preparation than traditional boiler systems. A detailed heat loss calculation should be carried out on your property to ensure it is well-insulated which is key for an effective low-temperature heat pump system. There also needs to be an assessment of the heat pump output required as well as the correct sizing of the selected heat emitters.

Though low-temperature heat pumps can comfortably heat most homes, high-temperature heat pumps can match gas and oil boiler temperatures without having to make any changes to your home. 

To generate three or four units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed the temperature of the fluid running through a low-temperature heat pump needs to be lower than that delivered by a conventional boiler. Though most air-source heat pumps and ground-source heat pumps operate at a maximum flow temperature of 55degC to be efficient they are better suited to running at flow temperatures of around 35°C to 45°C. Gas, oil, and biomass boilers on the other hand produce water temperatures of 60degC centigrade to 80degC. The UK government has recently been campaigning to get all households to reduce the flow temperature on their boiler to 60degC to save energy and reduce bills. The higher temperature is the most significant difference between the different heating technologies and is the biggest barrier to overcome when trying to retrofit homes with a low-temperature heat pump system and replace a traditional boiler. The installation of low-temperature heat pumps may well necessitate the installation of new compatible radiators and new plumbing.

However, this is where high-temperature heat pumps come into play. They can heat your home to the same level of warmth and at the same speed as a gas boiler. A high-temperature heat pump can reach between 60degC and 80degC which enables you to heat your home quicker than regular heat pumps without needing to buy new radiators or insulation. High-temperature heat pumps use more superior refrigerants than low-temperature heat pumps to be able to achieve this. 

Most high-temperature heat pumps use R290 or R32 which are better for your home and the climate. They also come with industry-leading weather compensation controls. According to a recent government report, on average, high-temperature heat pumps have to raise their flow temperature above 65degC less than 1% of the time due to these technological advances.

High-temperature heat pumps can provide domestic hot water at the same temperature as boilers at around 60degC to 80degC whereas regular low-temperature heat pumps supply water at 45degC to 55degC. 

With improvements being made to the technology of regular heat pumps on an ongoing basis, an increasing number of models are reaching 60°C to 65°C. High-temperature heat pumps rarely have to reach these higher temperatures. 

Due to this fact and their usually superior refrigerants, high-temperature heat pumps are now usually just as efficient as low-temperature heat pumps. They have been shown to be almost three times as efficient as a central heating boiler. 

The Committee for Climate Change has identified high-temperature heat pumps as a viable option for many homes where low-temperature heat pumps are not practical. High-temperature heat pumps can use existing radiators with little or no adjustment. 

Most UK homes are set up to run with a gas or oil boiler and high-temperature radiators. If an old-style non-condensing boiler is being used, temperatures from the boiler to the radiators are 70-80 degrees Celsius. For modern condensing boilers, heating temperatures should be lower for the boiler to run at its higher efficiency, although this seldom happens in practice. 60degC temperature should keep most homes warm in the coldest weather with much lower temperatures being needed the rest of the year. 

Because low-temperature heat pump models are at their most efficient when the heating system temperatures run at 35-45degC, older houses will need much bigger radiators to give off enough heat as well as better insulation and potentially new windows and doors to ensure they are kept warm. Installing a high-temperature heat pump will most likely mean that you won’t need to change existing radiators, improve insulation, and replace windows and doors which can be difficult in old buildings. Though this will save you money you will need to take into consideration that high-temperature heat pumps can cost about 25% more to buy and install. 

It is important to bear in mind that to heat to higher temperatures, high-temperature heat pumps use more electricity and can therefore be more expensive to run than conventional heat pumps although cheaper than an electric panel or storage heaters. High-temperature heat pumps run on an average ratio of 1:2.5 units of electricity in, to heat out. However, like all heat pumps this figure will vary according to the season up or down. It is worth installing in a weather-compensating system which should improve efficiencies, by enabling the heat pump to work at its optimum operation for more of the time. With improvements in the technology high-temperature heat pumps are now as efficient as regular heat pumps.

A high-temperature heat pump can be the perfect solution for homes that cannot be insulated to meet current Building Regulations or better. This may be because the building is Listed, or in a Conservation Area, or is a home where the costs and risks of insulation are high, for example, homes with uninsulated solid floors, in very exposed places, or of unusual construction.

High-temperature heat pumps might also be the answer for tenanted properties that are currently using electric panel heaters. It’s less disruptive for the tenant as it will require little or no adaptation from them on how to use their new heating system. 

High-temperature heat pumps may be right for you if you need a heat pump that can produce hot water as well as space heating and you don’t have room for a hot water cylinder. 

Now is a great time to install a heat pump as the cost of installing one continues to go down and there is also help available from the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The scheme provides upfront capital grants of up to £7,500 to encourage property owners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient, low-carbon heating systems including heat pumps and biomass boilers. 

Before deciding whether a high-temperature heat pump is suitable for you, you should always seek professional advice. The Renewable Energy Hub is here to answer any questions you might have.

Most people don't think twice when it comes to the environmental impact of our hobbies. We pursue them for enjoyment and creative fulfillment, but we rarely consider that they may have hidden costs for the planet.

A closer look into these seemingly harmless activities reveals that some of our most popular hobbies happen to have sizable carbon footprints that contribute to issues like climate change and pollution. Activities we love typically require significant resources like water, electricity and natural materials that can take a toll on the environment. The use of chemicals to produce products, the emissions from maintenance equipment, and waste from disposable products can accumulate from our past-times.

It’s important we understand the unseen impacts of our hobbies and take steps to reduce them. This way, we can ensure our interests have the smallest footprints possible. Here, we’ll take a look at a few common hobbies, why they’re not as environmentally friendly as you may have first thought and how to make positive changes. 

Golf

Golf may seem like a relatively benign activity, but a closer look reveals some substantial environmental impacts. Golf courses require significant amounts of fertilisers and pesticides to maintain the meticulously manicured greens and fairways. These chemical applications can contaminate nearby water sources and soil.

Additionally, golf courses in drier regions demand large volumes of water for irrigation, straining local water supplies. Even the attire and equipment of golf leads to waste, such as broken tees and abandoned balls, not to mention the airmiles of travelling to different courses.

There are several ways golfers can reduce their environmental footprint. Using environmentally friendly balls and tees made of sustainable materials is one step, as well as golfing at courses certified to meet conservation standards to help preserve local ecosystems. Finally, golf simulators allow people to practise and play golf from home without travelling to courses, minimising their carbon footprint without compromising on their hobby.

Photography

Many forms of photography have substantial environmental impacts that add up over time. Manufacturing cameras is resource-intensive, involving extracting and refining materials such as gold, aluminium, and copper. Not only are these resources being depleted but camera equipment being thrown into landfills results in chemicals being leached into the soils.

However, there are effective ways photographers can reduce their carbon footprint. For digital files, being selective in printing photos decreases paper use. Turning off camera features like image preview screens also conserves battery life. When the time comes to upgrade equipment, purchasing used cameras and lenses avoids the resources needed to manufacture new gear. Finally, properly recycling equipment at the end of an item’s life keeps those materials out of landfills.

Camping

Camping is often seen as an eco-friendly activity that connects us to nature. While this is often true, there are certain aspects of camping that negatively impact the environment. The risk of fires can lead to air pollution and damage to biodiversity, while large groups of campers travelling to parks and protected sites might stress or disrupt local ecosystems and wildlife. Disposable items like plastic bottles and utensils also accumulate as waste during camping trips. Even the fuels needed to travel to campsites contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

The good news is camping can be done very sustainably with some adjustments. Choosing nearby campgrounds and carpooling reduces emissions from travel, while packing reusable utensils, dishes and containers decreases waste. Following leave no trace principles by packing out all rubbish helps protect natural areas. By being mindful of its impacts, camping can be an eco-friendly activity that builds environmental awareness.

Crafting

Crafting is a beloved hobby for many – from knitting and scrapbooking to woodworking and jewellery-making, it allows us to tap into our creativity and make something with our own two hands. But many popular crafts use a lot of new materials that take a toll on the planet.

Yarn for knitting soaks up huge amounts of water and land to produce, for example, and can pose ethical concerns regarding animal welfare. Glitter, beads, paints and other craft supplies often contain plastics and chemicals that end up in landfills after one use. Even wood and metal for carpentry and jewellery have to be harvested and processed.

Luckily, craft lovers can reduce their impact. Using recycled, repurposed, or upcycled materials cuts down on the need for new ones, or you can seek out non-toxic, natural components that decrease pollution. Buying from local makers and swapping supplies with other crafters also helps. With a few thoughtful tweaks, we can craft in an earth-friendly way while still enjoying being creative.

Travelling

Travelling allows us to experience new cultures and places, but it often comes at an environmental cost. Air travel generates substantial greenhouse gas emissions from jet fuel and contributes to climate change. Even road trips in cars or RVs produce emissions from gasoline consumption. The impact accumulates quickly when we take frequent weekend getaways, cruises, and holidays abroad.

Opting to road trip instead of fly, when possible, avoids emissions from air travel, while renting a campervan or carpooling allows more sustainable miles when driving. Choosing to travel by train or bus also helps to decrease the per person emissions when transporting multiple passengers.

When you’re sightseeing, bicycling, and walking as your mode of transport completely eliminates travel emissions and enables you to see more of your destination as an added bonus. Staying in eco-friendly hotels and being mindful of waste can further reduce impacts while away. With intent, we can still experience the joy of travel while making choices that tread more lightly on the planet.

Our leisure activities and hobbies provide us joy, creativity, and valuable downtime from our busy lives. However, while the hidden environmental impacts tied to many common activities can be sobering, uncovering these unintended consequences is a necessary step for hobbyists to make a positive change. We can still pursue our passions while keeping sustainability in mind – with some adjustments to habits, equipment and supplies, the environmental footprint of our hobbies can shrink significantly.

In 2023 Rightmove, the UK’s biggest property website, published its second edition of the Rightmove Greener Homes Report which is a comprehensive study that looks into the challenges and different behaviours facing the UK in creating more sustainable homes. 
How much progress has been made towards making housing in the UK more energy-efficient is a question many people are asking. 

Although the government has a target to get as many homes ‘as practicable’ up to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2035, Rightmove’s data shows that 60% of homes for sale on Rightmove and 50% of homes available to rent have an EPC rating of D or below.

Despite some progress being made over the past 4 years, if EPC improvements were to continue at the current rate, it would take 43 years for 100% of the houses that are currently for sale across the UK to reach an EPC rating of A-C, and 31 years for houses that are currently available to rent. 

The government’s Future Homes Standard is a positive move for new homes to be Net Zero carbon ready from 2025. This sector is seeing many exciting innovations and has the benefit of building from scratch.

A recent YouGov poll commissioned by the MCS Foundation found that most MPs would like to see solar panels incorporated into new builds by 2025 with many wanting battery storage systems to come as standard. 56% of surveyed MPs also agreed that heat pumps should be incorporated into all new builds by 2025.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities is currently consulting on how the government should deliver its new Future Homes and Future Buildings Standards with the process set to close on March 6th. 

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Science, says: 

“The days of building energy-inefficient homes are already over, and we need to get to the point when running an energy-inefficient home is a thing of the past. People need to know what to do, in what order, why they are doing it, and what benefits it will bring. Our analysis does show that our housing stock is going greener, but more needs to be done to speed it up.”

However, 80% of buildings that will be occupied in 2050 already exist, according to the UK Green Building Council which means that retrofitting existing homes is critical. There are many more hurdles to cross with old housing stock than for the new build sector.

For many homeowners, the cost involved in retrofitting their homes is prohibitive. The retrofit may include any or all of the following measures: installation of insulation, double glazing, or triple glazing. solar PV, solar thermal, and heat pumps. Homeowners often don’t have enough knowledge to decide what’s best to do and where to start. Only 4% of homeowners currently have plans to install a heat pump in their homes. 

Johan Svanstrom, Rightmove CEO, says: 

“Some 25% of UK emissions are directly attributable to the built environment. In the residential sector, there are significant challenges to achieve greener homes at an adequate speed, not only the cost barriers to retrofit but also a lack of knowledge on what’s best to do to a home and what it will yield.”

Most homeowners (83%) when asked said that they would consider investing in their property to make it more energy efficient though the average amount they were prepared to spend was £3,445. Homeowners are most likely to carry out small upgrades such as new lighting. There’s much more work to be done to spur people on to make bigger changes, such as installing a heat pump or solar panels, if suitable for their home.

For most homeowners saving money on their energy bills is the biggest motivator for making green improvements to their homes. 78% said lower energy bills would motivate them to make changes. 54% said they would be motivated to make their homes better insulated. 35% said that reducing their carbon footprint was an important motivation for them. Adding value to their home and helping them sell their home in the future are other reasons why homeowners make green improvements.

The advantages of making green improvements can be seen in the overall premium a seller can dictate. Rightmove’s analysis shows that sellers who have improved their home from an EPC rating of an F up to a C could see an average price premium of almost £56,000 (+15%) on top of the local house price growth if you look at the current national average asking price of £371,907.

More and more estate agents are including the EPC rating in their property descriptions as a selling point if it is in the A to C range. The number of listings that mention these EPC ratings has increased by 24% from a year ago, and up by 59% in 2019. Property sales listings that include electric car charging points are up by 592% when compared to 2019.

One in five tenants (19%) and one in five (19%) first-time buyers are saying they will seriously consider a property’s energy efficiency as a major factor when choosing their next home mostly due to the big jump in energy bills since the second half of 2021. A smaller number of current homeowners (13%) say it is as important a factor. 

However, two out of every five landlords with one property say they’re more likely to sell up than make improvements. Landlords with smaller portfolios are more likely to sell up than those with bigger portfolios. There has also been an increasing trend of landlords being more likely to avoid poorly rated properties in the last year with 61% of landlords saying they would not now buy a rental property below an EPC rating of C, up from 47% when asked in the previous year.

As a result of their in-depth study, Rightmove has suggested that more help and more significant incentives are needed for homeowners and landlords to retrofit properties, improve energy efficiency, and help them bring down running costs.

Tim Bannister says: 

“It’s clear that the current incentives aren’t yet big enough to make people sit up and take notice, and even the incentives that do exist aren’t easy to find out about. In order to shift the demand to greener homes, incentivisation, and education is key. The ‘price of cosy’, or a better-insulated home, is hard to quantify until people see how it can change how they live for the better, and they need to be able to afford it."
“Adoption at scale will take time and there are clearly areas that need more attention than others. Houses are much more energy-inefficient than flats, and the sales market is lagging behind what we’re seeing in the rental market. The challenge right now is that there are not enough suppliers and equipment for the greenest option to be the most affordable option for homeowners and landlords.”

New measures would need to be carefully thought through, but the Rightmove report makes some suggestions. Ideas they suggest could be considered would be stamp duty rebates, more significant mortgage, and remortgage incentives to help with the costs of making green improvements, more grants or tax benefits for green technology such as electric car charging points and solar panels, and measures to enable innovations that speed up the creation and implementation of energy-efficient technology.

Although the government has scrapped plans for rental properties to have an EPC rating of C or above as part of the Future Homes Standard, landlords are being encouraged to make their properties more energy efficient. More incentives are required to help landlords make green changes to their rental properties without passing costs onto the tenant. 

According to new analysis by energy giant Ovo Energy, two-thirds of Brits are specifically looking for homes with green technology installations that can improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Ovo Energy’s analysis indicates that over a third of prospective buyers are more likely to make an offer on a home with green installations such as solar panels. A comparable number said they would be more interested in homes with triple-glazed windows and roof insulation in place.

While the UK is still in the early stages of the shift towards greener homes Mat Moakes, chief commercial officer at Ovo said thousands of customers are switching to green tech and in the process cutting bills, reducing carbon, and adding value to their properties.

Data and insights collected over the last few years confirm encouraging trends are ongoing.