As the UK government looks to transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, research from Checkatrade shows awareness of upcoming changes amongst homeowners is low.
Overall, 54% of respondents admitted they find the concept of ‘greener’ homes confusing and believe there needs to be more clarity around what this means.
Currently only one in four Brits knew exactly what proposed boiler bans might mean for them.
Despite this confusion, over half of respondents, 55%, stated they were interested in undertaking sustainable improvements on their homes. Also, 56% said they would be interested in hearing about what changes they can make to their homes now to make them more sustainable.
The top ‘green home’ features that Brits would consider installing included solar panels, said 55%, smart thermostats, 52%, heat pumps, 49%, electric vehicle charging points, 47%, electric boilers, 46%, biomass boilers, 44%, ceiling Insulation, 43%, wall insulation, 34%, and double or triple glazing, for 30%.
Meanwhile, 63% of respondents also agreed that they would need an expert tradesperson that is well-versed in sustainable home upgrades to carry out these improvements.
CEO of Checkatrade, Mike Fairman, said: “Demand for energy efficiency-related projects has risen greatly in recent years – at Checkatrade we’re seeing a huge uptick in searches for sustainable home improvements, including a 28% increase this most recent quarter.
“It’s likely that consumer interest in sustainable homes will continue to increase, as protecting the environment becomes a larger focus for the public. However, there is a clear need for education amongst consumers on the concept of greener homes– this is where skilled tradespeople can play a key role to help raise awareness.
“With the UK’s upcoming green deadlines, it’s more important than ever for homeowners to have access to vetted professional to successfully implement these green changes – such as installing electric heat pump boilers – in their homes to comply with rules and regulations.’’