The homebuilding standards body claims homebuyers will be willing to pay a premium for more energy efficient homes in contrast to popular industry perceptions. Homebuilders have in the past complained that the costs involved in installing more sustainable energy systems in homes cannot be passed onto the consumer. But at the Zero Carbon Hub conference, industry standards body the National House Building Council (NHBC), said the results of a recent survey revealed house buyers may be more likely to spend more money on a house where there a provisions in place to make significant savings on energy bills. It also found two thirds of occupiers of new homes were happy with their energy bills compared with only one third in older homes, this was impressive considering the rise in fuel prices in recent years.
To make the most of the higher standards of new buildings, homeowners should be given more information from developers about how to run the energy in their homes efficiently. This change in customer attitude has been praised by the new build market by making it easier to differentiate their market. However the Green Deal would make existing properties more energy efficient and lessen the premium that new properties might attract.
