Nearly two-thirds of people intending to move into their own or their landlord’s properties in the neat future (63%) would ideally like their home to generate most or all of its own energy.
This is according to Rightmove’s 2026 Greener Homes Report.
More than half (53%) say recent energy-price rises have increased their interest in technologies such as solar panels and home battery storage, while just 8% would prefer to remain fully reliant on the grid.
Several years of higher and more volatile energy costs have changed what many people want from their homes. Rather than simply seeking lower bills, households are increasingly interested in generating, storing and managing more of their own energy.
Alongside greater energy independence, a year of unprecedented heatwaves has also changed what many people expect from their homes.
Almost half (45%) say their current home does not cope well in hot weather, while 87% say a home’s ability to stay cool during summer is important when choosing where to live next.
Searches for homes on Rightmove with air conditioning more than doubled this summer, up 104% compared with the same period last year.
As summers become hotter, comfort and climate resilience are becoming more important considerations alongside energy efficiency.
Households are increasingly looking for homes that are cheaper to run, remain comfortable during periods of extreme heat and are better equipped for changing weather conditions.
While climate resilience is becoming a bigger consideration, energy costs remain a key driver of interest in greener homes.
Bills may have fallen from the peak of the 2022 energy crisis, but the difference in running costs between efficient and inefficient homes remains substantial.
Rightmove’s Energy Bills Tracker estimates that an EPC A-rated home has annual energy bills of £706, compared with £2,337 across all homes.
An EPC G-rated property faces estimated annual bills of £6,379, more than nine times the figure for an EPC A-rated home.
Technologies that can help households generate and manage more of their own energy are also becoming more visible in the housing market.
Since 2022, mentions of heat pumps in newly listed homes have risen by 151%, while mentions of solar panels are up 94%.
Rightmove’s data shows that many of the features associated with both energy independence and climate resilience however remain concentrated in higher-priced homes.
Properties advertised for sale with air conditioning have an average asking price of £947,509, compared with the national average asking price of £367,440. Homes mentioning heat pumps have an average asking price of £545,220, while those mentioning solar panels average £412,901.
This article is taken from Landlord Today