Nearly two-thirds of movers want homes that generate their own energy
- Neary two-thirds of movers (63%) want their home to generate most or all of its own energy
- More than half, 53%, say recent energy-price rises have increased their interest in solar panels and home battery storage
- Just 8% would prefer to remain fully reliant on the grid
- Since 2022, mentions of heat pumps in newly listed homes have risen by 151%, while mentions of solar panels are up 94%
- Hotter summers are also changing priorities: 87% say a home’s ability to stay cool is important when choosing their next property
- Searches for homes for sale with air conditioning more than doubled this summer, rising by 104% compared with the same period last year
- 49% of homes for sale and 61% of rental homes are now rated EPC C or above, up from 40% and 52% five years ago
- An EPC A-rated home has estimated annual energy bills of £706 compared with £2,337 across all homes
Nearly two-thirds of movers (63%) would ideally like their home to generate most or all of its own energy, 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.
Hotter summers put climate resilience in focus
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 for sale 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.
Energy costs remain a major driver
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 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.
New-build homes power Britain’s greener future
Many of the features associated with greater energy independence and climate resilience are already standard in many of Britain’s newest homes, highlighting the gap between new-build and existing housing stock.
Rightmove’s analysis finds that 89% of new-build homes are rated EPC A or B, compared with just 6% of resale homes. Almost a quarter, 23%, achieve the highest EPC A rating, compared with only 1% of resale properties.
Wales has the highest proportion of EPC A-rated new-build homes at 54%, followed by the North East at 44% and the East Midlands at 31%.
These figures demonstrate what can be achieved when energy efficiency and modern technology are built into homes from the outset. However, with most of Britain’s housing stock already built, improving existing homes remains essential if more households are to benefit from lower running costs and greater energy independence.
The gap between ambition and action
74% of home-movers surveyed believe more should be done to help households improve the energy efficiency of their home. Yet only 5% of homeowners currently rank green home improvements as a priority.
This highlights the challenge facing many households. Interest in greener, more energy-independent homes is high, but affordability remains a significant barrier to action.
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “We’re seeing growing interest in homes that give people more control over how their energy is generated, stored and used. Several years of energy price volatility have encouraged more households to think about reducing their reliance on the grid and becoming more energy independent.
“People are also thinking more broadly about how their homes perform, from reducing running costs and improving comfort through to staying comfortable during hotter winters and being better prepared for a changing climate.
“The challenge is that many of the improvements needed to make Britan’s homes more energy efficient and climate resilient remain out of reach for a large proportion of households. Stable, long-term support will be essential to help more people make these changes.”
Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO, Octopus Energy: “This Rightmove Greener Homes report shows a massive shift in consumer sentiment around electrification at home – the turbulence in the Middle East means people are voting with their feet, Octopus has seen demand for heat pumps double, and solar and EVs surge.
“Greener homes are not only cheaper to run, they also reduce our reliance on a system still controlled by global fossil fuel markets. They mean we take back control of our energy bills, and our independence.”
Brody Isaac, Head of Sustainability at The Hill Group said: “As hotter summers and more frequent extreme weather become a reality for UK homeowners, climate resilience is becoming an increasingly important consideration in how homes are designed and built.
“Alongside energy efficiency, there is a growing focus on ensuring homes remain comfortable year-round and are better able to copy with periods of extreme heat. Measure such as solar sharing, high-performance glazing and effective ventilation can help reduce overheating risks while minimising emery demand.
“As the climate continues to change, the industry will need to keep exploring new technologies and design approaches that improve thermal comfort and help future-proof homes for the future.”
Rightmove’s annual Greener Homes Report, now in its fifth year, analyses over 17 million EPC certificates and almost 30 million property listings on Rightmove, along with insights from more than 1,000 UK consumers and landlords.
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