Energy Efficient Revolution: Poll reveals huge homeowner demand for Green Homes Grant
Posted by: electime 16th November 2020
As many as 8 out of 10 (84 per cent) homeowners are planning ‘green’ work to make their main property more energy efficient
- Two-thirds (67 per cent) of homeowners are aware of the Government’s Green Homes Grant, with more than a quarter (28 per cent) planning to use it.
- One in six (16 per cent) had not been able to find a suitable tradesperson to complete their ‘green’ home project, indicating that the demand cannot yet be met.
- Over half of those surveyed (53 per cent) said they would make home improvements to reduce their energy bills.
- More information can be found at: https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/Green-Homes-Grant.
The government’s Green Homes Grant has sparked a race for energy efficiency home improvements, creating a huge opportunity for accredited installers and tradespeople who can meet the demand, new research by plumbing and heating trade supplier City Plumbing reveals.
According to the survey of 1,000 homeowners living in England, 8 out of 10 (84 per cent) are planning to make their main residential property more energy efficient in the next 12 months, and two-thirds (67 per cent) are aware of the financial assistance that the Green Homes Grant could offer them.
The scheme, which currently ends in March 2021, allows qualifying homeowners and landlords in England to apply for a voucher valued at up to £10,000. This can be used to help cover some of the cost of installing a variety of ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ energy efficient upgrades such as insulation, triple glazing, and heat controls. However, installers must be registered to TrustMark and, when installing low carbon heating measures, must also be Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited to take part.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) of those considering eco improvements intend to use the scheme to help cover the cost, while almost one in ten (7 per cent) are already underway with energy efficient changes that have been partially funded by the Green Homes Grant.
Interestingly, the likelihood of using the Grant appears to increase with the property value. Just one in five (22 per cent) homeowners with a property valued at £101-£200k plan to use it, versus three in five (61 per cent) of those with a home valued at £600k or more.
According to the research, the most popular energy efficient home improvements that are covered by the Grant are:
- Loft insulation (21 per cent)
- Cavity wall insulation (20 per cent)
- Solid wall insulation – internal or external (17 per cent)
- Under floor insulation (16 per cent)
- Radiators (13 per cent)
- Underfloor heating (12 per cent)
- Draught proofing – windows & doors (12 per cent)
- Double or triple glazing (11 per cent)
- Pitched roof insulation (11 per cent)
- Flat roof insulation (10 per cent)
Homeowners who are underway with a large-scale property build project are most interested in solar thermal (20 per cent), air source heat pumps (20 per cent), ground source heat pumps (13 per cent) and biomass boilers (10 per cent). On the other hand, homeowners who are extending their existing property are most interested in underfloor heating (23 per cent), double or triple glazing (15 per cent), a hot water tank thermostat (12 per cent) and a hybrid heat pump (11 per cent).
Over half of the homeowners surveyed (53 per cent) said that they would make these green home enhancements in order to reduce their energy bills, whilst more than four in ten (44 per cent) said they would do it as ‘it is important for the environment’.
Nearly a third (31 per cent) believe that the improvements could make their home more comfortable for them and their family, whilst a quarter (27 per cent) believe it would make their property more attractive to prospective buyers.
While the research shows the demand for accredited installers, in some instances, homeowners reported that qualified tradespeople have been hard to find.
Of those who are already underway with an eco-home project, almost one in five (16 per cent) had not been able to find a suitable tradesperson to do the work on their property, whilst a further 18% had found a suitable tradesperson within 50 miles of their home, but they weren’t available to do the work in the desired timeframe.
All in all, less than a third (28 per cent) had been able to find a suitable tradesperson within 50 miles of their home who was available to do the work when they wanted.
Steve Alldritt, Technical Director of City Plumbing’s Energy Efficiency Team added: “For homeowners, making energy efficient changes saves money in the long run, reduces environmental impact and can even make a property more appealing to future buyers. It really is a ‘win-win’ situation – particularly while the government’s Green Homes Grant can help to cover the initial installation costs.
“The research shows that demand for ‘green’ upgrades is high, whether it be low carbon heating, biomass boilers or heating controls. The opportunity is there for tradespeople to cash in on, but time is of the essence.
“We have created a guide for installers that helps explain what support and advice we can offer at City Plumbing, to help increase their sales through the scheme.”
Tradespeople can find more information and advice about the Green Homes Grant, please visit: https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-green-homes-grant.
