Demand for Energy-Saving Eco Home Improvements Up By 400% As Energy Prices Soar 

To mark this year’s Earth Day on 22^nd April, Rated People reveals how more UK homeowners than ever are opting for eco home improvements to offset the increasing cost of living, and which are the most popular eco adaptations for 2022

• New research shows demand for roof insulation has increased by 419%, followed by at-home electric car chargers (+404%), cavity wall insulation (+352%) and heat pumps (+312%)
• Rated People analysed its own data of over 800,000 home improvement jobs posted by UK homeowners to conduct the study
• 52% of homeowners said saving money on their bills was their biggest motivator for making eco adaptations to their homes this year
• Solar panels, a wind turbine and triple glazing are now the most valued eco additions for homebuyers, collectively adding almost £40,000 to the value of a property
• Almost half (45%) of UK homeowners are planning to make their homes more environmentally friendly in 2022, up from 35% in 2021

As the cost of living soars, new research from the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People reveals record numbers of homeowners are set to install energy-saving eco home improvements in 2022 in a bid to save money on their bills.

When looking at the volume of home improvement jobs posted on Rated People by UK homeowners, demand for eco home improvements has accelerated at an incredible pace. Requests for roof insulation increased by 419% in 2021 when compared to the year before. Demand for at-home electric car charging points also increased by a staggering 404%, and considering last year saw the biggest annual increase in the number of electric car registrations in the UK*, it’s easy to see why. Cavity wall insulation also went up by 352% and heat pumps saw demand rise by an incredible 312%.

Uniquely placed with its own marketplace data, the findings are taken from the 2022 Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report, where Rated People analysed more than 800,000 home improvement jobs on its platform to conduct the study.

Alongside the increases in demand for energy-saving home improvements, the research reveals more than half of UK homeowners (52%) want to make their homes more environmentally friendly this year to save money on bills, and one in three (36%) say they want to make eco upgrades to their home to make long-term financial savings.

The top 15 eco jobs with the biggest increases in demand from homeowners:

1. Roof insulation 419% (increase in the number of jobs posted by homeowners to Rated People)
2. Electric car charging point installation – 404%
3. Cavity wall insulation – 352%
4. Heat pump – 312%
5. Underfloor insulation – 265%
6. Water underfloor heating – 59%
7. Smart meter – 49%
8. Living roof – 48%
9. Thermal insulation – 46%
10. Electric underfloor heating – 35%
11. Triple glazing – 33%
12. External wall insulation – 29%
13. Solar panel installation – 17%
14. uPVC windows & door – 17%
15. Double glazing – 10%

The Most Popular Eco Upgrades for 2022

Smart meters are the number one eco home improvement that the most homeowners would like in 2022, with one in five UK homeowners confirming they want to get one installed this year. Given the clarity and control that smart meters give homeowners when it comes to their energy usage, with energy prices increasing by around £700 a year on average**, it’s easy to see why so many homeowners are keen to have one installed this year. Smart meters can be installed by professional electricians at wave-electricalsolutions.co.uk, so one can start saving on energy bills in no time.

When looking at the top 10 most popular eco adaptions for this year, the research shows UK homeowners are keen to invest in eco home technology – one in five (19%) will be installing smart lighting, 18% are upgrading old appliances for newer more energy-efficient models, and one in six (18%) want to have solar panels installed.

The top 10 eco improvements homeowners are planning to make in 2022:

1. Installing a smart meter – 20% (of UK homeowners are planning to make this eco upgrade this year)
2. Draught proofing – 20%
3. Installing smart lighting – 19%
4. Extra insulation – 19%
5. Upgrading old appliances – 18%
6. Installing solar panels – 18%
7. Installing a low flow toilet – 14%
8. Installing double glazing – 13%
9. Creating a compost pile – 13%
10. Installing a smart thermostat – 13%

Eco Home Improvements That Will Maximise Your Home’s Value

The study also discovered how much value different eco home improvements can add to your home by asking potential buyers how much extra they would pay for a property with a range of different environmentally-friendly improvements.

Solar panels and wind turbines are revealed as the top two eco upgrades that are most valued by buyers – both of which would enable new owners to create their own energy, and in turn, could help to reduce the cost of their bills. Other highly prized eco adaptations include underfloor heating, heat pumps, green roofs and electric car charging points.

The top 15 eco home improvements that can add the most value to your home:

1. Solar panels – £13,512 (value increase)
2. Wind turbine – £12,941
3. Triple glazing – £12,788
4. Underfloor heating – £12,290
5. Ground source heat pump – £12,251
6. Double glazing – £12,005
7. Extra insulation, like cavity wall insulation – £11,764
8. Biomass boiler – £11,756
9. Air source heat pump – £11,670
10. Solar water heating – £11,646
11. Electric car charging point – £11,538
12. Green/living roof – £11,477
13. Biodiverse garden – £11,444
14. Old appliances replaced with new ones – £11,190
15. Draught proofing – £11,151

Where Demand is Increasing the Most in the UK

Almost half (45%) of UK homeowners are planning to make eco upgrades to their homes this year, which is up from 35% in 2021. But it’s Aberdeen that saw the biggest rise in demand for eco home improvement jobs, with 178% more eco jobs posted on Rated People, when compared to the year before.

Bournemouth, Llandudno, Kirkaldy and Ipswich make up the rest of the top five – all of which have seen demand for eco home improvements increase by a minimum of 140% in just one year.

The UK towns and cities where demand for eco home improvements has increased the most:

1. Aberdeen – 178% (increase in the number of jobs posted in 2021 compared to the year before)
2. Bournemouth – 174%
3. Llandudno – 170%
4. Kirkcaldy – 167%
5. Ipswich – 146%
6. Newport – 131%
7. Guildford – 127%
8. Exeter – 125%
9. Gloucester – 115%
10. Newcastle Upon Tyne – 113%

Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People commented: 

“Awareness around the importance of living more sustainably has never been higher, and it’s brilliant to see homeowners looking for ways to reduce their impact on the planet by making their homes more environmentally friendly.

From smart meters to extra insulation, there are lots of things you can do to increase your home’s green credentials that will suit all budgets, including things you can do for free such as making your own compost which disposes of waste and improves the soil in your garden.”

To see the full research and get tips from the internationally renowned interior designer, Michelle Ogundehin on how to create a sustainable home, visit: https://www.ratedpeople.com/blog/home-improvement-trends-report