The current energy crisis has shifted the focus from the post pandemic trend towards buyers wanting a bigger garden or a home office to energy efficiency, according to a new report from Santander. The research showed that buyers are paying an average of 15.5% more for a home that meets high energy efficiency standards, despite more than half (58%) of respondents not knowing what an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) actually stood for. All homes for sale require an EPC and according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF) around 84% of new builds have the highest A-B rating for energy efficiency, while just 3% of existing properties reached the same standard. It also found that on average, owners of new homes save £435 on household bills per property each year while new homes generate only around one-third of the carbon produced by the average older property each year.
