- 51% of NHES respondents purchased low-carbon technologies to save on bills
- Personal financial worries outweighed environmental concerns
- Read and download the full NHES report here
Cutting energy bills is the number one reason why people are likely to buy low-carbon technology (LCT), far ahead of environmental concerns, according to the National Home Energy Survey 2024 (NHES).
The NHES, which surveyed over 2,000 people, found that over half of respondents (51%) purchased LCT to reduce their energy bills, followed by 18% purchasing due to government incentives, 15% due to environmental concerns and only 7% because of convenience.
However, it also found that the primary barrier to LCT adoption is the high upfront cost, with nearly half of the population citing cost as a deterrent. It hasn’t affected the rate of green tech purchases however, with solar panel purchases having risen by 13% year-on-year, and heat pump purchases rising by 5%.
Shirley Paterson, a homeowner from Fife, Scotland, said that adopting low carbon technology has “enabled an energy cost reduction of almost £5,000 per year, despite us using much more electricity than we used to.”
“By generating some of our own electricity, and by transitioning to electric cars, our energy bills have reduced substantially.”
“Despite having actually extended our living space, our energy bills were no higher than they’d been prior to us making sustainable home improvements.”
“Harnessing green tech both in the home and with our vehicles has massively reduced our energy bills and CO2 emissions.”
Currently, solar panels are the most commonly adopted low-carbon technology, with 14% of respondents having made a purchase. Electric bikes or scooters follow at 13% and are one of the cheapest forms of LCT.
Yet, a 56% drop in public uptake of low-carbon technology compared to awareness levels suggests that the cost-of-living crisis and price of LCT, coupled with a lack of knowledge of government incentives, is preventing people from purchasing LCTs, despite wanting to reduce energy bills.
Bean Beanland, director for growth and external affairs at the Heat Pump Federation, told the Positive Energy podcast earlier in 2024 that homeowners need to know what their options are when it comes to decarbonisation.
Beanland explained that it needs to be better explained how LCTs will be “made affordable and what benefits will result, both in reduced energy costs and improved quality of life.”
Check out the NHES for insight into attitudes towards low-carbon technology, green energy, government policy, and our key findings.
