Britons’ ideas of a classic home are changing as a result of people being more conscious about their home’s impact on the environment (38%), according to Dalkin UK.

Some 81% believe that environmentally friendly features such as a heat pump, an EV charging point and solar panels are now a modern home must have, rather than a nice to have, with 90% agreeing that they are something that house buyers look out for when buying a new home.

A further 94% believe that everyone has the responsibility to protect the environment for future generations, with 18-to-29-year-olds (96%t) the most passionate about protecting the planet. 

As a result, eight in 10 wish their current home was more environmentally friendly, and are worried about the impact it is having on the environment (71%), but have no idea where to start to rectify it.

Nine in 10 believe the Government should be doing more to stop the use of fossil fuels in UK homes, with Gen Z’s the most likely to be looking at the Government for action.

Interior designer and TV personality Laurence Llewellyn Bowen has partnered with Daikin UK to highlight the importance of sustainable climate solutions for the home. 

He says: “This research shows how what we want from our homes is changing and that people are not only thinking decoratively but also environmentally when it comes to what they want their home to be like, and what it says to others. 

“Many of the ‘modern home must haves’, like heat pumps, are thoughtfully designed and can be incorporated seamlessly into homes without compromising on style.”

Iain Bevan of Daikin UK adds: “Buildings currently account for around 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Two thirds of this comes from residential buildings, so reducing the amount of emissions related to heating our homes will have a huge impact. 

“The vast majority of homes in the UK are suitable for an air source heat pump – and they can save you money on your heating bills, plus there are funding schemes that can make the cost of installing a heat pump roughly the same as a gas boiler.”

Installing environmentally friendly heating and energy solutions in your property makes it more attractive to buyers and can increase its value too. According to Rightmove, a property moving from an EPC rating of F to a C could increase its value by an average of 15%, or almost £56,267 when looking at the national average asking price.

Rightmove’s property expert Tim Bannister says: “Our data shows that there’s a green price premium on top of the local house price growth, when people sell their homes with green improvements. In the coming years, a home’s energy efficiency rating will likely play an increasingly significant role in buying or renting decisions, given the substantial cost savings on energy bills and the added resale value.”