We commissioned the 'Greener Homes Attitude Tracker', based on 9,000 UK individuals, to understand how homebuyers, renters and owners feel about greener homes and the importance of environmental features.
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Energy efficient housing tracker - September 2026 update
Consumer attitudes towards greener homes
Our key findings for greener homes
19% of UK homeowners planning improvements
Just 19% of UK homeowners plan to make green home improvements in the next twelve months—the lowest proportion since 2021.
70% cite cost as a barrier
Among homeowners with no immediate plans to upgrade, affordability remains the main obstacle—underlining the need to make greener improvements accessible to everyone.
Ambition remains—but priorities are shifting
Solar panels, triple glazing and EV charging points remain desirable. In the short term, however, homeowners are favouring more achievable measures such as rainwater harvesting systems and smart meters.
Energy performance certificate (EPC) ranking
The latest data also showed a drop in the importance placed on a property's energy performance relative to other factors among prospective homebuyers. 37% of those looking to buy a home in the next 10 years said that the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating was a 'very important' factor in Q2 2026, which was down from 42% at the end of 2025 and compared to 75% for the cost of a property.
Energy efficient home improvements
The latest data showed a drop in the proportion of homeowners with plans for improvements to the environmental sustainability of their property in the next decade. In particular, short-term plans were scaled back as homeowners continued to note the cost of having work done as a barrier.
Still, over 40% of homeowners that didn't currently have solar panels have indicated plans to install them in the next 10 years. A similar proportion signalled their intention to install an electric car charging point.
Our greener homes retrofit project
We teamed up with British Gas and Worcester Bosch to cover the cost of home retrofits for nine of our customers, with co-ordination help from Quidos. We followed our customers through every stage of their retrofit journey - from start to finish - and we're now sharing it all with you.
Green lifestyle choices
The vast majority of the consumers surveyed reported taking actions to reduce their environmental impact, the latest figures on green lifestyle choices showed. Nearly three-quarters made efforts to minimise their food waste, while there has been a rise in the number of those looking to minimise home energy use in recent months.
Driving an electric or hybrid vehicle remained an emerging lifestyle choice, but it was one area where the data highlighted the importance of affordability when it comes to 'going green', with the highest earners more than five times as likely to drive an EV or hybrid vehicle as those in the lowest income bracket.
We’re here to help with practical ideas to save energy at home, as well as information on grants, funding and our Green Mortgage range (eligibility and exclusions apply).
Homebuyer preferences
In line with increasing financial pressures and a jump in mortgage rates in the first half of the year, prospective homebuyers placed even greater importance of the cost of a property, driven by those with near-term plans to move.
The vast majority of prospective homebuyers consider a property's energy efficiency to be important, with features such as double glazing and loft insulation highest on the priority list. However, the desirability for green home features has eased somewhat in 2026, according to the latest survey findings.
The NatWest Home Energy Hub
We’ve launched a one-stop shop to help homeowners create a more energy-efficient home - the NatWest Home Energy Hub:
- Get a free Home Energy Plan tool to help get started.
- Find out about Energy Performance Certificate ratings (EPCs), get tips on managing energy use and how they could reduce costs.
- Discover ways that could improve home energy efficiency online or with a visit from an energy expert at a discounted rate.
- Find out how much any changes could cost and the benefits of energy-efficiency home improvements.
- Connect with experts and trustworthy tradespeople who can do the work.
- Explore various funding options including grants and find out how NatWest could help.
Download the Greener Homes Attitude Tracker - September 2026
You can download a pdf version of the full report, save and share by using the link below.
Survey methodology
The NatWest Greener Homes Attitude Tracker survey was first conducted in May 2021 and is compiled by S&P Global. The survey is intended to accurately anticipate changing consumer behaviour. The questionnaire is designed to be quick and easy to complete, incorporating a small number of key questions, which encourages regular participation among even high-level respondents.
Ipsos MORI technical details (H1 2026 survey)
Ipsos interviewed 9,000 adults aged 18-64 across the United Kingdom from its online panel of respondents and partner panels. Interviews were conducted online on a monthly basis between January 2026 – June 2026 to an approximate monthly sample of 1,500 adults. Respondents were excluded from taking part again in the survey for a 3 month period. A representative sample of adults was interviewed with quota controls set on gender, age and region and the resultant survey data was weighted to the known UK profile of this audience by gender, age, region and household income. Ipsos was responsible for the fieldwork and data collection only and not responsible for the analysis, reporting or interpretation of the survey results.
For further information on the survey methodology, please contact economics@ spglobal.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) S&P Global provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world.
We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.
The NatWest Greener Homes Attitude Tracker survey was first conducted in May 2021 and is compiled by S&P Global. The survey is based on monthly responses from 1,500 individuals in the UK, with data collected by Ipsos MORI from its panel of respondents aged 18-64. The survey sample reflects the true composition of the population to ensure the accuracy of the survey results.
