Helping home owners meet the green challenge

Two-thirds of home owners believe they are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, while 80% say they would be more likely to buy a new home that was eco-friendly, according to new research by Redrow Homes.

A survey of some of its home owners to assess their eco habits and awareness, brought replies from 20% of respondents that they were doing everything they possibly could, whilst 45% believe they make an effort in the more important areas.

In particular home owners appear to be taking positive action in areas such as using low-energy light fittings (72%); using segregated recycling bins (70%); having ‘A-rated’ energy-efficient appliances in their homes (69%); recycling glass and plastic-based products (81%); recycling newspapers and other paper-based products (85%); not leaving electrical appliances on stand-by (78%).

Redrow’s survey coincides with the company’s introduction of a range of eco-options that customers can now choose when personalising their new home through the ‘Indulge with Redrow’ package.

New homes are already inherently more energy efficient than older properties thanks to modern standards of insulation, efficient heating systems and double glazing. However, purchasers can now choose to introduce a range of additional energy saving measures to their brand new Redrow home, including low energy light fittings, motion sensors and light timing devices, zonal heating controls and solar water heating.

They can also select kitchen waste segregation bins to be built into their base units, flow restrictors on all taps and showers, plus compost bins and water butts for the garden.

Further examples of home owners’ individual endeavours to be more energy efficient include filling the kettle with only the amount of water needed (85%); turning down the central heating (77%) and hanging out the washing to dry rather than using a tumble dryer (76%).

Use of a private motor car was the one area where few people seemed willing to compromise, with 89% of respondents admitting they could not live without their car. Only 9% currently take part in a car share for work or on the school run and just 6% use public transport every day, although 71% said they had deliberately walked or cycled rather than driven on a short journey in the last six months.

Only 12% have knowingly signed up to a green energy supplier, ie. one who supplies electricity from renewable sources such as wind or hydro-electric power.

Simon Bennett, Redrow’s group marketing director comments: “The purpose of the survey was to investigate our own home owners’ attitudes to becoming more eco-friendly to help us assess the viability of our eco-options.

“We were very encouraged that 80% of people said they would be more likely to buy a home that was eco-friendly, especially as the Government has challenged all house builders to create homes with a zero carbon footprint by 2016.

“All of the respondents said they would be willing to pay something towards making their home more efficient, with the majority citing between £100 and £1,000.

“With the exception of solar water heating all of our eco-options fall well within these parameters and allow people to make a positive choice at the outset rather than introduce changes at a later date when they might prove more costly or time consuming.”

For developments across England, Scotland and Wales visit Redrow.co.uk.

For information on the ‘Indulge with Redrow’ choice and options log on to: Redrow.co.uk/cms/buying/choices_options.