The results of the survey, conducted by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), were published as the UK government’s Big Energy Saving Week comes to a close. A mere 9 percent of people are considering installing solar panels, the survey has found, with only six percent likely to install cavity wall insulation and 9 percent intending to fit double glazing.
Only five percent of the British population are considering installing heat pumps, which use heat from the ground or the air rather than burning fuel. Even LED light bulbs, a simple and cost-effective energy efficiency measure, are only being considered by 25 percent of home owners.
Many of these measures are relatively expensive.
The survey indicates that the government needs to do more to ensure government support, currently available through the Green Deal, successfully incentivises home owners to make energy-saving improvements to their homes.
“People are not planning to spend money on energy efficiency because the returns are too intangible and the long term Green Deal loan remains with the house” said IET spokesperson Marjan Sarshar. “The Government needs to make energy efficiency measures more accessible. They could be incentivised in a similar manner to the Government’s policy on cars whereby more energy efficient cars pay less tax. A substantive reduction in Council Tax, which would remain with the property to add to its value, would encourage the uptake of Green Deal. In this way the householders would see the tangible benefit and would be more likely to respond by making their own investments.”
The survey was carried out by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the IET among 2,011 adults aged 16-75.
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