Nearly two-thirds of movers (63%) say they would like their home to generate most or all of its own energy, according to Rightmove’s 2026 Greener Homes Report.
More than half (53%) say recent energy-price rises have increased their interest in technologies such as solar panels and home battery storage, while just 8% would prefer to remain fully reliant on the grid.
Almost half (45%) say their current home does not cope well in hot weather, while 87% say a home’s ability to stay cool during summer is important when choosing where to live next, with homes for sale with air conditioning searches rose104% compared to last year.
Rightmove says despite bills fallen since the 2022 energy crisis, Rightmove’s Energy Bills Tracker estimates that an EPC A-rated home has annual energy bills of £706, compared with £2,337 across all homes. An EPC G-rated property faces estimated annual bills of £6,379, more than nine times the figure for an EPC A-rated home.
Rightmove’s analysis finds that 89% of new-build homes are rated EPC A or B, compared with just 6% of resale homes. Almost a quarter, 23%, achieve the highest EPC A rating, compared with only 1% of resale properties.
The research revealed 74% of home-movers surveyed believe more should be done to help households improve the energy efficiency of their home. Yet only 5% of homeowners currently rank green home improvements as a priority.
Colleen Babcock of Rightmove, said: “We’re seeing growing interest in homes that give people more control over how their energy is generated, stored and used. Several years of energy price volatility have encouraged more households to think about reducing their reliance on the grid and becoming more energy independent.
“The challenge is that many of the improvements needed to make Britain’s homes more energy efficient and climate resilient remain out of reach for a large proportion of households. Stable, long-term support will be essential to help more people make these changes.”
Greg Jackson, founder and CEO, Octopus Energy further commented: “This Rightmove Greener Homes report shows a massive shift in consumer sentiment around electrification at home – the turbulence in the Middle East means people are voting with their feet, Octopus has seen demand for heat pumps double, and solar and EVs surge.
“Greener homes are not only cheaper to run, they also reduce our reliance on a system still controlled by global fossil fuel markets. They mean we take back control of our energy bills, and our independence.”
