Buying Green Homes Reaps Benefit for All

Posted 2008-01-11

A rise in energy prices and environmental awareness could change the way people buy their houses. With the introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), the Home Builders Federation (HBF) predicts more home buyers will want to know their purchases are planet friendly. The new certificate allows home buyers to see the money saving benefits of having better energy efficiency.

 

John Slaughter, director of external affairs at the HBF, said, “I think we have to assume that [the EPC] will have some influence on perceptions of purchases. And obviously, if you go back to [the] point about hiking energy prices at the moment, then people will always take more notice of those things in that climate.”

 

A “Building a Greener Future” policy was begun by the government to encourage the construction of environmentally friendly homes by offering stamp duty exemptions for carbon-neutral homes.

 

Mr. Slaughter noted the EPC will “actually raise awareness of the benefits of good levels of energy efficiency and insulation would have – not just running costs but [for the] comfort of the house and so forth.“

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