9 in 10 Homebuyers Want 'Green' Features (& Will Pay More for Them)

Whether you are someone who is working toward recycling more frequently or are using public transit instead of driving your car, people seem to have become more environmentally conscious in recent years. Since the climate crisis affects us all, it is imperative that people educate themselves on how they can help.

But are people really trying to be more eco-conscious? In a new study, QS Supplies asked more than 1,000 British and American people what they are doing at home to help the planet. We were surprised by some of their findings.

Living Green

How many people say they care about the environment?

According to the survey, three in four people claim to be environmentally conscious (75%). Only 1.2% stated they were not at all concerned about being green. Approximately 66.4% of people reported that having an open green space close to where they live is important to them.

Eco-friendly homes even seem to have a better reputation than houses without those features. More than half (54.8%) of respondents revealed that they feel integrating eco-friendly features to their home could add monetary value. Moreover, one in three survey respondents said eco-friendly homes are of higher or better quality, and they would pay more for a home with such features.

Baby boomers were more interested in prioritizing outdoor space near their homes than younger generations, but millennials felt that eco-friendly homes were better overall. Nearly 90% of respondents said they would like to purchase an eco-friendly home.

Green Remodeling

Are people attempting to make their home greener? The study found almost half (45%) of respondents had made energy-efficient home upgrades.

Some renovations respondents chose were purchasing used furniture (41.3%), installing energy-efficient appliances (35.3%), and installing a low-flow toilet (18.8%). Approximately 9% of respondents installed solar panels, and nearly one in five people added insulation for extreme heat or cold.

How much did making these changes save them in the long run? About 12% of respondents saved at least $100 a month after completing eco-friendly renovations, saving them more than $1,200 annually.

Sustainable Smart Tech

While solar panels and energy-efficient appliances are great ways to be environmentally conscious, smart home technology is another way to keep your home green and keep your utilities cost down. But are people willing to try these sustainable smart tech gadgets?

According to the survey, 48% of respondents do not own smart home technology, but they want it. Only 16.2% of people said they purchased this technology for eco-friendly purposes. Still, nearly one in five people said they didn’t have these upgrades, and they don’t want them.

To better improve their carbon footprint, nearly one in four respondents identified as eco-conscious had purchased smart home technology.

The most popular items people had installed in their home to help the environment were a smart thermostat (66.1%), smart lights (60%), and smart plugs (41.2%). Nearly 14% of people installed leak detectors in their homes, as well, which can save homeowners from the expense of a leaky faucet or even worse—mold.

Eco-Friendly Hacks

Nearly one in three respondents said they tried eco-friendly home hacks. Turning off lights when not in use (82.1%), recycling (77.5%), and shutting off the AC or heating when not in use (65.2%) were the top behaviors respondents practiced when trying to be more conscious.

But practicing eco-friendly behaviors isn’t just about saving the environment, it saves people money, too. Monitoring energy consumption, line-drying clothes, and replacing light bulbs with LED lights were among the habits that saved people the most money.

Making a few daily routine changes around the house could help save the planet, and if more people take part, it could make a significant difference. We only have one Earth, and we should strive to take care of it.

Which eco-friendly behaviors or devices have you adopted?

Comment below!

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.