The majority of homeowners experience barriers to carrying out energy efficiency savings, according to the latest annual HomeOwner Survey from the HomeOwners Alliance. It found that 57 percent of homeowners felt that there are barriers to carrying out energy efficiency improvements.

The cost of making improvements was cited by 36 percent of people responding to the survey as the main reason for not carrying out work, whilst 19 percent said that the lack of grants and incentives was off-putting.

A similar proportion of homeowners, 18 percent, said they were not convinced that the energy savings would offset the up-front costs of making improvements.

Energy improvements that were adopted were simpler and inexpensive options, like loft insulation that had been carried out by 51 percent of respondents.

“Properties in rural areas are most at risk because they tend to be older and colder and are hit harder by rises in energy prices.

“Successive Governments have reiterated the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but that faces a threat because of the large number of old and energy inefficient properties in the UK.

“If a home is considered to be not appropriately energy efficient, its value could drop significantly.

“They also risk limited market value growth or restricted access to specific financial products, but avoiding that can involve a very modest initial outlay.”