Property market conditions endanger UK’s green agenda: Velux

The slowdown in the UK property market poses a serious threat to meeting the aims of the UK’s green agenda and is hindering the further development of eco technologies, according to the latest findings from the sustainability division of skylight, roof window and solar energy water heating system manufacturer Velux.

Velux said that house builders now forced to cut costs are increasingly eliminated what are seen as ‘extras’, with the result that eco technologies are one of the first things to be scrapped This goes against the government’s target for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016 but also hinders the development of green technologies and potential price reductions that could be obtained with mass production of these technologies.

‘Understandably, in the current climate, certain developers will be looking to cut costs, but ignoring the benefits of incorporating eco technologies could have disastrous, long-term consequences, said Kevin Brennan, the head of sustainability at Velux. ‘The more forward thinking developers are fast realising that consumers are prepared to pay a premium for homes incorporating features such as solar. The successful developer will be the one that gives the customer what they want, and not what they think they should have.’ Increasingly, Brennan noted that people will be seeking energy efficient homes, to avoid crippling energy costs in the future.

And recent research from the UK’s Energy Saving Trust has showed that energy efficient homes could be a vital driver to keeping the property market moving. The study showed that half of all UK homeowners believe homes with greener features are easier to sell at the moment, while 53% of all householders said they would be willing to pay extra for them. The research also showed, however, that estate agents could be under-selling the value of green homes through a lack of information.

Velux itself is hoping to capitalise on increasing demand for eco friendly technologies. It has recently launched its solar hot water system, which uses solar energy to create an integrated water-heating system.