Environmental awareness campaigns constantly alert us about the importance of having an energy-efficient home. Also, the European Commission promoted the energy renovation of less efficient buildings (G) to try and achieve that, by 2030, no home will have lower than an F in their energy certificate.

But… are these actions working among citizens?

According to a study by Fotocasa Research on the importance of energy-efficient housing, the Spanish consider that environmental campaigns are not enough to encourage the demand for this type of housing. However, it outlines that measures with fiscal benefits and economic incentives would help people opt for this more sustainable option.

Fiscal and economic policies benefiting those who have energy-efficient housing could serve as an incentive for citizens to take action. This reasoning is justified by data such as the following: 75.9% of those surveyed claim that the IRPF deduction in the income tax return would be a practical measure to encourage the purchase of a sustainable home. Also, 75.8% are in favor of reducing VAT and ITP, and 74.4% believe that there should be subsidies for the purchase or rental of these homes.

One of the main motivations of the citizens for having a more sustainable dwelling on an energy level is the saving in consumption, especially in terms of electricity and gas. In fact, the feature that most stands out in the survey on energy efficient homes is the ability to maintain temperature, followed by an increase in comfort. Geographically, the communities of Madrid and the Basque Country are those that have more people that are aware of the savings involved in this type of housing.

The Spanish population also believe in renovations in their current homes in order to make them more energy efficient. The majority coincide in that insulation is a fundamental aspect with 59.6% leaning towards fixing insulation of windows and 50.2% the walls.

Although the concept of sustainability is practically integrated into our minds, with the effects it entails, it continues to be a challenge for our country. This also applies to the real estate sector, which is faced with the urgent need for an imminent change in modus operandi.