Most of us spend a large proportion of our lives in buildings. Whether we are at home, work or inside during our spare time, buildings are an integral part of our daily lives. However, three quarters of Europe’s 220mn buildings are considered energy inefficient. Furthermore, it is estimated that buildings globally are responsible for one third of greenhouse gas emissions.

With many still relying on fossil fuels for heating and cooling, there is much to be done in the years ahead. However, the more energy efficient we can make our buildings, the greater chance we have of achieving our 2050 net zero targets.

How can we make our homes and buildings more energy efficient? 

There are many ways to do this, such as having energy efficient appliances, double glazing windows, effective roof and wall insulation, smart thermostats, as well as buying sustainably sourced furniture. 

However, generating renewable energy (from sources such as wind or solar for example), converting it into electricity and storing it in a battery until it’s needed (or feeding it back into the grid, so others can use it) is the most effective way to make a difference. 

Data from a six-month trial with a leading property developer of one of our residential battery and energy storage systems (ESS) showed it was able to provide just under half of all the building’s total energy needs. This was achieved by capturing the energy via solar panels, then storing and distributing it via a smart ESS. This figure rose to over 90% during the summer months with the battery taking on average just five hours to charge each day. 

What do we need to do to get people to embrace greener buildings?

First, there needs to be a clear financial incentive for owners and occupants. 

Research from London-based real estate company Savills shows that home buyers are now placing greater emphasis on greener homes. Nearly six in 10 are willing to pay more for a home primarily powered by renewable energy and 71% said a home’s EPC rating is now playing an important role in their buying considerations.

In Europe, more companies are using the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM), a tool that helps property owners understand an asset’s GHG emissions and carbon footprint. Early results suggest that European buyer pools are diminishing if a seller shows unflattering data about where a building might be on its net zero path.

Of course, it does cost money to upgrade buildings to make them more sustainable. But the data shows these costs can be recouped in the future in the form of cheaper energy bills, an increase in the value of the building, and its rental yield. 

Those that embrace more energy efficient buildings are finding it easier to get better mortgage rates too. Under a green mortgage, a bank or mortgage lender offers a house buyer a preferential term if they can demonstrate that the property for which they are borrowing meets certain environmental standards. Lenders such as Barclays are rewarding borrowers that buy greener homes with lower mortgage rates – and more lenders are now following suit.  

What else can we do to get people to support greener buildings?

I’ve always been a strong believer that real, lasting change comes with a shift in mindset. As such, I would argue that one of the most impactful changes we can make is to start seeing batteries (instead of gas boilers) as the hearts of our homes and buildings. 

It’s a simple change in thinking but an important one and one that could have a tangible, lasting impact. Batteries have long been viewed as the power source for our mobile phones and the world is now accepting batteries as the power source for our vehicles, as EVs become more commonplace. Our homes and buildings require heating, and sometimes cooling at times, of course, but maybe they could also be powered by batteries? 

The average gas boiler lasts between 10 and 15 years. This means that over the next few years it’s likely that millions of landlords around the world will be faced with the prospect of either buying a new one or considering a more energy efficient power source for the building. 

When that time comes, rather than committing to using fossil fuels for at least another decade, why not pause and seriously consider installing solar panels (or any renewable electricity source) and a battery?

The financial case is already there and growing climate concerns and shifting regulatory landscapes mean embracing greener buildings is not a question of if, but when. There’s no doubt that we’re all becoming more carbon conscious, we just need to make sure that this consciousness converts into action.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.