- Survey shows cost-of-living is a major barrier to households becoming more eco-friendly.
- If provided with grant funding to install energy features, 70 per cent would use the money to pay bills instead.
Households are unable to adopt a more sustainable way of life because of the cost-of-living, according to new research from the UK’s largest gas distribution network, Cadent, as part of its ‘Energy Diaries: Fair Sustainability’ report.
74 per cent of people in the UK say being environmentally friendly is more expensive, with 58 per cent not adopting sustainable behaviours because the cost-of-living gets in the way. Almost one third (32 per cent) said they had specifically put sustainability on hold during the economic crisis.
The report from Cadent also reveals that if all households were provided with a grant to install energy efficient features in the home, over two thirds (70 per cent) would use the money to pay energy bills instead. Over half (55 per cent) said they would not use it to implement energy-saving technology such as a heat pump.
While the research highlights that 53 per cent of people think it’s important to be ‘greener’, managing bills is the priority. Any sustainable behaviours adopted – such as turning the heating down, using less water and buying second hand clothing – have been actioned to save money.
When cost becomes a barrier for more major changes, such as buying an electric vehicle or switching to an energy-efficient boiler, the desire to be energy efficient drops significantly – 62 per cent say they won’t switch to an EV and 66 per cent won’t install solar panels.
Mark Belmega, Director of Social Purpose and Sustainability at Cadent, said: “While some households are taking steps to reduce energy usage, they are doing so to save money. So when cost becomes a barrier for more major changes, the desire to be sustainable wanes.
“It’s crucial industry, government and the wider business community collaborate to support all customers with their energy transition journey. Our research shows that providing grant funding for energy improvement measures is not going to solve the problem – the cost-of-living crisis is overshadowing any environmentally-friendly aspirations.
“But it’s crunch time for net zero and UK households need help to become greener while also juggling financial pressure. Our Energy Diaries project is a strong step towards helping our customers live more affordable, energy-efficient lives. Exploring their experiences first-hand enables us to co-create solutions to achieve a more affordable, sustainable future.”
As the UK’s largest gas distribution network and a provider of a critical service to over 11 million customers, Cadent has a responsibility to help keep people safe, warm and independent in their homes. The Energy Diaries series follows the real-life experiences of consumers and their energy use, with the latest study focusing on sustainability against the cost of living backdrop.
