A survey carried out by the Energy Saving Trust looked at “trigger points” – occasions when residents would consider installing insulation and other measures which will save them money on their bills.

The research found 22% of UK householders are planning or thinking about a major refurbishment project in the next three years.

Seven out of 10 householders upgrading a room are interested in implementing energy-saving measures as part of the work. And of this number, 90% admitted they would be tempted to increase their budget by up to 10% to incorporate some form of energy-saving measures as part of the works (between £527 and £1,027).

David Weatherall, strategy manager – housing for the Energy Saving Trust, said: “Few people have the time, money or even confidence to take on a full eco-refurbishment, but our research clearly shows there’s a massive opportunity to tap the potential of step-by-step energy efficiency changes alongside other refurbishment projects. It’s essentially a case of ‘when we’ve got someone in, we might as well do a bit of green stuff.

He added: “The key issue now is to make sure people get the right advice at the right time, pitched at the right level. For example, how can a customer be persuaded to use the upgrade of a kitchen to address energy efficiency needs of the house at the same time? What should the builder be advising their client? And what does the householder need to hear to be persuaded to use this opportunity and trust the builder?”

The report found there is less uptake of the larger eco-refurbishment measures such as solid wall or floor insulation, even though this would considerably lower energy bills. Reluctance to endure the disruption as well as lack of knowledge is blamed as one of the reasons why easier methods are not taken up.

The report found homeowners were instead motivated by the desire to improve the aesthetics of their home and for functional reasons, such as requiring more space.

For the full report, click here.