Energy-efficient homes may mean a quick sale
Rises in fuel bills and increasing awareness of rising carbon dioxide levels has put energy efficiency high on the list of considerations for prospective homeowners.

According to Yorkshire Bank's latest Housebuyers Survey, for one in eight buyers (12 per cent) a home is not deemed worth living in if it is not energy efficient; for first time buyers this increases to one in five (19 per cent).

The Bank's head of retail said the introduction of home information packs from June 1, with its energy performance report, could act as a spur to future sales of green-friendly products.

"You're unlikely to see yourself recouping the costs of installing energy efficiency measures straight away through lower energy bills. But you could achieve a better price or a speedier sale when buyers realise they'll be the ones to save money in the long run thanks to your energy-efficient home," he told buyers.