A renewables industry company has slammed Rightmove. Zoopla and other property portals for failing to allow users to filter searches by energy efficiency.
Choosr claims that none of the top agent and property aggregator websites, such as Rightmove and Zoopla, include options to filter by energy efficiency, pre-existing sources of renewable energy, or eligibility for renewables when searching for a new home.
While a handful of agency sites, such as Savills and Knight Frank, include filtering for electric vehicle charging points, only OnTheMarket includes an option for ‘greener choice’ – though it is not clear how this is defined.
More widely, Savills includes a filter for ‘staff accommodation’, Knight Franks includes one for ‘cinema room’, and Zoopla chooses to include one for ‘kitchen island’ over green energy filters. Choosr claims this does not necessarily aligning with the priorities of climate conscious prospective home buyers.
The company claims that some 260,000 renewable energy installations, including solar panels and heat pumps, were fitted in UK homes and businesses in 2024. This was a 7% increase in installs over 2023.
Solar panels were the most popular eco technology in 2024, with more than 180,000 installations. Heat pumps were the fastest-growing, with a 43% increase in installations year-on-year.
A Choosr spokesperson says: “More than ever, prospective home buyers are looking to adopt renewable energy sources when they make their next move and estate agents and property aggregators should be reflecting this enthusiasm.
“We’re echoing our call from last year and recommending they add filtering for existing, and potential for, green energy sources, like solar panels and heat pumps, as well as energy efficiency, to their websites to help homebuyers navigate the decision-making process.
“Stats show that being eco-conscious is no longer a novelty and UK homeowners are increasingly seeking effective and sustainable solutions to improve their homes, increasing property value, whilst saving money on energy bills.”
