Green homes, Italians want them but they cost too much: “Subsidies and public control over works”

ROME – Four out of five citizens recognize the importance of having a low-energy impact home , to combat climate change and to avoid losing value to their property. But the energy transition has too high costs and the objectives of the Green Deal are unattainable .

This is what emerges from the survey carried out by Bnl Bnp Paribas and presented in the Bnl Hospitality Area at the Foro Italico during the week of the Rome International Tennis Championships. The setting is HERE – Housing energy renovation event and the research concerns 12 thousand citizens from 8 European countries , including Italy, on actions and priorities in the face of climate change and the energy transition.

Climate change, the role of green homes

Compared to other countries, in Italy men and women give more importance to climate change, with great concern about its impact on lifestyle and consequently 3 out of 4 interviewees claim to be committed to changing their habits and consumption to limit the negative effects of climate change .

The vast majority of Italians ( 83%) recognize the importance of energy requalification of their home to enhance its value, for 77% it is essential to invest in renovation to avoid selling the house below the market price; 47% plan to adapt their property to protect it from climate risks. At the same time, 79% of the Italian sample considers energy renovation too expensive (against 76% of the Europeans interviewed) and the process too complicated (74% of the Italian sample).

Green homes, incentives to redevelop properties

57% of those who are not in a comfortable economic situation are convinced that they will not be able to improve their home. A third of Italians say that they could be forced to move, in the next 5 years, due to the poor energy performance of their home or its exposure to climate risks.

To address the needs related to the enhancement of one's property and the fight against climate change, the two factors that would most push to carry out energy requalification works are a financial subsidy equal to at least 70% of the renovation costs and the support of a subject with the task of following the project from start to finish. Actions at system level, quality of the offer, simplicity and speed of execution, breadth of financing solutions are the requests that come from the Italian sample.

The survey is part of the Group's "My Sustainable Home" initiative, which aims to assist customers in purchasing a home with a view to sustainability , with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality for BNP Paribas' residential mortgage portfolio by 2050, as required by the Net Zero Banking Alliance.