According to a survey conducted by Ipsos for ING in 7 countries, most Romanian homeowners (83 percent of those surveyed) say that they have taken measures to improve the energy efficiency of their homes in the last 3 years, mainly by improving thermal insulation and by reducing the energy consumption of devices, like the aggregated responses in all of the 7 surveyed countries (the countries average). Only 8 percent of homeowners in Romania say they have installed solar panels, less than half the general average of 19 percent.

For homeowners who have taken energy efficiency measures, saving energy costs was the main reason for doing so (for 84 percent in Romania vs 78 percent countries average), while sustainability considerations were the main reason for 13 percent of the Romanians asked, compared to 20 percent throughout the whole study (the countries average).

“Awareness plays a key role in society’s transition to a green economy, and the study shows that the majority of Romanians polled (6 out of 10) believe their actions as consumers can have an impact on sustainability. This is a positive signal at a time when the options for purchasing and financing energy-efficient solutions are becoming more advantageous and diverse. At ING, for instance, we support the more sustainable choices of individual customers through mortgages and consumer loans (eco-loans) with lower interest-rates for the purchase of homes or environmentally friendly products: solar and photovoltaic panels, electric or hybrid plug-in cars.” – Iulia Rusu, Retail Business Strategy Manager, ING Bank România.

The study also reveals that the three most important criteria when determining the price that Romanians are willing to pay, when looking for a home, are, in order of relevance: location in terms of proximity to facilities (e.g. shops, schools, medical services, etc.), energy efficiency and location in terms of proximity to transport.