A new study highlights Spain’s poor performance on energy efficiency, with just 1.1% of homes achieving an ‘A’ rating — the highest possible classification.
According to research by IESE Business School and Tinsa by Accumin, Spain’s housing stock still has a long way to go to meet modern sustainability standards. Yet demand is shifting fast: a Fotocasa survey reveals that 96% of Spaniards now consider sustainability an important factor when buying a home.
Why it matters
The appeal of sustainable housing goes far beyond environmental virtue. It’s about comfort and cost savings too. The OCU and the IDAE estimate that an 80m² flat rated ‘E’ costs around €135 a month in energy bills, while one rated ‘G’ costs about €205. That’s a difference of roughly €70 per month — or over €800 a year. A top-rated ‘A’ home, meanwhile, can consume up to 90% less energy than one rated ‘G’, meaning hundreds of euros in annual savings and greater comfort thanks to better insulation and indoor air quality.
The main motivator: saving money
It’s no surprise that economic reasons top the list for buyers choosing sustainable homes. According to Fotocasa, 84% cite saving money as their main motivation, followed by comfort (71%) and reducing environmental impact (42%).
