House buyers and builders: The "Ideal" home in Scotland

The UK Government has outlined a variety of targets for new build housing to be zero carbon (Zc) from 2016. In realising this ambitious target, house builders will be required to deliver high energy efficient housing adding to the existing rules and regulations bedevilling the construction industry. This, combined with the selection and purchase of a new home being the single, largest capital investment that a person is likely to make in their lifetime has resulted in the success of Zc housing depending, to some extent, on consumer acceptance, which must align with the attitudes, values and wants of potential home buyers, particularly when faced with a variety of factors influencing consumer decisions. Consequently, this research presents the findings from a comprehensive quantitative study of 202 questionnaires undertaken by house buyers relating to energy efficient, private housing which highlights a misalignment between perceptions and reality with regards to what buyers consider to be the "ideal" home. The results obtained are particularly important as they go some way in narrowing the gap between the views and opinions of house buyers and builders relating to energy efficient homes and the home buying process