Because of rising mortgage rates and home prices, UK homeowners are investing in their existing houses rather than moving. The phrase ‘sustainable home’ has risen in popularity and is now among the 10 most searched-for terms when it comes to home renovations in the UK. With this in mind, Post Office Personal Loans set out to identify the most efficient smart home improvements to consider – to help homeowners estimate how much they can save when renovating. The research discovered eco-friendly improvements that are most likely to lower energy bills and calculated the potential amount of money that can be saved when installing them. These included installing solar panels, smart meters and thermostats, and floor insulation made the list of most efficient investments. Statistics reveal over 2.2 million smart homes in the UK, with 52 per cent of Brits claiming that saving money on their bills was the best main motivation for adding eco home improvements to their property. While cutting their carbon footprint was another bonus from the both money-savvy and green investment. Director of financial services products at Post Office said: “Looking back at the previous year, we’ve seen how many homeowners are looking to save money and are now choosing eco-friendly home technology as part of their renovation projects. “From floor insulation to installing a smart meter: we have investigated the most efficient and popular ways to create a smart space for your home and how much it can help save in a year. “While some home improvements can cost thousands, there are some smaller tactical ways to opt the effectiveness of your home and save you some money, that can be beneficial for every homeowner in the UK.” To find out more about home improvement loans, home renovation trends and how much they cost, visit here.