In order to better understand our customers’ preferences and needs when choosing a home, we commissioned the Visions 2014 Home Preference Survey. In July, 2014, homeowners and renters living throughout Southern California were invited to participate in the survey regarding their preferences for a wide variety of home features.
Conducted by Meyers Research, the survey findings were shared with the Building Industry Association of Southern California to provide builders with valuable insight on their customers' housing needs, desires and preferences for the energy used by home appliances.
The survey showed a definitive preference for efficient natural gas appliances over electric in every category. Builders looking for ways to help make new homes more appealing to buyers, as well as meet green standards like ZNE, LEED, and ENERGY STAR®, may find these results interesting.
Survey Findings
While conventional wisdom says that most people like cooking with natural gas better than with electricity, the survey confirmed that 95 percent of respondents who indicated a preference chose natural gas.
Space heating is another important use of energy in a home, and of those expressing a preference in the survey, 83 percent opted for natural gas.
Natural gas was also the clear choice for clothes dryers with 82 percent of respondents having a preference selecting natural gas.
Heating water is a major consumer of energy in the home, and once again natural gas was the top choice for 91 percent of respondents with a preference.
Fireplaces are a popular amenity in many homes and 95 percent of those surveyed who had a preference selected natural gas.
Finally, 84 per cent of all surveyed customers stated they would spend more to buy or rent a home that included efficient natural gas appliances.
The survey demonstrated that customers strongly prefer natural gas appliances over electric, and most are willing to back that choice up with their pocketbooks. Builders may want to consider that installing natural gas equipment can be a successful, next-generation, energy-efficient new home construction strategy.
The 2014 Visions Home Preference Survey was commissioned by SoCalGas®, administered by Meyers Research LLC, and is based on responses from 1,926 customers in July, 2014.
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