The Most Desired Eco-Friendly Energy Saving Products In 2023

Whether it’s solar panels to reduce or eliminate their reliance on carbon-based grid electricity, LED light bulbs to cut down on energy expenses or a tankless water heater to increase energy efficiency, American homeowners are increasingly purchasing eco-friendly products. A new survey by Rocket Homes shows that homeowners have increased awareness of eco-friendly home products and have a strong interest in acquiring them in the near future.

The #1 reason for interest in these products was to save on home energy bills, but consumers also reveal a strong interest in reducing their carbon footprint and protecting the environment from climate change. And while all of the top eco-friendly products consumers rank highly do accomplish energy efficiency, many were also cited for performing their task better than the traditional home products they’re replacing. Here is how American homeowners rank the top alternative energy products, smart home products and energy-efficiency products for 2023.

Top 3 Most Sought-After Alternative Energy Products

1. Solar Panels – 41.9% Want It

Of all the renewable energy sources and clean energy products, solar panels are the products consumers are most excited about in 2023. Of the homeowners surveyed, 4.3% are in the process of getting them, while 8.6% intend to get them installed in the next 6 months and 16.2% see themselves getting them in 7 months to a year. Solar panel popularity could be due in part to the 30% tax credit that was recently implemented through the Inflation Reduction Act, in addition to the rising cost of energy. Most homeowners (59%) cite energy bill savings as the top motivation to install solar.

• 21% plan to get solar to increase energy-efficiency
• 13% of homeowners plan to get solar to improve their eco-friendliness
• 71% of homeowners want to get solar at some point in their life

2. Solar Generator – 24.8% Want It

A solar generator is an alternative energy product that is generating buzz in 2023, with 64.1% of respondents saying they would like to have one in their lifetime. A solar generator combines a portable solar panel, battery and power inverter. It typically features a USB port for charging devices and an AC outlet for running lights or appliances. That fact that it does so silently, without the noise and smell of a gas-powered generator, likely appeals to the 30.6% who want it for peace of mind.

• 35.8% plan to get a solar generator in the next year
• 23.4% want one for energy bill savings
• 19.8% want it for energy bill savings

3. Electric Lawn Mower – 9% Want It

Lightweight, quiet and clean, electric lawn mowers are becoming more popular for American homeowners, with 37.8% saying they’ll own one in their lifetime. Electric lawnmowers can be corded or run off a battery that is charged between cuttings. Batteries can now hold a charge up to an hour on the best models – enough to finish mowing a midsize lawn. Of those who said they would like an electric lawnmower, most of them (27.8%) cited eco-friendliness as their number one appeal.

• 62% who want an electric lawn mower would like it in the next year
• 14.4% say it will give them peace of mind
• 12.2% are in the process of getting one

Top 3 Most Sought-After Smart Home Products

1. Smart Thermostat – 30.9% Want It

With energy prices on the rise, the eco-friendly smart home product most in demand is the smart thermostat. A smart thermostat cuts down on energy costs by automatically adjusting heating and cooling temperature settings in the home, making it the top smart home product for 30.9% of survey respondents. Controllable remotely by an app, a smart thermostat with geofencing can even adjust temperature before a family member arrives home to balance comfort and efficiency.   

• 29.8% want the smart thermostat to cut down on energy bills
• 19.1% want it to automate their thermostat
• 57.6% of those who want one would like it within the next year

2. Smart Lights – 22.5% Want It

Another eco-friendly home product high on consumers’ wish list for 2023 is smart lighting, with 22.5% of survey respondents desiring to purchase it. Smart lights are up to 80% more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. Smart lights are most commonly connected via a Bluetooth or home Wi-Fi network and can be programmed to turn on and off on a schedule. They can also turn on and off from a motion detector, as well as change color and brightness based on the owner’s preference.

• 22.7% want smart lights for energy bill saving
• 25.8% want them in the next 6 months
• 11.6% are in the process of getting smart lights

3. Home Energy Monitoring System – 20.6% Want It

A home energy monitoring system topped the eco-friendly wish list for 20.6% of survey respondents. A home energy monitor provides historical and real-time information on electricity usage in the home. Saving on energy bills was cited by 42.7% of survey participants as the top reason for wanting this product. A smart energy monitor can help spot energy inefficiencies and tracks energy use as it occurs, breaking down energy spent in kilowatt-hours and even dollars and cents.

• 40% want to get one in the next year
• 21.4% want one for energy-efficiency
• 11.7% want one for peace of mind

Top 3 Most Sought-After Energy-Efficiency Products

1. Energy-Efficient Windows – 28.3% Want It

Of homeowners, 28.3% see energy-efficient windows as their top priority in considering energy-efficient products for the home. Replacing single-pane windows with double pane, energy-efficient windows can save anywhere from $126 to $465 a year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy-efficient windows prevent warm air from entering or leaving the home depending on the time of year.

• 43.8% want energy-efficient windows for energy bill savings
• 10.2% want it to increase their comfort
• 45% would like to get them in the next year

2. Tankless Water Heater – 21.5% Want It

A tankless water heater is another popular product for home energy-efficiency, with 21.5% of respondents citing it as the top product choice in 2023. A tankless water heater is much smaller than a hot water tank and is more efficient because it only heats water on demand, as opposed to a tank that must be heated all the time. Not only does a tankless water heater bring instant savings on monthly energy bills, it can also pay for itself by lasting two to three times longer than a traditional hot water tank.

• 44.2% want a tankless water heater for energy efficiency
• 41% want one within the next year
• 7.9% want it to improve eco-friendliness

3. LED Lighting – 18.7% Want It

LED lighting ranked third on consumers’ wish list at 18.7%. Of all the energy-efficient home products, this is one that has already been widely adopted by millions. Light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs more than make up for their higher initial price tag by saving up to 75% on energy bills and lasting up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, according to Energy.gov. LED lights are also much cooler and therefore safer than incandescent, which lose 90% of their energy as heat. And because they use epoxy lenses instead of glass, LED lights are much less prone to breakage

• 69.5% are either getting LED lights or plan to in the next year
• 25.1% want them for energy efficiency
• 31% are acquiring LED lights right now

What Smart Home Energy Products Do Homeowner’s Already Own?

As more and better smart home energy management products become available, and as manufacturing efficiencies and competition drive prices down, Americans are steadily adopting these products into their everyday lives. Smart home products can be used to help manage home solar and traditional utility electricity costs and usage. Below are the top three smart home energy products homeowners already own and the brands they favor.

1. Smart Thermostat - 24.5% Ownership

What survey respondents say: "It has a feature that works with my energy supplier so that it adjusts temp for on-peak and off-peak to help save money.”

Most popular brands:

• 45.7% have Google Nest
• 20.8% have Honeywell
• 7.3% have Ecobee

Favorite things about it:

• 18.7% said control
• 15.1% said easy
• 14.2% said connection to their phone

2. Smart Lights – 14.7% Ownership

What survey respondents say: “Can turn them on with our smartphones away from home.”

Most popular brands:

• 37.4% have Phillips Hue
• 14.3% have GE
• 8.2% have Kasa

Favorite things about it:

• 17% said color
• 16.3% said adjusting light
• 14.2% said scheduling or using virtual assistants to turn on or off

3. Smart Plug – 11.9% Ownership

What survey respondents say: “It allows me to control my devices remotely. It is easy to switch these devices on even when you are not home. The best part is that you can do that from an app. You can do all this from a simple touch.”

Most popular brands:

• 26.1% have Amazon
• 10.9% have Kasa
• 3.3% WeMo

Favorite things about it:

• 23.5% said ease of turning it on and off
• 15.1% said control
• 11.7% said easy

Bottom Line: Americans Will Look To Invest More In Eco-Friendly Upgrades

More and more Americans see the cost-savings and efficiency of eco-friendly home products, whether in their own homes or in a neighbor’s. Devices like smart thermostats and LED lighting are already widely employed in American homes. Adoption of newer products like home solar are expected to be on the rise in 2023, with more than 70% saying they would like to adopt solar panels at some point in the future. As costs for these products continue to lessen and impressive savings on home energy bills are realized, their popularity is sure to continue.

Methodology

Rocket Homes surveyed 1,000 respondents on which eco-friendly related products they have for their home, what brand, and what they like and dislike most about the product. The respondents were asked which alternative energy, smart home, and energy-efficiency products they want most for their home. From there respondents were asked the main reason they want it and how soon they want to purchase it. To ensure the respondents could perform eco-friendly upgrades to their home, respondents had to be a minimum age of 22 and either be a single-family homeowner or own a condo. Respondents also must have invested in a new update or product for their home in the past 2 years or plan on doing so in the near future. This survey was completed November 15, 2022.