While the chatter about climate change continues, what homeowners say they want in a home isn't always followed up by their actions, according to a results from the Shelton Group's annual Energy Pulse study, as reported by Eco Building Pulse. According to the study, 81% of respondents said that energy efficiency would have somewhat to very much of an impact when selecting between two homes. That also aligns with the NAHB study, What Buyers Want.

Yet the Shelton Group study found that when homeowners were given hypothetical money, they spent it on a kitchen or bathroom remodel first, followed by window then HVAC replacements. In fact, the report showed that 55 percent of respondents were likely to make non-energy efficiency improvements to their homes in the near future. The study further showed that homeowners who make more than $100,000 were less likely to be concerned with energy efficiency than those who make less than $25,000. Read more on the Energy Pulse Survey.