Soaring Electricity and Gas Prices: Approximately 75% 'Feel It'; About 79% Prioritize Running Costs When Purchasing a Home
A survey by NEXER and Tsuchiya Home reveals that approximately 75% of people feel the pinch of rising electricity and gas prices, and about 79% prioritize running costs (utility bills) when buying a home. However, only about 60% recognize the link between a home's energy performance and utility expenses.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 01:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 16:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 18:13 (1h 41m after Collected)
■ Survey on Housing Utility Costs and Energy-Saving Awareness
Electricity and gas prices have continued to rise in recent years. Many people may feel their burden has increased when they see their monthly utility bills. The soaring cost of utilities is a direct household budget issue, and interest in homes' energy-saving performance is also growing.
Therefore, in collaboration with Tsuchiya Home Co., Ltd., we conducted a survey targeting 500 men and women nationwide on "Housing Utility Costs and Energy-Saving Awareness."
* When quoting the contents of this press release, please adhere to the following:
- State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Tsuchiya Home Co., Ltd."
- Provide a link to Tsuchiya Home Co., Ltd. (https://www.tsuchiyahome.jp/)
"Survey on Housing Utility Costs and Energy-Saving Awareness" Overview
Survey method: Internet questionnaire
Survey period: February 25, 2026 – March 6, 2026
Respondents: Men and women nationwide
Valid responses: 500 samples
Questions:
Question 1: Have you felt the increase in electricity and gas prices in recent years?
Question 2: How much do you feel your monthly burden has increased?
Question 3: Are you aware that a home's "energy-saving performance" significantly impacts utility costs?
Question 4: When purchasing or building a home, which do you prioritize: "initial costs" or "running costs (utility costs)"?
Question 5: Please state your reason.
Question 6: Please list any energy-saving measures you would like to adopt in the future to reduce utility costs.
* As a rule, percentages are rounded to the nearest second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.
■ 74.8% responded, "I have felt the rise in electricity and gas prices in recent years."
First, we asked whether respondents have felt the increase in electricity and gas prices.
The results showed that 41.0% responded "strongly felt" and 33.8% responded "somewhat felt," totaling 74.8% of people who have felt the rise in utility costs in recent years. In contrast, only 11.4% responded "not much felt" and 13.8% responded "not felt at all."
■ 43.0% responded that their monthly burden increased by "less than 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen."
Next, we asked those who felt the rise in utility costs how much they felt their monthly burden had increased.
The most common answer was "less than 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen" at 43.0%. This was followed by "less than 500 yen to 1,000 yen" at 20.6%, and "less than 3,000 yen to 5,000 yen" at 19.8%. "Less than 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen" was 7.2%, and "10,000 yen or more" was 4.8%.
An increase of 1,000 to 3,000 yen per month translates to approximately 12,000 to 36,000 yen annually. This is by no means a small amount, and it is understandable that many feel it cannot be offset by daily savings alone.
■ 59.4% responded, "I know" that a home's "energy-saving performance" significantly impacts utility costs.
Next, we asked those who felt the rise in utility costs whether they were aware that a home's "energy-saving performance" significantly impacts utility costs.
The results showed that 59.4% responded "I know" and 40.6% responded "I don't know."
While approximately 60% of people recognize the relationship between a home's energy performance and utility costs, about 40% are unaware of this connection. Many people still feel the increased burden of utility costs but have not realized that a home's performance is one of the causes.
■ 78.6% responded, "I prioritize running costs (utility costs)" when purchasing or building a home.
Next, we asked those who felt the rise in utility costs whether they prioritize "initial costs" or "running costs (utility costs)" when purchasing or building a home.
The results showed that 78.6% responded "I prioritize running costs (utility costs)," significantly exceeding the 21.4% who responded "I prioritize initial costs."
We asked for the reasons behind each response, and some are introduced below.
Those who responded, "I prioritize running costs (utility costs)":
- Because even if the initial cost is high, future expenses can be suppressed. (30s, male)
- Because I have the image that initial costs are a one-time thing, but running costs continue indefinitely thereafter. (30s, female)
- Because it makes a big difference in the long run. (40s, female)
- Because I'm worried when I think about paying for it for the rest of my life. (50s, male)
- Because if you improve the thermal insulation performance of a house, even if it costs a little at first, you can get it back later. (60s, male)
Those who responded, "I prioritize initial costs":
Electricity and gas prices have continued to rise in recent years. Many people may feel their burden has increased when they see their monthly utility bills. The soaring cost of utilities is a direct household budget issue, and interest in homes' energy-saving performance is also growing.
Therefore, in collaboration with Tsuchiya Home Co., Ltd., we conducted a survey targeting 500 men and women nationwide on "Housing Utility Costs and Energy-Saving Awareness."
* When quoting the contents of this press release, please adhere to the following:
- State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Tsuchiya Home Co., Ltd."
- Provide a link to Tsuchiya Home Co., Ltd. (https://www.tsuchiyahome.jp/)
"Survey on Housing Utility Costs and Energy-Saving Awareness" Overview
Survey method: Internet questionnaire
Survey period: February 25, 2026 – March 6, 2026
Respondents: Men and women nationwide
Valid responses: 500 samples
Questions:
Question 1: Have you felt the increase in electricity and gas prices in recent years?
Question 2: How much do you feel your monthly burden has increased?
Question 3: Are you aware that a home's "energy-saving performance" significantly impacts utility costs?
Question 4: When purchasing or building a home, which do you prioritize: "initial costs" or "running costs (utility costs)"?
Question 5: Please state your reason.
Question 6: Please list any energy-saving measures you would like to adopt in the future to reduce utility costs.
* As a rule, percentages are rounded to the nearest second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.
■ 74.8% responded, "I have felt the rise in electricity and gas prices in recent years."
First, we asked whether respondents have felt the increase in electricity and gas prices.
The results showed that 41.0% responded "strongly felt" and 33.8% responded "somewhat felt," totaling 74.8% of people who have felt the rise in utility costs in recent years. In contrast, only 11.4% responded "not much felt" and 13.8% responded "not felt at all."
■ 43.0% responded that their monthly burden increased by "less than 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen."
Next, we asked those who felt the rise in utility costs how much they felt their monthly burden had increased.
The most common answer was "less than 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen" at 43.0%. This was followed by "less than 500 yen to 1,000 yen" at 20.6%, and "less than 3,000 yen to 5,000 yen" at 19.8%. "Less than 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen" was 7.2%, and "10,000 yen or more" was 4.8%.
An increase of 1,000 to 3,000 yen per month translates to approximately 12,000 to 36,000 yen annually. This is by no means a small amount, and it is understandable that many feel it cannot be offset by daily savings alone.
■ 59.4% responded, "I know" that a home's "energy-saving performance" significantly impacts utility costs.
Next, we asked those who felt the rise in utility costs whether they were aware that a home's "energy-saving performance" significantly impacts utility costs.
The results showed that 59.4% responded "I know" and 40.6% responded "I don't know."
While approximately 60% of people recognize the relationship between a home's energy performance and utility costs, about 40% are unaware of this connection. Many people still feel the increased burden of utility costs but have not realized that a home's performance is one of the causes.
■ 78.6% responded, "I prioritize running costs (utility costs)" when purchasing or building a home.
Next, we asked those who felt the rise in utility costs whether they prioritize "initial costs" or "running costs (utility costs)" when purchasing or building a home.
The results showed that 78.6% responded "I prioritize running costs (utility costs)," significantly exceeding the 21.4% who responded "I prioritize initial costs."
We asked for the reasons behind each response, and some are introduced below.
Those who responded, "I prioritize running costs (utility costs)":
- Because even if the initial cost is high, future expenses can be suppressed. (30s, male)
- Because I have the image that initial costs are a one-time thing, but running costs continue indefinitely thereafter. (30s, female)
- Because it makes a big difference in the long run. (40s, female)
- Because I'm worried when I think about paying for it for the rest of my life. (50s, male)
- Because if you improve the thermal insulation performance of a house, even if it costs a little at first, you can get it back later. (60s, male)
Those who responded, "I prioritize initial costs":