Iran war: Huge surge in demand for ‘off-grid’ properties - Trade Me
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
New Zealanders’ interest in energy efficient properties has skyrocketed in response to growing concerns over global oil shocks, Trade Me says.
The property listings website has released new data that shows searches for “off-grid” properties increased by 68% year-on-year over the 30 days from February 22 to March 22 March.
Nearly 6000 ‒ 5880 ‒ specific keyword searches for “off-grid” properties were recorded over that time, compared with about 3494 over the same period last year.
Since the current conflict in the Middle East started on February 28, Iran has effectively kept the Strait of Hormuz, an important global oil shipping route, closed to commercial shipping.
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That has led to a surge in fuel prices, concerns about a potential shortage of supply, and growing economic pressures.
The data suggested the new economic reality was impacting on home buyers, and their priorities had shifted from “street appeal” to more sustainable, energy-efficiency homes, Trade Me noted.
Gavin Lloyd, Trade Me Property’s customer director, said the behaviour was a direct reflection of the anxiety the average Kiwi was feeling at the petrol pump.
“When it comes to a home, Kiwi are increasingly interested in a property that can serve as an energy bank, insulating the household from global oil shocks and rising utility bills.”
But the trend extended beyond off-grid living to specific energy-saving features, he said.
There had also been a significant year-on-year increase in searches for “solar” and “double glazing” over the 30 days from February 22 to March 22.
Searches for “solar” were up 67% to 1023 from 613 over the same period last year, while searches for “double glazing” were up 60% to 651 from 408.
Lloyd said the shift was not a temporary blip, but that current global volatility was strongly driving the increased interest in energy efficiency in recent weeks.
New Zealanders were effectively looking to “short” the energy crisis through property choices, he said.
“While we have seen steady growth in both ‘off-grid’ and ‘solar’ keyword searches since mid-2025, both hit multi-month highs in February and March of this year, coinciding with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Whether it’s a family looking for an EV-ready garage or a retiree going fully self-sufficient, the Kiwi property dream appears to be being redefined by energy security.”
The shift in buyers' interest might be prompted by the current geopolitical situation, but it is likely to please green building advocates.
Interest in building new energy efficient homes, or converting existing homes into energy-efficient ones has increased over recent years.
But only about 13% of new homes are built to Homestar 6 green building standards, according to Infometrics.
That was despite research which suggested the upfront cost of building better-insulated homes was far outweighed by energy cost savings over the lifetime of those buildings.