The Conservatives are considering proposals that would see homeowners forced to pay for improvements to the energy efficiency of their properties when they are sold.
David Cameron's quality of life policy review plans to impose "very tough" standards for energy and water efficiency.
Former environment secretary John Gummer, who is chairing the review group, told the Financial Times that a "dramatic" recent increase in public awareness of global warming meant this type of action was now expected.
He said that to make existing buildings less wasteful, "you have to have a system where people have incentives and insistence that people increasingly make their homes less carbon greedy".
Despite the suspension earlier this year of the introduction of home information packs, which industry lobbyists had forced the government to water down, the review group intend to go further than the packs' energy-rating requirements.
It intends to bring in tougher green standards for building and refurbishing residential and commercial properties.
Gummer said that the industry will find these proposals acceptable, saying that the CBI's stance under its new director general is set to change.
"I do detect a very big change with the appointment of Richard Lambert. I think the CBI will become an ally in all this," he said.
