Energy Efficiency has become a top priority when buying a new home!
New research based on Government Energy Performance Certificate data has found that buyers of a new build house will save on average around £2,600 a year in energy bills.
New Build properties significantly reduce households’ energy usage, with the average new home using approximately 100 kWh per m2 per year compared with older properties which require an average of 259kWh per m2.
New build properties (houses and flats) save an average of just over £2,000 per property each year, with the average annual running costs for a new build totaling £1,500 as compared to an average of £3,570 for older properties. These savings rise to £2,600 a year when looking at new and old houses alone, rather than smaller properties such as flats or bungalows.
84% of build homes were rated with an EPC of B or above, while less than 4% of existing dwellings reached the same standard.
We know that the cost of energy is a huge issue for households across the UK, and that recent Government action to try and make bills more affordable has not been able to solve the problem. While there is some comfort in the recent intervention to cap typical energy bills at £2,500, households in poorly insulated and inefficient older properties will continue to pay more than those living in a new build.
Not only are new homes built to the most up to date regulations, builders are also demonstrating their commitment to go further, using new technologies and methods to ensure efficiency is embedded to the highest standard from the point of construction. The report also explores some of the most ambitious and forward-thinking examples of new homes in the industry. In contrast, owners of existing properties will often find themselves facing disruptive, extensive and costly retrofit works to bring their homes to the same standard.
Should a New Build be your next move?
