Energy and Sustainability

If you're looking to cut down on your household bills, reduce your carbon emissions or maybe you just don't fancy the time and investment required to upgrade and renovate your current home, then a new build may be for you. 

The average new build home owner could save £2,200 a year on their household bills, compared to someone living in an older, less energy efficient property*.

Heating bills are an area where new build homeowners often see the biggest cost saving and this saving will only become more significant once winter arrives and a closer eye is kept on the thermostat. Due to new build properties requiring much less energy, buyers of these properties will see significantly lower bills. The average older property cost nearly £3,000 a year to run, while the average new build cost £1,317 – a 55% saving*.

On average, new build homes use over 55% less energy a year than an older property*.

New build homes carry a much higher Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) compared to existing homes. An EPC rating looks at the energy efficiency of a home. Homes are given a rating from A to G, those rated 'A' are considered to be the most energy efficient, with the cheapest fuel bills. Around 85% of new build homes are rated A-B for energy efficiency, while just 4% of existing homes reach the same standard*. 

In comparison, 100% of our homes have an EPC rating of 'B' or above, helping you to save on your energy bills. To find out more about EPC ratings and what they mean for you, just click here.

Due to the energy efficiency of new build homes, owners will notice a significant reduction in their energy usage. The average new build property uses approximately 9,414 kWH, compared to older properties which use an annual average of 21,040 kWh*. 

Energy is charged per kWh used, which is why new build homes see a significant reduction in their running costs due to much lower usage.  

Not only will you save money buying a new build home, but you'll be helping the environment too.

In a report carried out by the HBF, they found that those living in a new build home emitted 1.4 tonnes of carbon during a year long period, while those in an existing dwelling emitted more than double, at 3.6 tonnes*. In a time where climate change is becoming increasingly important, new build homeowners really can do their bit to make a difference.

Owners of older homes can spend a lot of time and money renovating their home to get it up to the same standard as a new build home, because turning down the heating and putting on a jumper aren't always practical options, therefore those in older homes often find themselves investing a significent amount of time and money improving the standard of their home. Existing home owners find themselves replacing boilers, insulating walls, installing double glazing and new central heating systems to improve the energy efficiency of their home.

According to the HBF, based on a three bedroom semi-detached house, the cost of upgrading an older home to the same specification as a new build property would cost £61,489 and when exterior rendering and guttering is also factored in, this rises to a budget breaking £73,271.80!^

New build homes are therefore a great way to aleviate some of this uncertainty and the hidden costs which you may not be expecting with a renovation. New build homes also come with a 10 year NHBC Buildmark warranty.