New builds can help owners save £2,600 on energy bills
New research based on Government Energy Performance Certificate data shows that buyers of newly built homes will save on average around £2,600 a year in energy bills. The report ‘Watt A Save’ was published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and it shows that total last year’s new build purchasers saved more than £500 million per year in energy bills, which is almost a third less than older properties.
Data from the HBF
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal representative body for private sector home builders and the voice of the homebuilding industry in England and Wales.
HBF member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multinational, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
All properties in the UK receive an Energy Performance Certificate (or EPC) for buying and selling purposes. An EPC rating is very simple to understand and is measured from A to G with A being the most efficient and G being the least efficient.
Around 85% of new build homes achieve an EPC rating of A or B this is a considerable improvement compared to the average UK home rated D (ONS Data).
Consumers are prioritising energy efficiency
Despite Government action to try and make energy prices manageable, bills are now more than five times their level just a decade ago. While there is some comfort in the recent intervention to cap typical energy bills at £2,500, for households in older properties savings will continue to be significantly less than those living in a new building.
Consumers are increasingly prioritising the energy efficiency of new homes, and now a quarter of respondents to a recent HBF survey stated it will be ‘crucial’ to their next home move. HBF is urging lenders and the government to do more to ensure that consumers can benefit from the financial and environmental savings that the most energy efficient homes can offer.
Long term benefits of new builds
On top of these dramatic savings, new builds and new homes contribute to the country’s progression towards net zero, with each new build only emitting a third of the carbon than older homes. Compared to an older property, this saves 2.2 tonnes of carbon every year for consuming 100 kWh of energy per m2 of house space.
Not only are new homes built to the most up to date regulations and standards, they also use new technologies and methods to ensure that efficiency is embedded to the highest standard from the point of construction.
Contact Cyden Homes today!
Find out more