How Buying an Energy Efficient New Home can Save You Money
Energy efficiency and EPCs may sound like buzzwords, but they’ll save you money and lower your carbon emissions. Guaranteed. And here’s why.
Before a new build home is sold, it must have an EPC, and these are rated from A (most efficient to G (inefficient). Most new build homes are rated A-B, and to bring an older property up to the same standard, it costs on average, £50,000*.
Let’s explain...
What is an EPC?
An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate. It grades a home’s energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) based on how much energy a home uses and what its carbon emissions are likely to be.
How do energy efficient homes save you money?
Easy. The less power you use to heat, light, and run your home, the less energy your home consumes and the fewer carbon emissions you produce. And the less energy you use, the
less your energy provider can charge you. Meaning you save more of your hard-earned cash.
How does that stack up when you compare older homes to new ones?
Just what are the energy cost savings you can expect with a new build home? Well, a report by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) totted up the costs and this is what they found: the
combined bills (heat, light etc) for older houses totalled £3,570
/year; whereas a new build house costs £1,500/yr to run.
Turn that into annual savings, and if you buy a new home you’ll save around £2,600 per year and produce less carbon emissions, just by living there. That’s a monthly saving of over £216.
Think of what you could spend that saving on. The cost of filling up two family cars with petrol each month; nearly 30% of the average monthly mortgage repayment (based on average mortgage repayments) or cinema tickets and popcorn for four once a week for a year?
Where are the stats?
Sometimes it’s good to see the hard facts, so here they are, in all their glory as evidenced by the HBF energy report – Watt a save 2022.
Energy use (average)
Older homes use 21,621 kWh/year
New builds use 9,094 kWh/year (nearly 60% less).
Heating
New homes are 63% cheaper to heat than older ones
New flats are 50% cheaper
New maisonettes are 50% cheaper
New bungalows are 50% cheaper to heat.
Heating, lights and hot water
Owners of existing dwellings will spend, on average, £847 a year on typical household bills for heating, lighting and hot water, while
those in new builds will spend, on average, £452 per annum.
What are environmental benefits of buying a new home?
For homes registered with an EPC in the year to June 2022, the average new build home emitted 1.4 tonnes of carbon over the year, whilst the average existing dwelling emitted 3.7 tonnes.
Last year’s new build purchasers reduced their carbon emissions by an average of 2.2 tonnes a year per home, with a total saving of 548,000 tonnes nationwide when compared to those that bought an equivalent older property.
Their halos are shining a very verdant shade of green. So, you see, buying a new build is better for your pocket, better for the planet, better for your lifestyle, and better for your green conscience.
Why are CO2 emissions bad for the planet?
The Earth needs carbon dioxide to keep its average surface temperature above freezing. Too little, and we freeze; too much and the temperature rises with devastating environmental
consequences.
How do houses emit CO2 and how do emissions from old and new homes compare?
Homes produce carbon dioxide when we use power. And boy, do we use a lot; mostly to generate heat (central heating, boilers, cooking), but for other things too, like lighting.
Older homes lose more heat than new ones because they have little or inadequate insulation; as a result they consume more power to keep our heating and water at temperatures we like. They emit around 3.7 tonnes of carbon every year and tend to
achieve EPC ratings of D-G.
In contrast, new homes produce approximately 1.4 tonnes of
carbon annually (that’s almost two-thirds less); and are around 84% rated with an EPC of B or above, while less than 4% of existing dwellings achieve this rating*.
Are new homes more energy efficient than older ones?
Yes. New builds are more energy efficient than older ones, and they produce less carbon dioxide. How? Thanks to technology and some very clever architects.
Do EPCs really make a difference?
The latest research** shows you can save up to £2,600 running a newbuild home, compared to an older property.
They help cut energy costs and while creating a cleaner, greener planet. It’s what we all want. And it’s why the government first introduced EPCs way back in 2007.
Fast forward 10 years, and the government’s 2017 Clean Growth Strategy declared its ambition for as many homes as possible to achieve EPC ratings of C or above by 2025. Now, that’s pretty tricky for older properties. But for us, it’s easy. Because we build energy efficiency into the very fabric of the homes we create.
Just how energy efficient are new homes?
New homes are built to retain heat. Not just because of better insulation but in the way they’re designed. Our architects draw plans with energy efficiency in mind - creating layouts that optimise airflow, ventilation and insulation to maximise heat retention and minimise carbon loss.
As standard, new Bloor homes are packed with insulation. You’ll find it in the lofts, in our thermally insulated cavity and separating walls, our thermal double-glazed windows, in our
noise-reducing internal walls and in our solid concrete floors.
But that’s not all. Our heating systems provide individual thermostatic room control, we use water efficient plumbing, and install class A condensing boilers; we also use sustainable
timber, energy efficient appliances, light bulbs, and we fit ventilated dry ridge systems to help divert water away from joins. Our external doors are insulated and draughtproof to minimise air leakage, and we create continuous ventilation to improve the air quality and circulation inside your home to sustain thermal comfort.
You see, energy efficiency is far more than just a buzzword. It’s a host of clever, practical touches that work collectively to save you and the environment more.
In fact, according to research commissioned by the New Homes Marketing Board, the average newbuild home is 40% more efficient than a 10 year old home, and 70% more efficient than a home built pre-1990***.
How to improve energy efficiency at home
What are some quick fix energy saving tips? Here’s five:
1.
Have an energy efficient heating system – in a typical household, over 50% of fuel bills are spent on heating and hot water.
2.
Reduce heat losses in your home – having room controls, suitable insulation and draught protection will together, help keep your heating at a constant temperature and save energy.
3.
Move to energy efficient appliances – check the energy ratings on labels before making a purchase and consider how big your appliances really need to be. The bigger the appliance, the more energy they will likely need to run.
4.
Use a smart meter – being aware of how much energy you’re using in your home each day will help you keep on budget. You’ll also be able to see the significance of what small changes such as switching off lights when they’re not in use and washing clothes at 30 degrees can make.
5.
Consider EPCs – taking note of a home’s EPC rating before making a purchase will give you a good idea on how much money and energy it will need to keep warm.
Owning a new build property really is the smart choice, with so many benefits to you and the environment. Have you heard of green mortgages? Just another reason for buying new which could reward you with reduced interest rates, or cashback for buying an energy efficient home. Search for your new home today or speak to one of our team to find out more about green mortgages.
*Based on an average 4 bedroom Bloor Home.
**The ‘Watt a Save’ survey by HBF in October 2022 found that 84% of homes built between September 2020 and September 2021 achieved EPC ratings of A or B.
***Research carried out by National Energy Services, commissioned by the New Homes Marketing Board.
