New research published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has revealed that buyers of new build homes in England will save an average of £3,100 in energy bills compared with typical older properties.
The ‘Watt A Save’ report – available here – looks at potential energy savings between new build and existing properties when the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) cap increases this April.
Analysis finds that under the new EPG prices, the annual energy bill of the average new build (flats, maisonettes, bungalows and houses) is likely to be £1,707, saving £2,510 compared to buyers of older properties who will be facing bills of an average of £4,218.
Buyers of houses, rather than flats or bungalows, will see the greatest savings, estimated at £3,118 a year.
The research commissioned by HBF also found that buyer are increasingly prioritising energy efficiency when considering a house move, with more than half of respondents to a recent survey (53%) stating that lower utility bills and running costs due to increased energy efficiency would encourage them to buy a new home.
Of course, at Northstone, we know just how much homebuyers are valuing high performance when it comes to energy efficiency. Every Northstone home is built to greatly exceed building standards – minimising heat escaping and packed with smart tech to manage energy usage.
The end results are homes that reduce the need to use lots of heat and power to support everyday life, in turn drastically reducing energy bills compared to inefficient older properties. All Northstone homes are rated EPC B or above, meaning they also qualify for green mortgages – relatively new mortgage products that offer special incentives and rates for properties that are more environmentally friendly.
Anita Jolley, Sales Director at Northstone, said: “We’re seeing more and more people living in older properties now considering a Northstone new build because of better energy efficiency and the cost savings that can be achieved. When people are feeling the pinch, savings on monthly outgoings can be really helpful.
“It’s not only the potential savings now, it’s also the ability to avoid having to spend further money on old properties in the future. Retrofitting older properties to be more energy efficient can be complicated and costly, the benefit of a Northstone new build is the guarantee that – from the day you get the keys – you’ve got one of the most energy-efficient homes on the market.
“We hear a lot that people are reluctant to even look at new builds because they don’t want to compromise on design features. But with Northstone you get the best of both worlds … design-led homes with high ceilings and spacious rooms, but high performance when it comes to energy usage.”