A recent report by the Home Builders Federation, which analysed government data – found that buyers of new build homes are saving more than £400 per household annually on their energy bills – thus collectively doing their bit to reduce carbon emissions!

The report’s conclusion is timely given the ongoing crisis surrounding rising energy prices and an enhanced focus on environmental issues.

The benefits of a highly energy efficient new home have never been more important, but as well as saving homeowners on monthly bills, buyers of new homes can proudly say that on average their home produces just a third of the annual carbon emissions produced by older properties – preventing 2.4 tonnes of carbon each year for every household.

The significant report’s – ‘Greener, Cleaner, Cheaper’ – findings declared:-

– Owners of new build houses and apartments will save an average of £435 a year, rising to £555 for new build houses alone;

– The average new build home emits 2.38 tonnes less of carbon each year;

– The research shows that despite new build homes being, on average, 7.4% larger than older properties, new homebuyers are still generating valuable savings every month.

Builders of new build homes are able to adapt to new technologies, materials and regulations to embed energy efficiency at the point of construction, while owners of existing properties will often find themselves facing disruptive, extensive and costly retrofit works to bring their homes to the same standard.

Braidwater is currently building six low carbon bungalows at Church Road, Derry/Londonderry, which all have an air source heat pump. A renewable energy source, air source heat pumps take the warm air from outside (even when it’s freezing) and heat the home. A major environmental benefit of heat pumps is that they produce no carbon emissions onsite, unlike the traditional oil or gas burners. 

In addition to environmental technologies, more lenders are beginning to offer green mortgages – such as lower interest rates for buyers of more energy efficient homes.

Commenting on the new research, HBF Managing Director, Neil Jefferson said: ‘We have known for many years that new homes bring a wealth of benefits to homebuyers but with energy bills rising it’s never been more important for homebuyers to weigh up these costs as they consider their next move.

‘Indeed, mortgage lenders have a vital role to play in helping homebuyers to make the cost efficient and carbon saving steps that households are increasingly keen to make.’

In the year to September 2021, 84% of new-build properties received an A or B EPC rating for energy efficiency, while just 3% of existing properties reached the same standard. In contrast, 58% of existing dwellings had an efficiency rating of D-G.