New homes save your energy
SOARING gas and electricity bills have pushed energy efficiency to top priority for many when it comes to buying a new home. Nearly three quarters of us are worried about the cost of heating our homes and around a quarter say it will be “crucial” to their next property move.
But it’s not just the energy crisis that is changing our outlook, according to the Home Builders Federation, it’s also a desire for more sustainable living.
Being “eco-friendly” and having a good Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating are now the most desirable features in a new home, after access to outdoor space.
And more than 70 per cent of Britons say they would consider buying an electric vehicle if their new home had a charging point – making house builders the key to unlocking the UK electric car industry.
This research coincides with a new report from the Home Builders Federation which reveals that new-build homes save householders an average of £435 a year on energy bills (a sum that’s likely to increase with April 1’s higher price cap) and emit only one third of the carbon produced by an average older property.
Ian Heasman, director of sustainability at Taylor Wimpey, says his company announced its environment strategy in March 2021 to outline its commitments to making its new-builds more sustainable and with less environmental impact.
“Our homes have many features such as energy-saving lighting, zoned heating and water-saving taps which make them energy efficient, and we’re encouraging more sustainable transport choices,” he explains.
Ben Stone, head of sustainability at Keepmoat Homes, has a similar message: “We have a number of green initiatives including low carbon concrete blocks, timber frame construction, low temperature asphalt, as well as reusing soil and aggregates.” And Nicola Barclay, chief executive of Homes for Scotland, says: “Scotland’s home builders are already well on the path to net zero.”
Crest Nicholson is also working on reducing carbon emissions, building waste and the impact its developments have on the environment. It claims to be creating homes that are future-proofed for a changing climate, providing healthy environments for homeowners and wildlife.
Its Hygge Park development at the market town of Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath, has several measures to deliver environmental benefits. Its terraced houses are all aligned from front to back, to reduce the energy required to heat them and improve heat retention. It also reduces material waste on the site and speeds up building time.
“Crest Nicholson is committed to cutting its carbon footprint,” says Mark Kershaw, its head of sustainability.
“We are continually looking for ways to reduce waste and energy consumption in our operations.”
Ralph Hawkins, managing director at Crest Nicholson South West, explains that reducing unnecessary angles in Hygge Park’s house designs has created bigger rooms in the properties.
“By maximising the efficiency of space, many of the new homes will offer more double bedrooms, utility rooms and studies, while spacious open-plan living areas provide flexibility for customers to adapt the way they use their home as their lifestyles change,” he says.
When complete, Hygge Park will have 141 two, three and four-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments. Some are yet to be released but at the moment there are four-bedroom semi-detached houses from £435,000 and detached houses from £515,000 (01774 539650).
The site also has several green spaces with nesting boxes for birds and bats, insect hotels and hedgehog highways.