At Reeds Rains we are very passionate about selling New Homes, and we want customers to share this passion when purchasing a New Home. In our series, ‘Why Buy New?’, we are going to explore many advantages, from the financial savings to the social benefits, of buying a new build home. In the first of our series, we’re going to illustrate just how much you could save on energy bills by moving into a brand new, energy efficient home.
When it comes to the environmental efficiency of new homes, the key difference compared to second hand is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). In 2022, 85% of new homes built were assigned an EPC of A or B, the most efficient end of the spectrum, whilst only 41% of the rest of the UK housing stock achieved an EPC rating above a C. This shows how the vast majority of second hand homes have an efficiency standard that simply cannot compare to new builds.
- In 2022 85% of new homes built were assigned an EPC rating of A or B
- Whilst 41% of existing housing stock were assigned an EPC rating of A, B or C
It might be easy to ignore what can seem like arbitrary letters attached to homes, but the reality of what the energy ratings mean in practice has become much more apparent in the last year. EPC ratings are calculated based on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced every year by the energy usage of the home. If you take two standard 3-bedroom homes of the exact same size; the one with a D rating will be emitting about 4 tonnes of CO2 a year, whilst the home with a B rating produces over half of that, just under 2 tonnes of CO2. It’s easy to find out the EPC rating of your home, and how much CO2 it’s producing, just go to the government website and enter your postcode to find your address, you can then compare your current property rating against what a new build home could save you.
As well as insulation and triple glazing, EPC ratings take into account the ways that energy is generated, and New Homes are increasingly receiving great EPC ratings because whole developments are being built with solar panels or air source heat pumps. Even more modest technologies make a difference too, like the standard inclusion of smart thermostats that make is easier to control, and conserve, energy usage. Government policy is also trying to encourage developers to build more energy efficient homes with the 2025 Future Homes Standard, which will enforce rules for New Homes such as insulation standards and fitting more efficient boilers.
Energy bills have been a pressing concern for many in the last year, and saving money will always be welcome. Which brings us to … why buy new? Because a new build home can save you money whilst really doing something to help save the planet, a complete win-win.
*Statistics correct at time of writing, Reeds Rains can not guarantee energy savings.
Source: LSL Land & New Homes
