Why new homes are more energy efficient
As UK energy prices soar, it's never been a better time to buy a new build, which save homeowners an average of £420 in energy bills.*
Many of us are having to keep a closer eye on our energy consumption at the moment, so it's never been better to hear that buyers of new homes are around 21% cheaper to run, according to a new report published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF).
Along with reducing household spends, new build homes emit around a third of the carbon produced by traditional housing - meaning buying new is a great choice for the planet as well as your purse.
Lower running costs
According to the report, 'Taking a 90m2 property, an A and B rated home costs £1,574 a year to run. In comparison, an EPC D home costs £1,995 – an additional £421. An EPC F or G rated home costs £2,192 a year in energy bills – an additional £618.' This highlights the benefits of owning a new build, such as a Charles Church home.
Our homes are built to modern standards with a number of energy-saving provisions, leading the vast majority to have an EPC rating of A or B.
How our homes help
Charles Church houses are built with energy efficiency in mind. This includes argon-filled double-glazed windows, high efficiency thermal insulation in walls and roofs, energy-saving heating systems, and modern appliances that will save you money in the long and short term.
As part of our plan to have net-zero carbon homes in use by 2030, we're also starting to build low-carbon homes and eco-homes across some of our sites, which include innovative technologies such as solar panels, battery storage and MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery).
An investment in your future
New build homes don’t just offer lower running costs – they’re thoughtfully designed with modern features already in place.
According to the report, upgrading an older property with essentials like low carbon heating and EV charging can cost thousands and often involves disruption, making a Charles Church home with these already existing features a more seamless and future-ready choice.
5 top tips for saving money on bills this winter
1. Switch all your electronics off when not in use, instead of leaving them on standby.
2. Turn lights off when you're not in the room, and check that you're using energy-efficient LED bulbs.
3. Tumble dryers are the most expensive white goods to run, so to save money you can continue to dry your clothes outside in the colder weather. It will take a little longer, but so long as the weather is dry your clothes will dry too.
4. To save costs running your oven, batch cook meals and reheat in the microwave which is more cost-efficient. You could also invest in an air fryer or slow cooker which are both cheaper to run than an oven.
5. Time your hot water use. Using a timer to see how long you spend showering and running hot water for washing up can be a great way of staying on top of your hot water use.