Energy Efficiency: how to heat up your home with less impact
As the leaves starts to fall and the temperature begins to drop, it’s clear to see autumn is here, and winter will be with us before we know it. Typically, this is the time when we start to think about switching our heating on, but with another spike in energy costs looming, and the impact we have on the environment high on everybody’s agenda, it’s fair to say there is a lot of resistance to switching the heating on this year. But surely, there’s got to be a better way?
We explain how living in different types of homes can affect your energy bills and your carbon footprint too.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPC)
Every home has an EPC and they provide homebuyers with an easy way of identifying how energy efficient a property is, and how much it will cost to run. EPCs are rated from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), and according to the House Building Federation*, 84% of new build homes are rated A – B, while only 3% of existing properties reach the same standard. In contrast, 58% of existing properties have an EPC rated D – G. Dandara homes are designed with their environmental impact in mind and most homes have been awarded an EPC ‘B’ rating.
ENERGY COMPARISON – NEW BUILD VS EXISTING
Being challenged to design and build smarter, more energy efficient homes isn’t anything new to housebuilders, however the number of ambitious, environmentally focused targets set by the government are on the rise. Take the Future Homes Standard for example, an initiative which aims to ensure new homes produce at least 75% lower CO2 emissions compared to those built to previous standards.
By incorporating new technology and building materials into new build homes, new owners are reducing carbon emissions by 576,000 tonnes each year, compared to if they had bought an equivalent older property.
We’ve broken down carbon emission savings by type of property below:
• A new house generates 64% lower carbon emissions than older properties of their type
• A new flat generates 53% lower carbon emissions than older properties of their type
• A new bungalow generates 58% lower carbon emissions than older properties of their type
COST COMPARISON
With energy costs on the rise and a much colder season ahead, the cost of running a home has become a greater concern than ever before.
The combined energy bills for older houses cost an average of £1,029 per year, compared to £474 for the average new house, a whopping saving of £555 per year!
Heating costs are one of the biggest differential costs you’ll experience between the two types of property. The average cost of heating an older home is £666 per year compared to £271 for a new build, a saving of £395 over 12 months!
From better insulated building fabrics to thermal efficient components such as external doors and double glazed windows, we make use of the latest technologies when designing our one to five bedroom homes. This means you can enjoy a cheaper, greener way of living in your own Dandara home.
*Source: HBF – Greener, Cleaner, Cheaper - Energy report for new build homes
EPCs are not issued on IOM or Jersey developments