Recent research by property management experts* has revealed a stark contrast between the energy efficiency of newly built and older, existing properties with a newly built home costing up to 60% less in energy costs.
This, and other research, reveals that when the energy costs associated with running a new build home and an older property are compared, older properties cost an estimated £797–£1072 per year to run whereas a similar-sized newbuild property cost at least 50% less – between £390–£442 per year.
These findings are backed by recent data from Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) that show over 80% of new homes have the highest A or B energy ratings, compared to just 2.2% of older properties.
EPCs are a legal requirement for the sale of a property, providing information on the home’s energy efficiency band, rated from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient. The EPC provides an indication of how costly it will be to heat and light the property and the likely level of carbon-dioxide emissions.
There is no doubt that new build homes are far more energy efficient than older properties and the difference is greater, the older the property is simply because of the building materials used, the insulation and the type of heating systems.
Based on the EPC ratings, the efficiency score for older homes in England (for all records up to March 2021) was equivalent to Band D. Homes constructed before 1900 had a median score of just 54 – Band E. For homes built after 2012, however, the median efficiency score was 83, equivalent to a Band B. Since 2012, further improvements in technology are leading to even greater efficiency.
Beechcroft design homes with energy efficiency at the forefront from the outset and each element of the design and specification increases the energy-saving.
*Information taken from Warwick Estates, Hometree energy advice, EPCs analysed up to March 2021, The Energy Trust, energylabel.co.uk, hbf.co.uk, www.ons.co.uk.
