New research shows that moving into a new build house could save people £2,600 a year on their energy bills.
The report - Watt a Save – has been produced by the Home Builders Federation and looked at how new build properties compare to existing dwellings.
On average, buyers of new homes save over £2,000 on household bills per property each year, equivalent to £173 a month. For buyers of houses, as opposed to flats or other types of property, the savings are even greater at £220 per month.
Matt Hoy, Managing Director – Residential at property experts Bradley Hall, said: “This report highlights the very significant savings that households can make by choosing a new build property. The size of the saving is likely to increase as we head into next year and the current energy support changes.
“We work with housebuilders of all sizes across the North and bring a range of new build properties to market for all budgets and requirements. Energy efficiency is something which people of all ages and budgets are now conscious of, and we are happy to be working with builders that are creating homes that ensure homeowner’s bills are kept at a sensible level.
“Buying a new home has a range of positive impacts as well as being energy efficient, such as warranties on the property, being more environmentally friendly, and having access to a more contemporary way of living due to each homes specification. This makes for a more cost effective purchase for those looking to keep unexpected repair costs and household energy bills down.”
It’s not just financial advantages that new builds offer, the research also highlights the considerable environmental benefits.
The study showed that existing properties used on average 21,621 kwh of power per year compared to 9,094 kwh for new builds. Newer properties on average also produced 2.4 tonnes less carbon a year than existing dwellings.
The report stresses that this is not down to new builds being smaller, which is sometimes the reason given for lower energy costs. It compared the two types of property per sq metre of floorspace and found that new builds on average used 100 kwh per sq metre over a year, where as existing homes used 259 kwh.
Matt added: “New build homes are designed with the wants and needs of modern house-buyers in mind, so there’s a greater chance people will find what they’re looking for without the need for large scale renovations.
“Another benefit is that – unlike purchasing a second-hand home – most newly built homes come with warranty and insurance protection, which usually lasts for ten years.”
