New homes, built to the latest demanding environmental standards, are not only better for the environment than the majority of second hand homes, they are also much cheaper to run.
New homes are on average six times more efficient than existing homes*, generating over 60% less CO2 emissions – the equivalent of driving 10,000 miles less a year per household – and so reducing energy bills by an average of more than £500 a year!
David Pretty CBE, chairman of the New Homes Marketing Board said today, “Today’s new homes are already much greener than older homes, and they are getting greener all the time. They are built to the latest mainstream environmental standards and are extremely energy efficient, packed with highly-efficient heating systems, double glazed doors and windows and high levels of roof and wall insulation.
“Clearly, with energy prices as they are, this is a huge benefit to the purchasers of newly built homes, with the potential to save people hundreds of pounds a year. We are urging people to get down to their local house builders’ sites and show homes during New Homes Week to see the benefits of buying a new home, quite apart from the great deals on offer. ”
Energy efficiency and the latest environmental standards are now among the most important attributes buyers want from newly-built homes, according to a recent YouGov survey carried out for the New Homes Marketing Board. The ‘green factor’ has climbed into the top three on the list of criteria that people would set for buying a new home, now overtaking a list of more traditional benefits such as convenient location and general value-for-money**.
The nation’s existing stock of older housing is one of the biggest generators of CO2 emissions. But today’s new homes are even 40% more efficient than those built as recently as the year 2000, and with the industry working hard to achieve the Government’s challenging ‘zero carbon’ housing target, new homes will be getting ever more efficient in the future.
*Source: A research study by National Energy Services, commissioned by the NHMB, found living in a new home could save up to £556 a year on average energy bills compared with older-style homes. Savings possible because new homes generate more than 60 per cent less CO2 emissions.
**Source: Figures from a NHMB YouGov survey undertaken in May 2009. Detailed YouGov survey results can be found here and show environmental considerations now ranked only behind having a garden and somewhere to park a car in people’s priority list.
New Homes Week 12-20th September 2009See Also: Property News (6680), New Homes Week (7)
Date Published: 11 September 2009
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