New homes save money, study shows

Living in a new home can save householders over £500 a year in energy costs due to the benefits of modern building methods, design and materials, a new study has found.

Research by National Energy Services on behalf of the New Homes Marketing Board found that the average new home costs £556 a year less to heat and power than an older home.

David Pretty, the New Homes Marketing Board chairman, said: "It is not generally recognised that today's new homes are already very energy efficient," listing features such as insulation, double glazing and better heating systems as advantaged over older homes.

Such advantages can also be gained by incorporating such features into the self build of a home.

In a feature in the Times on Saturday, architects looking to design eco-houses used materials such as wood and a water-absorbent sedum roof, plus additions such as solar panels and ground heat pumps, all features self builders may consider if they want a greener home.


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