Energy Efficiency in New Build Homes

In recent years, there has been a significant push towards energy efficient homes as a way to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills for homeowners. If you’re considering a new home, a new build is therefore a smart and eco-friendly investment. Some of the ways that they outperform older houses include:

• Better Insulation – Older homes often have inadequate insulation, resulting in heat loss during the winter and heat gain during the summer. Jones Homes include modernised and higher-performance insulation materials and installation techniques. This superior insulation maintains comfortable temperatures all year-round, decreasing heating and cooling needs.
• High-performance Windows – Our homes are constructed with high-performance windows that come with a 10-year warranty. These windows are made of materials that are better for insulation and also have a higher energy efficiency rating. Slimmer frames and bay window designs let in more natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
• Air-Tight Building Envelopes – New build homes are constructed with an air-tight building “envelope” that prevent drafts and leaks that lead to energy loss. Each new build home must pass strict air tightness tests. This process measures the amount of air leakage from a building as a consequence of uncontrolled ventilation. The goal is to maintain a consistent temperature inside the home, and also reduce the need for heating and cooling.
• Energy-efficient Appliances and Lighting – When it comes to energy efficiency, much of the emphasis tends to justifiably land on heating and insulation, but we like to look at how a home works from top to bottom. This is why Jones Homes properties are equipped as standard with energy-efficient household appliances. Heating costs fluctuate all the time, whereas savings that come from energy-efficient appliances are consistent. These appliances and lighting fixtures use less energy than their older counterparts, helping to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. Energy-efficient appliances include refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers, while energy-efficient lighting fixtures include LED bulbs.
• Renewable Energy Sources – Many new build homes are designed to incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. By 2025, new homes cannot have gas/oil boilers. and will instead be heated by low-carbon alternatives. This ban is part of a UK action plan to reach carbon net zero by 2050. Renewable energy sources can help to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions even further, making each new build home a step towards that eventual goal.