Energy Efficiency

Saving you money

With energy costs at a high, now is the perfect time to buy a home where energy saving features are included as standard.

According to the Home Builders Federation, on average, energy bills for new build homes are up to 65% cheaper. When compared to older properties, the average monthly saving on energy bills for a new build property currently stands at £130, totalling up to £1,574 per year. Those that buy a new build house specifically see even greater annual savings of £1,980.

*Source HBF Watt a Save report.

All of our standard homes have an EPC rating of A or B, while according to HBF research, less than 5% of existing properties reached the same standard. Not sure what EPC means? It’s an Energy Performance Certificate, which provides an indication of how much it will cost to heat and power a property, as well as how much CO2 it emits. All homes sold are required to have an EPC, with A being the best rating possible.

Did you know, when comparing all property types, new build properties use an average of 60% less energy than older counterparts. New build houses are even more efficient, using 65% less energy compared to existing properties. It's thanks to A-rated boilers, low energy LED lighting, a greater amount of insulation and installing appliances with high efficiency ratings.

Green Mortgages

By buying a new energy efficient Countryside Home you could take advantage of exclusive ‘Green’ mortgage products which could offer lower interest rates on properties that carry an energy performance certificate or a predicted energy assessment rate of A – C. Think of it as a reward for buyers who are helping our planet by purchasing an energy efficient home. All Countryside homes have a rating of A or B so this type of mortgage may be ideal if you are looking to purchase a new build home.

Keeping you cosy

It might not seem like a big deal, but unlike older properties, our homes come with high efficiency double glazing as standard, letting plenty of light and warmth in while minimising heat loss. Not only do they keep you cosy they also reduce the amount of external noise that you’ll hear within your home. If you were renovating an older home, the average cost for 8 new double-glazed windows and 2 new uPVC doors is £12,000, according to Checkatrade.

Additional roof and floor insulation are among the other unseen features included with our homes that will help reduce the costs of keeping your home warm in the winter months, while also keeping you cool in the summer.

Integrating renewable technology

Going Electric

Thinking of making the switch to an Electric Vehicle? Many of our new homes which have an associated parking space will have a charging point, which is compatible with any electric vehicle. Meaning if you switch to an Electric Vehicle or already own one, you won’t have to worry about installation costs.**

**In some homes where your allocation parking space is in a covered car park the caballing for a EV charger will be laid but no charger will be installed.

Reduce your carbon footprint, and make money*

Enjoy the benefits that sunshine brings with PV solar panels making your new home less reliant on grid energy, which in turn helps you to reduce your electricity bills. How much you save will depend on your electricity usage vs how much electricity your panels are generating.

What’s more if the panels generate more electricity than the home uses then you can earn money by selling it back to the grid.

* If your solar panels generate more electricity than your home uses then you can earn money by selling it back to the grid.

Over the next couple of years we are also increasing our use of renewable energy sources across our developments, so our homes will be less dependent on gas and diesel. Not only that but we are ensuring our current homes are future proofed for our customers. So, if you wish to make your home even greener by installing an Air Source Heat pump, the hardware behind the scenes will already be installed in your home.+

+Additional hot water cylinder required upon installation.

Reducing water usage

Our kitchens and bathrooms incorporate water saving measures, but that doesn't mean you'll be compromising on style or functionality.

These features mean our homes use 20% less water than the UK average, with clear cost savings for our homeowners*. Our taps and showers use aerated technology to provide the feeling of a strong flow, whilst using less water. Plus, our dual low flush toilets use the minimum amount of water to ensure less waste.

* Average Countryside home uses 100-110 litres/person/day compared to UK average of 140 litres/person/day according to the Energy Savings Trust

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Healthy air

It might not be the most glamorous feature to shout about, but air quality plays a vital role in our health, so we install decentralised mechanical extract ventilation, a low energy, low noise solution to remove the moisture out of wet rooms, which regulates the humidity in your home.

This creates a healthier home environment as it is especially good at removing damp and condensation, which are the main causes of mould. The lower humidity level reduces house dust mites and significantly improves the health of allergy and asthma sufferers.