Better for you, better for the planet

A new build home from FABRICA uses considerably less energy than an older home. When you consider that in the twelve months to January 2023, electricity prices rose by 66.7%* and gas prices by 129.4%*, you can see how much of a difference choosing to buy a new build home makes. Not only do owners of new build homes benefit from the considerably lower energy bills that come from increased energy efficiency, but they and their homes are also much friendlier to the environment.

Do new homes require less energy?

Yes, they do. The lower energy consumption of new build homes is the result of employing modern building techniques, using energy efficient materials and finishes during construction, and installing state-of-the-art energy efficient appliances. Examples include employing Building Information Modelling (BIM), which enables precision creation of modular sections to eliminate possible draughts, which means the need for heating is reduced, building homes to be less reliant on gas (such as installing electric stove hobs), to reducing the use of materials with high embodied carbon levels.

Reduced overall energy usage

The difference in energy consumption between new build and older homes is astounding. The average new build home consumes approximately 100 kilowatt hours (kWh)^ per square metre per year, against around 260 kWh^ for the average older home.

Even taking into account that new build homes are larger, having on average 6.9m2 more floor space to power, this equates to 21,621 kWh^ per year for the average older home, versus just 9,094 kWh^ for new builds.

Lower bills

Such a large difference in energy usage is reflected in a similarly large difference in the cost of energy. For new build homes, energy bills are on average £1,500.43^ per annum, which makes up only 42% of the annual cost of powering an existing home. That's a saving of over £2,000^ less a year (£173 per month) against the costs to power an existing home, where bills average £3,567.44^ a year.

For new build flats, the average annual energy bill of £1,214.11^ is a little over half that for an older flat, which comes at £2,354.84^. That’s a saving of £1,140.74 per year. With new build houses, the annual saving is even larger – £2,598.47^. Powering a new build house costs only 37% as much as powering an older house – £1,518.80^ against £4,117.27^.

Lower carbon emissions

Residential properties are one of the largest generators of carbon emissions in the UK, contributing over 20% of the country’s annual output. The majority of those emissions come from older homes, which generate nearly three times as much carbon as the equivalent new build home.

So if you choose a new build home over an older property, you will be helping reduce carbon emissions. On average, a new build home generates demonstrably lower carbon emissions – only 1.4 tonnes^ per year against 3.6 tonnes^ for an existing home, a reduction of 2.2 tonnes^ per year.

FABRICA makes it easier to be Energy Smarter

All FABRICA homes and apartments across London and the South East of England are thoughtfully designed to maximise reductions in energy consumption, to in turn keep energy bills as low as possible. Every FABRICA home has an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of A or B. The property equivalent of the multi-coloured stickers on new appliances, EPC ratings range from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient).

Our Developments

Westvale Park

EPC rating A and B

High levels of insulation and air tightness

Electric vehicle charging points

Solar photovoltaic panels

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Hanwell Square

EPC rating B

High levels of insulation and air tightness

Air source energy recovery system

Solar photovoltaic panels

Electric car charging

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The Oaklands

EPC rating B

High levels of insulation and air tightness

Electric vehicle charging points

Solar photovoltaics – Affordable rent block

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Amber Parkside

EPC rating B

High levels of insulation and air tightness

Electric vehicle charging points

Solar photovoltaic panels

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Cutting-edge technologies

To qualify for these A and B ratings, all FABRICA homes feature numerous technologies that contribute to lowering energy consumption, and therefore energy bills:

• Cutting-edge energy efficient appliances wherever possible.

• Innovative low-carbon technologies such as heat recovery, heat pumps and solar panels.

• Excellent insulation with high-performance double or triple glazing.

With these A and B EPC ratings, owners of new FABRICA homes can rest assured that they will have more money to spend, and that they are making a contribution to helping the environment.

You could qualify for a green mortgage

If a buyer can prove that the home for which they are applying for a mortgage to buy meets selected environmental standards, the mortgage provider may offer that buyer better mortgage terms. This is called a “green mortgage”, a product that is proliferating across UK lenders (although not all lenders offer it). To qualify, the property in question must have an EPC rating of A or B – the rating categories all FABRICA homes fall under. The incentives of a green mortgage will either be a better interest rate, or a cashback offer on the mortgage itself.

Sources:

*ONS ‘Cost of Living Insights’ March 2023
^HBF ‘Watt a Save Report!’ Feb 2023

What style of homes is the most energy efficient?: Newly built homes with an EPC rating of A are the most energy efficient home style available, followed by B rate.
What is an EPC rating?: An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates the energy efficiency of a home, on a scale of A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Do all new build homes have EPC?: Yes. Since 2007, all UK homes have needed to have an EPC before being sold or let. This means that all new build homes have been EPC rated since that year.
Are all new build homes energy efficient?: For new build homes rated in the twelve months to December 2022, 85% have either an EPC rating of A or B. For FABRICA homes, that figure is 100%.
Are new build homes more environmentally friendly?: New build homes are demonstrably more environmentally friendly. 85% of new build homes that received EPC ratings in the year to December 2022 were awarded an A or B rating, whereas 51% of existing homes were rated D or lower.
How much energy does a new build home use?: The average new build home uses approximately 95 kWh per m² versus 252 kWh per m²for the average older home. As new build homes have 6.3 m²more floor space on average, the energy savings are even more considerable.
Are new build homes better insulated?: To achieve good EPC ratings, new build homes require effective insulation. Older homes may have the same type and level of insulation however this had to be installed post-build – sometimes years after the home was built – into a home where it was never designed to go.
How long does an EPC last on a new build?: All EPCs are valid for 10 years.
What to look for in an energy efficient home and how do we ensure our homes are energy efficient?: Always look for an EPC rating of A or B, highly rated energy efficient appliances, double or triple glazing, and low-carbon technologies such as heat recovery, heat pumps and solar panels. All of which you will find in a FABRICA home.
How to calculate energy saving numbers?: How much energy you save in a new build home is calculated by measuring the approximate amount of kWh an average new build property uses over twelve months and then subtracting that from the approximate amount of kWh the average older property uses over twelve months.
How to calculate CO2 emissions savings from energy usage?: Each kWh of energy used emits a certain amount of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e), a term that describes different greenhouse gasses in a common unit. This amount of CO2e emitted per kWh is called the Emission Factor. To calculate annual emissions savings from energy usage, add the approximate amount of kWh of electricity used x the Emission Factor for electricity to the same equation for gas, and then do the same for the average new build property. The difference between the two totals equates to the annual CO2 emission savings.
What makes an appliance energy efficient?: All domestic energy related appliances for sale in the UK require an energy rating of a type similar to the EPC rating. Appliances are rated from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least. Put simply, energy efficient appliances with good ratings use less energy when in operation. The lower the ratings of appliances, the more energy is wasted.
Does double or triple glazing contribute to lowering energy bills?: Yes. Double or triple glazing reduces the amount of heating that escapes your home through the windows or external glass doors, meaning you don’t need the heating inside set as high or left on as often.
What is a green mortgage?: A green mortgage rewards buyers of energy efficient homes with more favourable mortgage terms, for example, lower interest rates or cash-back offers.
How could you qualify for a green mortgage?: The home for which you are applying for a mortgage must have an EPC rating of A or B.
What is the most efficient way to heat a new home?: New homes with insulation, double or triple glazing, heat recovery systems and air-to-air heat pumps, and solar thermal panels are very efficient to heat. There are several ways you can make a newly built home even more efficient to heat, such as having heating set on a system timer, turning off heating earlier (e.g. 30 minutes before bed) and turning radiators in rooms you’re not using to the frost-protection setting.
What features can contribute to lowering energy bills in new homes?: Energy efficient appliances, double or triple glazing, home insulation and low-carbon technologies all contribute to lowering energy bills, as does the use of efficient, precision modern building techniques.
What are low-carbon technologies?: These are technologies used to heat a building that emits low carbon dioxide emissions, such as heat recovery systems that extract moist air in wet rooms like bathrooms before returning it to the fresh air circulating in your house, and solar-powered hot water.
Can good insulation help lower energy bills and make the home more energy efficient?: Insulation aims to reduce the transfer of heat into or out of a home. It works by trapping tiny air pockets to either slow heat leaving the house in winter or coming in during the warmer months. Efficiently insulated homes require less heating and air conditioning, making them more energy efficient.