John
Griffiths, the Environment Minister, has just launched a consultation
on tougher building regulations, aimed at improving the energy
efficiency levels of new homes in Wales.
The
projections for the impact the regulations will have, show a 40%
reduction on 2010 levels of carbon emissions in new homes from
January 2015 or a 25% reduction from 2014.
In
the UK, new build homes are significantly more energy efficient in
comparison to older properties. As new homes feature energy
efficiency measures like better insulation, lower voltage lighting,
A-rated appliances and renewable technologies such as solar and
underground heat pumps, they are in effect more environmentally
sustainable and economic to maintain and run.
The
annual home savings, according to the NHBC Foundation and Zero Carbon
Hub, certainly mount up in a new build home, the average saving being
around 55% on gas and electricity, which equates to over £1,300,
with today’s current market prices.
Most
new builds these days are built to at least Code Level 3 of the Code
for Sustainable Homes. All builds are now required to have an Energy
Performance Certificate (EPC) before being able to go on the
market, which allocates a rating on a scale of 'A' for the most
efficient and cost-effective to 'G' the worst offending. This shows
the new owner how energy efficient the property is and also has
suggestions on ways to improve the rating via the implementation of
various energy efficient strategies and technologies. This now
applies to commercial
as well as domestic
property.
It
looks like sustainability is the new watch word on the property
market and green building design is now fast becoming the norm across
the whole construction industry. With a recent European strategy
announced last week to 'Green' the construction industry and make
energy efficient practice a standard across the board,
environmentally friendly buildings will soon become the norm across
the UK and the rest of the European Union.
Post By Paul Patane for Just EPC
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