When developers and self-builders alike are planning to construct homes, one factor that they need to take into account is energy efficiency.
In fact, it’s more important than ever for new properties to be as energy efficient as possible, given that figures from the Committee on Climate Change show that the built environment in the UK contributed around 18 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2015.
With the drive to build more homes all over the UK growing, despite an obvious slowdown in construction due to the current pandemic, it’s important to share the benefits of upvc patio doors and other fenestration solutions that can help ensure properties are more energy efficient.
Research conducted by SaveOnEnergy recently revealed which parts of the country are emitting the most CO2 from their residential properties, as well as which are emitting the least. This indicates where could benefit most from a change in how homes are designed.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given its substantial population, London was the place in the country with the highest CO2 emissions. Annually, the city generates almost six billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than three billion tonnes more than the next biggest carbon emitter, which was Birmingham.
This city generates just under 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 each year, the research found. Completing the top five carbon emitters were Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester.
At the other end of the scale, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland was well ahead of every other region of the UK that was surveyed, emitting an impressively low 2.64 million tonnes of CO2 a year.
Second place Galashiels, with 51.33 million tonnes of carbon emissions, was the only other place in the UK to keep emissions under 100 million tonnes annually.
Llandrinod Wells, Harrogate and Sutton completed the list of the top five lowest CO2 emitters in the UK.
Of course, it isn’t only the environmental implications that we should be concerned about when it comes to our CO2 output. It’s also how much we’re spending on utility bills. Households can save a considerable amount on what they pay for energy if their homes are designed with energy efficiency in mind.
Website New-Homes revealed that homeowners and renters alike could benefit from significant savings on their utility bills if properties are constructed to be more energy efficient.
For example, estimated energy costs for a three bedroom semi-detached Victorian home are £1,670 a year. This falls to £780 annually for a new-build home that was constructed to 2013 standards, and could fall to just £450 a year for properties constructed using the future zero carbon standard, which the construction industry had planned to adopt post-2016.
As well as including the likes of solar panels to help households generate their own energy, newer properties will also need to be energy efficient and reduce the amount of energy that is wasted. That means there needs to be a focus on providing the best-quality glazing, doors and insulation in properties of all types.
If you work with developers and those in construction, it’s worth reminding them of the benefits of investing in the most energy efficient windows and doors possible.