Low-carbon homes can save £1,341 in bills and should be compulsory, according to a study that shows major savings.
The UK government has been urged to change regulations so new homes incorporate solar panels, heat pump, high-grade insulation and battery storage as part of building regulations.
Building new Low-carbon homes
Building new homes to low-carbon standards would save the occupants thousands of pounds, new research has shown, as experts urged the government to change the regulations on housing development.
But there is a danger as developers can build more cheaply if they do not need to incorporate high-grade insulation and meet stringent regulations on airtightness, to circumvent the low carbon incentives. But it is cheaper still if they continue to build with gas boilers instead of heat pumps.
A typical three-bedroom Home
People living in a typical three-bedroom, semi-detached newly built house would save an average of £1,341 a year if it was equipped with solar panels, a heat pump, high-grade insulation and battery storage. Low-carbon homes can save £1,341 in bills and should be compulsory, according to a study.
Labour has made building 1.5m homes the centrepiece of its plans for economic growth and national renewal. But it is still unclear whether these homes will be built to the highest possible standards of insulation and low-carbon technology.
The greatest energy bill savings and reductions
The MCS research shows that the greatest energy bill savings and reductions in carbon emissions are achieved when solar panels and battery storage are combined with heat pumps, resulting in energy bills nearly three times lower than only installing a heat pump.
According to the modelling, energy bills for an average three-bed, semi-detached home with a heat pump would be £1,764 a year, compared with £603 if solar panels were also installed, meaning £1,161 in annual savings with battery storage, the savings rise to £1,342.
However, the balance has to be the cost between energy saving and cost of installation. The other thing to appreciate is the running costs between conventional power and that of the low carbon alternative. Which compares today’s costs that their peak, with duties. Once the government starts to lose revenue from that change, they will need to raise revenue from low carbon alternatives.
