Are New Build Houses More Energy Efficient Than Old Ones?

A significant distinction exists between older homes and new build houses on a number of different levels. Modern building techniques and materials have revolutionized the way that we’re constructing houses and priorities have shifted as the country pivots to achieve net zero carbon emissions from our homes. Are new build houses more energy efficient than older builds? Generally, yes – and in this blog we’ll talk about why that is.

Improved Insulation

There’s a greater focus on improving the insulation of homes to passively increase their energy efficiency. Having good insulation is a core step in ensuring that you have an energy efficient new build home, as it will keep generated within the home and ensure that it is not lost. Cavity wall insulation is one of the main ways this is achieved, but it’s not the only one. Double or triple-glazed windows are fantastic for increasing a home’s energy efficiency and careful sealing of gaps around windows and doors is helpful as well.

Energy Efficient Heating Solutions

New build homes are showing marked improvement in energy efficiency, and this is in no small part thanks to advancements in heating technology over the years. Older steel radiators are being used less and less in favour of more responsive and efficient aluminium radiators. Meanwhile, air-source heat pumps are taking over as an extremely efficient alternative to boilers and suit well-insulated homes perfectly.

The efficiency of these newer technologies is doing a lot of work in bringing down the costs and emissions of heating our homes, and new build houses that make optimal use of them are going to be vastly superior in this area to older ones.

Build For Efficiency At The Design Stage

Construction standards have shifted massively in recent years, with more and more focus on achieving high energy ratings and improving the speed and quality of construction. New techniques such as prefabricated modules are shifting the way that new homes are built. But the way that homes are designed has also changed significantly, and now energy efficiency is at the forefront of this process.

Incorporating modern heating solutions into the design of a home when it is newly built allows builders to work as effectively as possible. Optimised placement of radiators or underfloor heating systems for maximum efficiency is much easier to handle during design and construction than it is to implement after the house is already built. If a new build house is designed with this in mind, it will end up much more energy efficient than an older, unimproved home.

So are new build houses more energy efficient than old ones? We’d say yes, as long as they have been thoughtfully designed to integrate modern heating solutions into the construction process. Heating technology has come leaps and bounds over the years, and homes can be made more efficient than ever. If you’re interested in having your own house’s energy efficiency improved, get in contact with the Pipelife team today!