How an energy efficient home can reduce your carbon footprint

Sustainability and the desire to be more eco-friendly play an increasingly important part in our lives. As many of us look to make more environmentally conscious purchasing decisions, recycle more, use less energy or even change our diet to benefit the planet.

Regarding our homes, owners and buyers place greater importance on a property’s energy efficiency rating than ever before. For this reason, Brookworth Homes take great care and consideration when it comes to the features that are included to improve our properties.

According to research by the Mortgage Advice Bureau, 84% of people surveyed said they deem it essential to make their home energy efficient, whilst 54% of consumers in the UK would pay more for products that are good for the environment.

In this article, we look at the environmentally friendly features provided by Brookworth Homes as part of our sophisticated property specification, including the sustainable technologies incorporated into our latest development, The Hamptons in West Horsley, Surrey.

What energy efficiency features in a Brookworth Homes property?

Insulation

Insulation is one of the most effective ways of improving the energy efficiency of a property. This is because it provides a barrier between the inside of the home and the temperature outside. 

Exceptional insulation levels mean there is a more significant barrier to withholding the ambient heat within the house; thus, less energy is required to heat the home. This, in turn, reduces both the property owners' energy usage and carbon footprint. 

At Brookworth Homes, our approach of thoroughly insulating the properties we build also means that the temperature inside the home stays more consistent in hot weather - so there’s less need to reach for a fan on those hot, humid summer nights.

Under Floor Heating Systems

If you’ve not lived in a home with underfloor heating before, we’re confident you’ll enjoy how the entire room in a Brookworth Homes property is heated consistently throughout the space, rather than the hot and cold areas you find in a traditional wall-mounted radiator system.

Underfloor heating systems also provide a more efficient way of heating a home, as many are controlled room by room. This removes the need to heat the entire house when the heating is turned on, saving both money and reducing the environmental impact.

At Brookworth Homes, we build our underfloor heating systems so that they are future-proofed for the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps, which are the preferred system for heating homes, as gas boilers are due to be banned in new build property construction from 2025.

Control4 System and Neomiser Thermostats

In previous articles, we’ve looked at the Control4 Automation System, which gives central access to all the smart features and security technology integrated into your Brookworth Homes property.

The Control4 System also gives complete control over the low-power LED lighting and the Neomiser thermostat and heating system from the comfort of an app on your mobile phone, so going out and leaving the heating or lights on is no longer a concern.

Control4 gives you complete control of your property, so you can minimise your carbon footprint no matter where you are in the world.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are a valuable investment for homebuyers who want to reduce their environmental impact and energy costs. Brookworth Homes use solar panels where our developments and house orientation are suitable, enabling homeowners to top up their solar power with electricity from the National Grid.

By reducing reliance on utility providers, MoneySavingExpert estimates that a typical household with a system that generates up to 3.5 kilowatts per hour could save between £170 and £440 a year on bills.

Read more on how solar panels can elevate a luxury home.

Energy Performance

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides a record of the energy efficiency of a residential building, giving it a rating from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient.

Whilst all new build properties in the UK are given an EPC rating to provide transparency on how energy efficient their home is, Brookworth Homes go one step further. 

Energy-efficient homes are a key pillar of our design and construction philosophy, not just to reduce the homeowner's carbon footprint or to ensure lower energy costs but to improve the lives of the families who live in the homes we create. 

Brookworth Homes are proud of the exceptional A rating given to our properties with solar panels installed, such as our latest development, The Hamptons in West Horsley. Whilst on developments without solar panels installed, we are also incredibly proud of the sustainable construction methods and materials we employ, which help us achieve a B rating in most of our homes.  

The journey to Net Zero

The UK Government has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This path will significantly change how we all build and heat our homes in the coming years, with cleaner power sources and increasingly more energy-efficient building regulations being introduced.

Brookworth Homes strive to be at the cutting edge of property development, and we continue to introduce energy-efficient materials and technology designed to meet and surpass the expectations of the environmentally-conscious homeowner.

Find out how you can reduce your carbon footprint.

If you’re interested in reducing your carbon footprint, there are plenty of online resources that can help you assess the amount of energy you use and suggest ways in which you can reduce your environmental impact on the planet.

The Energy Saving Trust have many helpful articles on how to save energy or improve the efficiency of your home. 

If it is your time to move and energy efficiency is at the top of your list of requirements, why not look at the latest selection of Brookworth Homes developments currently for sale and coming soon. Alternatively, if you would like to find out more information on the latest energy-efficient innovations being introduced by Brookworth Homes, get in touch.