Yahoo Finance Property: 8 energy efficient homes to warm to
As winter looms, the prospect of escalating energy bills seems more alarming than ever. Of course, we can all take steps to cut our gas and electricity consumption, but they only go so far when stuck with single-glazed windows and poorly insulated walls that leak heat and would cost a fortune to upgrade. The solution, if you’re planning to move, is to buy a home that’s highly energy efficient, so check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating – ranging from A, the best, to G the worst – while perusing the particulars. And with NatWest and S&P Global revealing that 40% of future homebuyers consider the EPC rating to be very important, demand for such properties will only increase. All these fit the bill, so get to know your ABCs and arrange a viewing.
1. Kirkstall Place, Leeds, from £189,995
A short drive from the city centre and a two-minute walk from Headingly station, this new development by zero fossil fuel home builder Artisan has an impressive B EPC rating. It comprises a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses, all gas-free, low carbon, highly insulated and fitted with air source heat pumps to reduce their impact on the planet and keep running costs low. Available through Savills.
Read more: Here's your chance to live in a landmark building
2. Church View, Callerton, Newcastle, from £249,995
National housebuilder Bellway has recently launched four low-carbon properties, the first under its Future Homes Scheme, a project that aims to deliver the sustainable homes of the future and will be rolled out across the country. The three and four-bedroom houses have been designed to comply with the Government’s Future Homes Standard, which comes into effect in 2025, and feature a variety of technological innovations to improve energy efficiency. These include air source heat pumps that run on electricity, solar panels installed as part of the roof’s structure rather than sitting on top, super-thick insulation, triple-glazed windows and underfloor heating operated via an app. Contact Bellway.
3. Ironbridge House, Southall, London UB2, from £300,000
Once an industrial mill, this imposing building has been converted into a collection of studio, one and two-bedroom apartments with an EPC rating of B. Upgraded insulation, mechanical ventilation and low-energy heating and lighting are among its eco-credentials and although some parking spaces are available, you won’t need a car as Hanwell station – on the Elizabeth line – is in walking distance. Find out more from Barnard Marcus.
4. Bargrennan, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, offers over £460,000
Despite its name, The Old Hall is a contemporary three-bedroom house, converted from a former village hall in 2016. Top priority was to create a light-filled, environmentally friendly home with reduced energy bills while making the most of the beautiful setting in the Galloway Forest Park, and this has been successfully achieved. The house is clad in locally sourced larch heartwood which blends into its surroundings, has wall-to-wall windows that let light flood in, and low-cost, low-energy heating is provided by a wood burner that stores heat then releases it slowly. Rooftop solar panels generate both electricity and a small income from feed-in tariff payments, and although the EPC is currently C, with a few tweaks it could be pushed up to B. From Galbraith.
Read more: 8 cool conversions to call home
5. Matlock Spa, Matlock, Derbyshire, from £500,000
These B-rated four-bedroom townhouses are ready to move into and part of a new community being created in an abandoned quarry on the edge of the Peak District. They’re constructed in Derbyshire stone – a material that reduces internal temperatures on hot days – and each incorporates extra-thick insulation, a responsive temperature and ventilation control system and ultra-efficient windows. According to the architects, 70% less energy is required for heating compared with a typical UK home. Contact Matlockspa.com.
6. Brockley, Bristol, £1m
Helios House has recently been transformed from an office building into an A-rated low carbon house with two double bedrooms – each with an ensuite and dressing areas – tons of entertaining space, a roof terrace, garden and attached one-bedroom annex. Outstanding eco credentials include an air source heat pump, fully integrated in-roof solar panels with excess energy exported to the grid, a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system and electric car vehicle charging points. There’s also a gravelled Mediterranean-style garden with drought tolerant plants. Find out more from Robin King.
Read more: 10 listed homes that make the grade
7. Renhold, Bedfordshire, £2.25m
Thanks to extensive renovation by the current owners, five-bedroom, five bathroom Jackdaws has an EPC of B, which is extremely rare for a 1970s house. When they bought it in 2016 it was far less lovely but over the years they’ve removed walls, reconfigured the layout, added a floating glass balcony, resurfaced it, improved the insulation, installed zoned underfloor heating and car charging points and fitted airtight glass windows with amazing thermal gain throughout the day that keeps rooms toasty in the evenings. Via Jackson-Stops.
8. Rowhook, West Sussex £3.5m
A far cry from your usual rural retreat, Millfields Cottage is in fact a huge contemporary house, sitting in almost 10 acres of land with a natural pool and freshly-planted arboretum, and an A rating for energy efficiency. It has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a vaulted dual aspect kitchen diner, a dining room, study, and a first floor sitting room with a retractable roof panel. However eco features like the air source heat pump, solar panels and a mechanical heat ventilation recovery system make it comparatively cheap to run. Get in touch with Strutt & Parker.
