Cost of living pressures mean almost everyone is looking for the best ways to lower energy bills. Our new homes are designed to be energy efficient, making them much more cost effective to run than older homes. We’ve also introduced air source heat pumps in place of traditional gas boilers on all upcoming developments to help buyers further lower their household carbon emissions.
Research by the HBF suggests the average buyer of a new house saves £180 a month or almost £2,200 a year on their energy bill compared with those living in older houses. Read on to discover our top energy saving tips and how to reduce energy bills.
Time to switch?
- Know what you’re using. When you’re moving home, many suppliers will calculate available tariffs based on your previous consumption. If you use a lot of energy, a plan with a fixed standing charge and a lower cost per unit of gas and electricity could work out more cost effective, but it wouldn’t be suitable if your household has lower energy consumption. If you can, use the kWh figure for your annual consumption, which is easy to find on your annual energy statement. If you can’t find that, you’ll be able to get a reasonably accurate quote by using figures from your monthly or quarterly bills too. If your new home is bigger than where you’re living currently, your energy bills may be more expensive, which you’d need to allow for in your household budget.
- Check your tariff. Each utility supplier will offer a range of tariffs, which will include different rates and terms. With a flexible or variable tariff, the price you pay per unit of energy is linked to the wholesale price of gas and electricity. Your energy supplier will usually give you 30 days’ notice before prices change, helping you budget. Alternatively, a fixed rate tariff, which locks in the price for a set period, could work out as the cheapest option. However, you could find that if the rate drops, you’re overpaying for your energy. Environmentally friendly tariffs are available for those who prefer to use clean energy.
- Direct debit v quarterly bills. With a monthly direct debit for your gas and electricity services you can budget easily without the worry of forgetting to pay the bill. This can mean you build up credit over the warmer, lighter summer months when you’re not using as much. Or, if you prefer to pay for what you consume, a quarterly bill from your provider could be for you.
- Compare energy providers before you choose your tariff. In some cases, you may find that you’re able to source your gas and electricity from the same company, which can make it easier as you’ll have fewer bills to deal with, although you may find that you’ll get a better deal if you ‘mix and match’ providers. Remember to consider when the energy price cap is due to change before you lock in. The level of the energy price cap is based on typical household energy use and paying by direct debit.
- Book an appointment at your nearest Redrow development to use our Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) calculator to discover how much you could save by switching from your existing property to an energy efficient new Redrow home.
Reduce your use
- Turn the thermostat down. Turning your thermostat down by just 10-15% for eight hours a day can lower your annual heating bills by up to 10%. Reduce your boiler flow temperature to 75°C (or even 65°C in summer) to save energy instead of the standard 80°C.
- Reduce the cost of hot water by setting your water heater to 54°C instead of the standard 60°C. Instead of a long soak in a deep-filled bath, take a shower and shorten the time you’re in the shower with the water running.
- Only run the washing machine or dishwasher with a full load – or choose a part load programme, if available. Appliances in Redrow homes are A-rated and above. Dry your laundry outside or use a heated clothes airer instead of the tumble dryer.
- Cook smart. Cover pans with lids and only use enough water to cover the food you’re cooking. Consider using other appliances to cook other than the oven such as an air fryer, slow cooker or microwave.
Putting our energy into new technology
Our homes are already among the most efficient available and we’ve been developing ways to make them even more so.
- Air source heat pumps. We’re pioneering the use of air source heat pumps as a sustainable alternative to gas boilers in our Eco Electric homes, available as standard on all upcoming developments. Helping ensure your home is future-ready, these include underfloor heating on the ground floor. To find out more about air source heat pumps watch our podcast here.
- PV panels built into the roof of your home should mean lower electricity bills, with the potential to receive payments if you generate more energy than you use. You can add these to your home through My Redrow, the members’ only area of our website, where you can personalise your property with extras and upgrades.
- EV charging points are included on many of our homes, providing our homeowners with facilities to charge their electric vehicles and reduce their reliance on petrol or diesel.
- Eco-friendly upgrades are available via My Redrow including adding an eco-waste bin or steaming hot tap.
Rated for energy & by our homeowners
The average UK property has an EPC rating of D, but our homes are much more efficient, achieving a B rating – some an A, which is the highest rating available. The efficiency of our homes makes them eligible for green mortgages, which tend to offer more favourable interest rates, helping lower household bills further.
Many of our homeowners have discovered their new build utility bills are lower.
Martyn Stewart and Emma Harrison switched from renting a two-bedroom 1870s terrace to owning a four-bedroom detached Henley, with solar panels, at Tabley Green in Lancashire.
“The house we were renting was so cold and draughty, but this house is so warm and, when we have to put the heating on, we can feel it kicking in in about 10 minutes. And it retains the heat,” Emma said.
Andrew and Sue Baker would have faced digging up concrete floors for extra insulation in their old home, which had an EPC C-rating. They moved into Woodborough Grange in Somerset last December. They were extremely impressed with the home’s solar panels, wall cavity insulation and SAP rating of 84, which sealed the deal for them.
“We’ve loved our home since we moved in. Our energy bills did not skyrocket over the winter, our home is well-built and we are extremely fortunate to live here,” Andrew said.
Sue added: “Redrow looked after us and understood our need to live in an energy-efficient home, and we are so happy we moved.” Find out more about how Redrow homes are built to be energy efficient and to help you save money on your household billson this article.
Sarah and Lochlan, who were drawn to our Stone Hill Meadow development; the first to feature our new eco-friendly homes. Read how we helped this couple fall in love with their first home in Lower Stondon.
