Partner Article

North East residents paying hundreds for heating

• Noth East homeowners pay on average £802 for heating
• A third of people still feel cold in their home despite heating
• Age of property the biggest influence on a heating bill

As winter continues to bite, research from Barratt Homes North East shows that homeowners and renters in the region are expecting to pay on average £802 for their energy this year, with nearly a quarter expecting to pay more than £1,000. Yet despite paying through the roof for their energy, a third of people surveyed in the North East said they still felt cold in their home.

The research conducted by Barratt Homes, which is building new homes at its Merrington Park development in Spennymoor, also highlighted how irrespective of the age of the occupant, the age of a property is one of the biggest influences on a heating bill. The research showed that 80% of people estimated they could save up to £218 on their annual heating bill just by living in a more energy efficient new build home. New homes typically have energy saving features such as the latest insulation, high levels of airtightness and new double glazing.

Whilst those in Scotland predictably expect to spend more, those in London surprisingly look set to pay more than those in the chillier climes of Yorkshire, the North East and the North West. Homeowners in the East Midlands expect to pay the least, just £675 on average.

Fenton Hewitt, Sales Director at Barratt Homes North East, said: “We are all spending hundreds of pounds on our heating, yet so many of us are still feeling cold in our homes. Making sure your walls and roof are well insulated will make a massive difference to both your comfort and your heating bill. New homes are also much more energy efficient than older ones – by up to 55%. For instance, we use new highly efficient boilers and modern low heat loss cylinders which keep water hotter for longer. We also make it clear for people to see how much they could be saving in a new build home by having an energy calculator online.”

To find out how you can save money on energy bills in a new build home and to understand more about how Barratt Homes help you stay warm, visit http://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-is/warm

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .