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Paying hundreds for your heating whilst still shivering

As winter continues to bite, research from Barratt Developments, which includes both the Barratt and David Wilson Homes brands, shows that homeowners and renters across Yorkshire are expecting to pay on average £773 for their energy this year.

The leading local developer, which offers a range of housetypes at its Bodington Manor and St Andrew’s View developments in Leeds, found that despite paying through the roof for their energy, a third of the 2,000 people surveyed said they still felt cold in their home.

The research also highlights a growing desire to use technology to control our homes and save money. Only 20% of people think they couldn’t save money by having better heating controls, whilst two thirds of homeowners (67%) would feel confident about using a smart phone to remotely set their heating. However, older homeowners are much less keen using such technology, with 62% of those aged 55+ saying they were not interested in setting their heating controls in this way.

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 £400 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.

Sam Wood, Sales Director of Barratt Yorkshire West, 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.”

FIVE ENERGY SAVING TIPS WITHIN YOUR HOME

1) Programme your heating. All new build homes come with a programmable timer and thermostat, but if your home does not have one, consider installing one. These allow you to only use energy when you want the heat to go on and to set the temperature you want in separate rooms 2) Keep radiators clear of furniture - this increases their efficiency 3) Draw the curtains or blinds at night and use draught-blockers for doors – this helps to reduce heat loss 4) Consider living in a new build home, which can be up to 55% more energy efficient than an upgraded Victorian equivalent 5) If you have a loft, consider insulation. You could save energy by topping up the thickness of the insulation from 100mm to the recommended 270mm

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 .