B&Q survey shows 40% of homeowners will struggle with winter energy bills

The government's Code for Sustainable Homes is driving the housebuilding industry to become ‘greener' at a time when energy bills are soaring, making the idea of owning a new home an attractive one.

A new survey from B&Q reveals that four in 10 homeowners will struggle to pay their energy bills this winter, despite government efforts to convince the country's largest energy firms to tackle rapidly rising energy prices.

Figures last week showed annual bills have now increased to £1,345 a year for the average household - double the £740 of five years ago.

Similarly, another 80% of the 2,000 homeowners polled worry about how much their heating bills come to, and the same percentage try to delay putting their heating on for as long as possible in an effort to save money.

Unsurprisingly, sustainability is rising quickly up housing agendas. More homeowners are engaging with the issue in an effort to make their homes better insulated and more energy efficient in order to tackle rising energy bills.

Matt Sexton, director of corporate social responsibility for B&Q, said: "With cash-strapped homeowners about to be hit by soaring energy bills, it's vital that homeowners look at making simple changes to their homes that could save hundreds of pounds a year."

A viable alternative is to simply buy a brand new home, which are improving in energy efficiency each year, as housebuilders create contemporary homes that meet high efficiency targets, reducing energy consumption, and bills, in the process.

New homes are generally more energy efficient, thanks to improved insulation, energy efficient boilers, double glazing, better drought proofing, low energy light bulbs, solar heat gain, among a range of other efficient appliances.

"Modern homes are built to higher insulation standards and have more efficient heating systems than at any other time," said Shirley Watson, NHBC's engineering services manager. "Not only is this good for the environment it is also a major attraction for homebuyers who benefit from lower fuel bills."

Source : WhatHouse.co.uk
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