What Mandatory Solar Panels and Heat Pumps Means for New Homes

A BIG CHANGE IN HOW HOMES ARE DESIGNED 

For a time making homes sustainable was something that was thought about later on. This is changing now.

By making energy and low-carbon heating a part of the planning and building process the industry is being pushed to design homes with these things in mind from the start.

This means that:

• Roofs need to be designed to get the sunlight for the solar panels

• There needs to be space for the heat pumps and other systems

• The shape and direction of the home are more important

• The home needs to be able to support heating systems that use temperatures

For architects this is what many of them have been saying for years: good design and energy performance go hand in hand.

HOW MUCH ENERGY WILL COST?

While the policy is about reducing carbon, the big impact for homeowners is knowing how much energy will cost. Energy bills have been going up and down a lot lately. This is a big concern.

Homes that make their electricity and use efficient heating systems mean that:

• You do not have to rely as much on other energy sources

• You have control over how much you spend on energy

• Your home will be more affordable in the run

This change is not just about being environmentally friendly. It is about making sure homes are protected from big changes in energy costs.

One of the concerns is how much it will cost upfront. It is estimated that these changes could add around £10,000 to the cost of a home. However this needs to be thought about in the context of the lifespan of the home.

When you look at it this way the costs and benefits are:

• Energy costs over time

• You will not need to make as many changes to the home in the future

• The value of the home could go up

• You might be able to get mortgage and lending options because the home is sustainable

The key point is that what might seem like an extra cost now will likely be what everyone expects in the future.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SELF BUILDERS

For people building their own homes this is actually a good thing.

Unlike building companies people building their own homes can:

• Put in systems that work well together from the start

• Design the home to get the most sunlight for the solar panels

• Use different technologies together to get the best results

• Make the home perform even better than the minimum standards

In cases people building their own homes are already ahead of the regulations. This change just means that the rest of the market will catch up.

WHY DESIGN MATTERS?

The biggest risk with new regulations is not the technology. It is putting things together poorly.

If you put panels on a roof that is not suitable or try to use a heat pump in a home that is not well insulated it will not work well.

Instead success comes from:

• Planning the energy use of the home from the start

• Designing the home and its systems to work together

• Understanding how the home will actually be used

This is where working with the design team is crucial.

A LOOK AT THE FUTURE

There’s a noticeable shift happening in how homes are being designed. It’s no longer just about how a building looks, but how it actually performs day to day. More and more homes are generating their own energy, using simple, well-considered design to reduce their impact on the environment and keep running costs under control.

They’re also simply better places to live. Warm in winter, comfortable in summer, with good air quality and no reliance on constant heating or cooling to make them feel right. What is being delivered today will soon become the standard for all new homes.

If you are considering an energy efficient self build and would like more information on where to begin then contact our team to arrange a free consultation.