If you’re thinking of moving and every penny counts you could save £556 per year by opting for a new home. Gill Lamprell, head of south and west residential development at Knight Frank, explains how.

With the recent cold weather and deep snow across the county, many of us will have had to turn the central heating up a few notches in order to keep warm. But we could all be doing a lot more to ensure our homes are as warm as possible without having to turn the heating up.

A new report from the Halifax using the Energy Performance Certificate’s energy efficiency rating bands has found that the majority of our homes are performing poorly. The report found that only two out of five homes rate average for energy efficiency, with only one per cent achieving a high ranking, so it seems we have a long way to go until our homes can be considered efficient.

Currently, new-build homes are deemed the most energy-efficient because building regulations mean that they are built to higher insulation standards with double glazing and better draft proofing, as well as more efficient boilers and heating systems.

Not only is this good for the environment, it is also a major attraction for home-buyers who benefit from lower fuel bills. In fact, research by National Energy Services has shown that living in a new-build property could save up to £556 per year on energy bills at present rates.

For those who live in an older house, there are steps you can take to cut the energy used, which will in turn, save you money. The easiest is cutting heat loss – the average three-bedroom home uses almost half of its energy on heating, for example, so checking your insulation is imperative, and any measure you can take to improve it will help.

Heat loss through your windows too accounts for up to a quarter of your heating bill. New windows must be double-glazed by law, but if you aren’t in a position to put new windows in, draft proofing the edges can help.

There are lots of other small ways to save energy – low-energy light bulbs, showering instead of using the bath, and using the washing machine at lower temperatures can all help to reduce your usage and save money.

Just a few small steps will hopefully make us a more energy-efficient nation.

For further information on new homes, contact Knight Frank on 01483 564660 or go to www.knightfrank.com