In 2025, saving energy are the words on everyone's lips. With fuel costs at a high, homebuyers are seeking greener homes. But what does it mean to have an energy-efficient home and more importantly, what benefits does it bring?
The rating
When on the hunt for a new home, you may come across an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This is a measure of how well the home is performing when it comes to energy consumption. In the UK, it’s represented by a letter grade, with ‘A’ being the most efficient and ‘G’ being the least.
At Countryside Homes, all our standard homes have an EPC rating of A or B, compared to less than 5% of second-hand properties that reached the same standard.
The rating is based on factors including:
1. Windows
Energy-efficient windows are designed to minimise the amount of heat that travels through to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Instead of a single pane of glass, double or triple glazing reduces heat transfer to keep it inside in winter and outside in summer.
The window frame also plays an important role in energy efficiency. Frames made from materials like wood or uPVC are generally more efficient than aluminium frames.
2. Home appliances
In all our homes, you have the choice of adding energy-efficient home appliances that have been carefully selected to save you money.
Most home appliances now come with some energy-saving features. Home appliances are graded on an energy label scale of A to G. Choosing an A-rated dishwasher can save you around £25 a year, compared to the lowest-rated dishwasher of the same size. They also use less water, keeping that bill down too.*
3. Insulation
Greener homes are those that are well-insulated. Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow, preventing heat from escaping your home in winter and entering in summer. By slowing down heat flow, you won’t have to heat or ventilate your home as often, bringing your energy consumption down.
The benefits of buying green
Not only is buying a Countryside Home a stylish choice, but it’s also great for your finances. According to the Home Buyers Federation, our homes are on average 64% cheaper to heat than an equivalent Victorian property, saving you up to £907 a year on year heating bills.**
Having a well-insulated and properly sealed home is also much more comfortable to live in. With energy-efficient, double-glazed windows comes less draft and more consistent temperatures to keep you cosy.
But it doesn’t just benefit you now, having an energy-efficient home could also help you in the future. As homes with high-energy efficiency ratings become increasingly popular, their resale value is likely to increase, giving you a boost later down the line.
What do our customers say?
Lydia, a homeowner at Countryside’s Radclyffe Green development in Chadderton, Oldham, said:
“After moving from a two-bed house, and particularly with the cost of living crisis, I was worried we’d end up paying a lot more for electricity and gas. I can tell our new home is really energy efficient as we’re paying the same as we were in our old house, if not less.”
Take a look at the energy-efficient homes we have available here.
*Energy Saving Trust
**Home Builders Federation, Watt a Save report
