Everything you need to know, including FAQs, Tips & Costs about building a new low-energy home.
You have two lifestyle options in how you build your new home;
Option 1: You can follow the Governments “electrification” strategy in your new home (electric heat pump heating, etc.). This means you will continue to have energy bills to pay for 100% of your heating, hot water & electricity (don’t forget EV charging).
Option 2: You can follow a renewable energy strategy which means you make a significant amount of your self-made heat & power energy free, thereby minimising your exposure to future energy bills.
The details of this post will show you how to meet option 2, the renewable & low bill option, easily. (Note, your energy rating will also be better with Option 2 as you have to purchase less energy)
And Option 2 is cheaper to builld and gives you a more valuable home.
Top FAQ Question 1:
Q1. If option 2 has the lowest energy bills and the best energy rating, why is the Government not supporting it ?
A1. They support both options, but they prefer to only “tell you” about option 1 as they need to generate taxation from you paying bills; hence they push option 1. The Government will lose up to 90% of their fossil fuel taxation by 2050 so they need to replace it by encouraging homeowners to install electric heat pumps, etc.
Have a quick view of the following video of A1 Super HONE nZEB homes to see what a 2nd fix Option 2 installation looks like.
Here we walk through a new build project to see what is happening at 2nd fix.
Top FAQ Question 2:
Q2. What energy rating options can I have going with the renewable energy option?
A2. With this option, the simplest outcome is an A1 Super nZEB with a basic design, but with little adjustments, you can have an A1 Net Zero or a A1 PEB (Positive Energy Building) with no annual energy bills. All these options have lower construction costs than the basic A2 home with an electric heat pump heating.
The most important question to ask when designing a new home?.
The most important question is whether to go off-grid with your home services.
What is the definition of being off-grid?
Being off-grid is not using or depending on centralised utilities, especially the supply of electricity, heating or car charging.
There are many ways to be off-grid, historically, oil or solid fuel heating are off-grid heating sources.
Off-Grid can usually be determined by whether the price or supply can be imediatly controlled by a third party. Compare mains gas supply and Kerosene. Mains gas can be turned off without notice and the price increased. Kersoene can’t in the same way, you have already purchased your supply and only you can turn it on or off.
Top Tip:
T1. What is the biggest mistake made in new build projects ?
T1. The biggest mistake in a new build is not understanding that a new build home, which will be airtight with a MHRV (Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation) will have its space heating controlled by the ventilation system. The space heating in your home will no longer be controlled by individual room controls, underfloor heating or radiators. These devices will simply add heat to the space heating so you should choose the lowest-cost option.
For lots more residential information, please see our RESIDENTUAL FAQ. HERE.