homebuilding.co.uk 203The Build cosT news
KarencurTinis the
managingdirector
ofGravenHill,the
uK’slargestself
andcustombuild
community
Long-term savings are
now a key consideration
F
ollowingonfroma year
ofpriceincreasesin2018,
energycostsare,onceagain,
expectedtorisefurtherthisyear
leavinghomeownerswithtwo
choices:tobeasself-sufficient
aspossiblewhenit comestothe
energytheyuseintheirhomes,or
simplyuselessofit.
Withthisinmind,‘ecohouses’
arebecomingincreasingly
fashionableasa newgeneration
ofhomeownersbecomemore
environmentallyconsciousand
realisethefinancialbenefitsof
choosingsmarterandgreener
optionswhenit comesto
decidinghowtolivetheirlives.
Althoughtheinitialcostsof
buildingtoenergy-efficiency
standardssuchPassivhausmaybeslightlyhigher,theseareoften
outweighedbythelong-term
costbenefitsofinstallinghigh
performancewindows,thicker
insulationanda ventilation
system.Asa result,ongoing
operatingcostsarelower,
resultinginsignificantsavingsin
comparisontoa traditionalbuild.
Witha newgenerationoffirst-
timebuyerskeentodotheirbit
fortheenvironment,developers
havebeenforcedtoprioritise
energyefficiencyinhomestosuit
everybudget.Whetherthegoalis
upsizing,downsizingorbuying
forthefirst-time,eco-building
bringsa hostoffinancialbenefits
—it is,however,a lifestyle
choicewhichmayneeda period
ofadjustmentif homeownersTHE CHEAPEST SELF-BUILD CITIES BY AVERAGE
PLOTCOSTS (according to research by Insulation Express)PLace ciTY aVeraGePriceoF PLoT
1 Inverness £91,062
2 Dundee £95,000
3 Manchester £112,090
4 Salford £119,833
5 Durham £128,684
6 Wolverhampton £146,666
7 Southampton £156,666
8 Plymouth £170,000
9 Lincoln £173,316
10 Newport £195,500Don’t forget to use our
build cost calculator at
http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/
calculatorEnergy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important
factor when it comes to our homes, says Graven Hill’s MD
are used to traditional heating
solutions.
While self-builders typically
have the freedom to incorporate
whichever environmentally
friendly options they choose,
buyers of custom build new
homes can focus on the bigger
picture. Fixed-cost, yet flexible on
choice, custom build homes offer
the benefits of eco-efficiency and
certainty regarding budget — the
only surprise is lower bills.
In the past, eco-friendly, low-
energy homes have been viewed
as unobtainable, only found in
self-build properties, however
that is no longer the case. Graven
Hill, a development containing
a mixture of innovative custom
and self-build homes in Bicester,
Oxfordshire, is likely to contain
the largest concentration of
private Passivhaus dwellings
in the country by the time of
its completion. The 1,900-plot
development works as an example
of bringing the Passivhaus reality
to the standard, affordable home.
For more: http://www.gravenhill.co.uk.1234567
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