Real world experience energy costs: new home vs older home
Discussion
As above, I am in the position where I am considering a much newer or even new home for all sorts of reasons, not least someone in household with long term illness and staying at home a lot. One main consideration is rising energy bills. However, there seems a dearth of real world experience of what lower energy bills a newer home would bring.
Ignore any renewables into the equation.
I am currently in 1970's semi of 140m2, with no floor insulation at all, dust where there once was cavity wall insulation, 20 year old wood double glazing, and I happen to also be sat north of a hill which blocks any sunlight in winter.. Even with grants any upgrade will be expensive, and we have some walls and floors that cannot be insulated as they are too narrow a cavity or solid concrete. 5 year old boiler but microbore throughout, odd sized radiators and poor room controls. 3 of us living here.
Elec: @3,500kWh
Gas: @14,500kWh
Looking at less than 10 year old, most only a couple of year old, houses of similar size to my current place.
Has anyone got any 'real world' experience of if a newer house does reduce energy bills...?
Ignore any renewables into the equation.
I am currently in 1970's semi of 140m2, with no floor insulation at all, dust where there once was cavity wall insulation, 20 year old wood double glazing, and I happen to also be sat north of a hill which blocks any sunlight in winter.. Even with grants any upgrade will be expensive, and we have some walls and floors that cannot be insulated as they are too narrow a cavity or solid concrete. 5 year old boiler but microbore throughout, odd sized radiators and poor room controls. 3 of us living here.
Elec: @3,500kWh
Gas: @14,500kWh
Looking at less than 10 year old, most only a couple of year old, houses of similar size to my current place.
Has anyone got any 'real world' experience of if a newer house does reduce energy bills...?
We moved from a good quality house built in 1996 to a brand new house in 2014. The new place is very well insulated and about 50% larger in terms of floor area. Our gas consumption virtually halved. Electricity isn't such a clear picture as the new place has a much higher background load due to being equipped with more stuff...
That said, lower energy bills will take a long time to offset the huge cost of moving house, so it would never just be an economic decision.
outnumbered said:
We moved from a good quality house built in 1996 to a brand new house in 2014. The new place is very well insulated and about 50% larger in terms of floor area. Our gas consumption virtually halved. Electricity isn't such a clear picture as the new place has a much higher background load due to being equipped with more stuff...
That said, lower energy bills will take a long time to offset the huge cost of moving house, so it would never just be an economic decision.
I agree, it is though a factor and a growing one at that for me. That said, lower energy bills will take a long time to offset the huge cost of moving house, so it would never just be an economic decision.
I would be mortgage free as part of this move, and long term we have lost a salary (OH has life limiting illness). Therefore a lower energy bill and one or even two council tax bands lower (another £50-100 a month less), and initially less maintenance is a burden lifted.
It will also come with solar panels (which I can opt to expand) and ready for a car charger, and one I am considering is ASHP as well so saving standing charges on gas and being more 'future proof'.
I will also be factoring in a much more manageable garden, not having to spend here on insulation, kitchen, bathroom, new windows etc, better home office and more.
Hi OP, I live in rural Aberdeenshire so it can get fairly cold in winter. Also due to location there is no mains gas therefore the house is electric only, it was built in 2012 and has a decent level of insulation and is 1.5 storey, approx. 140m2 floor area. Heating is by ASHP using radiators throughout. Electricity provider is Octopus Energy using their Intelligent Go tariff, all in we are approx. £1,900/year (= approx. 10,000kWh/year) for our energy cost which includes all home energy plus approx. 12,000 miles per year EV charging. No solar panels or batteries.
Moved from a 2 bed purpose built first-floor flat that was built in 2005 to a brand new house (small, high-end local developer and not one of the nationals) in September 2024. Our bills in our detached three-bedroom house are lower than they were in the flat.
Obviously very well insulated, it's also got wet underfloor heating etc. Insulation is noticeable, and bills are significantly lower than even a 20-year old property.
Obviously very well insulated, it's also got wet underfloor heating etc. Insulation is noticeable, and bills are significantly lower than even a 20-year old property.
We went the opposite way - <10 years old house to 40'ish year old one. Virtually same size 4 bed detached. Electricity no real difference but gas consumption +50%. That was after fresh double glazing doors etc, maxed out loft insulation and as many gaps filled as poss.
There are pros and cons. Older house actually has real walls you can attach things to, walls that mean that sounds don't travel around the house so much. When it's warm like now older house stays much cooler vs the newer home we really struggled to cool down. In winter hands down newer place, 3, 2, 1 and it was warm.
There are pros and cons. Older house actually has real walls you can attach things to, walls that mean that sounds don't travel around the house so much. When it's warm like now older house stays much cooler vs the newer home we really struggled to cool down. In winter hands down newer place, 3, 2, 1 and it was warm.
Edwardian 4 bed semi, 245sqm. Wirral Peninsular.
Reasonable loft insulation, but solid walls throughout, mix of solid and suspended floors, big bay windows (replaced in 80s with uPVC).
Gas system boiler, running 55degC flow temps to large radiators, 250l modern stainless OSO hot water cylinder.
Estimated Annual Usage
Elec 2842 kWh
Gas 32616 kWh
Current forecast £280/month
Reasonable loft insulation, but solid walls throughout, mix of solid and suspended floors, big bay windows (replaced in 80s with uPVC).
Gas system boiler, running 55degC flow temps to large radiators, 250l modern stainless OSO hot water cylinder.
Estimated Annual Usage
Elec 2842 kWh
Gas 32616 kWh
Current forecast £280/month
House is a bit over 25 years old, 4/5 bed.
Gas heating about £800 a year, South Devon on Octopus's latest guess.
That's after putting a fair bit of effort into sorting draughts, insulation between house and garage, topping up loft insulation etc.
A few friends with newer places pay at least as much, you get to a point where the need for ventilation and the general reality of people opening doors and stuff start to limit the effect of yet more insulation.
Modern places with in-fashion big glazing and no curtains to insulate the windows, open plan layouts etc can all be wasteful.
We have patio windows with a view, only shut the curtains when it's particularly cold, it makes a difference.
Also some people simply like their houses warmer or cooler, so there's a limit to the value of comparing with other people's bills.
Gas heating about £800 a year, South Devon on Octopus's latest guess.
That's after putting a fair bit of effort into sorting draughts, insulation between house and garage, topping up loft insulation etc.
A few friends with newer places pay at least as much, you get to a point where the need for ventilation and the general reality of people opening doors and stuff start to limit the effect of yet more insulation.
Modern places with in-fashion big glazing and no curtains to insulate the windows, open plan layouts etc can all be wasteful.
We have patio windows with a view, only shut the curtains when it's particularly cold, it makes a difference.
Also some people simply like their houses warmer or cooler, so there's a limit to the value of comparing with other people's bills.
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