“Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the most important resource” – Dan Shechtman
2 min read
“Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the most important resource” – Dan Shechtman
2 min read
A growing proportion of house hunters are focusing on energy-efficient considerations when looking to buy a new home.
Energy-efficiency simply means the property will use less energy, whilst remaining on-the-grid.
On the other hand, a self-succient property requires no external heat or power supply, which makes energy prices completely irrelevant. Many of these types of houses will generate energy from solar, wind, heat pumps or water sources. However, a 100% self-sufficient home is rare, with homes realistically being able to achieve up to 80% self-sufficiency.
Insulation is key when constructing or renovating a property to be energy-efficient. This means that windows, doors, the attic and basement will need to be carefully considered. In addition, modern heating and ventilation systems are often able to out-perform older systems thereby cutting heating costs and heat loss.
In a climate of rising energy prices, making your home energy-efficient can reduce your costs of powering and heating your home. This can have a significant impact in your outgoings over time. Usually, the investment pays for itself in a few years. That being said, it is imporant to remember that energy-efficient properties can require maintenance that others might not.
Research1 suggests that rising energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis are having a significant impact on how buyers prioritise various desirable features, with an increasing number focusing on aspects related to energy efficiency.
Cavity wall insulation was this year’s biggest mover of the top 20 features, rising five spots from 20th in 2021 to 15th in the current rankings. In addition, a good energy efficiency rating rose three spots to sixth place, while a new boiler or central heating system was four positions higher than last year in ninth.
Interestingly, the top five must-have house attributes remained the same this year as last, with a private garden and central heating tied at the top of the table. Double glazing, secure doors and windows and a reliable broadband connection also remained high up on the list of desirable features.
Searching for an energy-efficient home, or any home for that matter, can be challenging, and if you are building or renovating your own property, there are many subsidies or tax deductions that you might be eligible for. We are here to make every step of the property purchasing process as efficient as possible. So, get in touch today and we’ll work to make your property purchase, renovation or construction as seamless as it can be with the support from our specialists.
Send us an e-mail to info@pattersonmills.ch or call us direct at +41 21 801 36 84.
1GoCompare, 2022
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