Rise in new homes receiving top energy efficiency grades

More than four out of every five new homes completed in England and Wales in the final quarter of last year achieved one of the top highest energy efficiency ratings, according to latest Government data. The data, which looks at Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of new build properties, found that in the three months to December last year, 84% of new homes delivered in England had an energy efficiency rating of A or B, up from 79% in the preceding three months. However, in Wales, the number of new homes delivered with an A or B rating in the final three months of 2020 stood at 87%, down 1% from the previous quarter. Energy Performance Certificate ratings range from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient, and G the least. Homes with lower ratings will be more expensive to keep warm, as heat is often lost through the walls, roof or windows. Existing homes tend to have much lower energy efficient ratings than new build homes, which must conform to stricter building regulations. Nearly half (43%) of existing homes in England had an energy efficient rating of D in the three months to December, whilst just 3% had a rating of B. Fewer than 0.1% of existing homes had a rating of A. In Wales, 39% of existing homes that lodged an EPC between October and December last year had an energy efficient rating of D, whilst the same proportion had a C rating. There were 414,000 EPCs lodged on the register for new homes in England and Wales in 2020 - an increase of 10% compared to the same quarter in 2019. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Building back greener and delivering quality energy efficient homes is a priority for this government and these figures highlight our commitment to helping keep household bills low for people, while looking towards a more sustainable future.”You can find out more about how Energy Performance Certificates work in our guide What is an Energy Performance Certificate?