Our research shows that around 48% of existing and potential new home customers consider the environmental performance of the home to be an important factor in choosing a house builder.
Our homes are highly energy efficient and we are investing in R&D to help us further improve energy and carbon efficiency. Data from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) suggests that people living in a new build home save on average over £420 a year on their overall energy bills*, and over £120 a year on their annual water bills**.
Energy efficient homes today
The majority of our homes built in 2024 were designed to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rating of B. The average dwelling emission rate was 13.2 kgCO2e/m2 per year.
Features include insulation, energy-efficient walls and windows, 100% low energy light fittings and energy-efficient appliances. We are rolling out homes built to our latest specification in line with the updates to Building Regulations Parts L and F. These integrate enhanced fabric standards, further energy-efficiency measures and low carbon technologies, including triple glazing, wastewater heat recovery systems, high efficiency boilers, thermally enhanced lintels and photovoltaic (PV) panels. These changes result in an average 31% reduction in carbon emissions from our homes in England, compared with our previous specification, with similar reductions in Wales and Scotland. We are one of the first UK housebuilders to use triple glazing at scale (around one third of completions in 2024).
We submit photographic records at key build stages to demonstrate that our homes are built to the energy efficiency standards specified, and these are shared with the customer purchasing the home.
We are continuing to develop our specification for zero carbon ready as we transition towards the Future Homes Standard from 2025 in England and the New Build Heat Standard in Scotland from 2024. Our Road to Net Zero Carbon Working Group is guiding our preparations.
We are continuing to develop our specification for zero carbon ready homes as we prepare for the introduction of the Future Homes Standard. Our Road to Net Zero Carbon Working Group is guiding our preparations and the changes to our specification. We are using insights gained from our future homes trial at Sudbury to develop a specification that is customer focused and cost effective as well as energy and carbon efficient. Our specification will be finalised following publication of final government guidance and the launch of the new Home Energy Model (HEM) software (which will replace the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)). This is expected in 2025.
Reaching the UK’s net zero target requires big changes across the economy, including workforce skills and materials innovation. We are working closely with our suppliers and sub-contractors and collaborating with other housebuilders on some of these challenges through the Future Homes Hub and HBF.
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At our future homes build trial in Sudbury, Suffolk, we built five zero carbon ready fully electric homes fitted with a range of energy-efficient and low carbon technology combinations. We believe it was the first trial of its type in a live construction site setting.
Features and technologies used include triple glazing, high performance front doors and enhanced insulation, PV panels and battery storage, air source heat pumps, wastewater heat recovery, heat pump cylinders, electric panel heating, smart cylinders, underfloor heating, thermaskirt heated skirting boards, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, infrared radiant heating and smart home technology.
We used the plots to help engage our workforce, sub-contractors and other stakeholders including customers, lenders, investors, industry experts and politicians on low carbon technologies. Following sale of the plots we have also conducted post-occupancy research with the new residents.
Elsewhere on our development in Sudbury, we worked in partnership with utility provider GTC to create a pioneering community heat network that uses large-scale air source heat pumps to supply homes with heat and hot water. Carbon emissions will be reduced by around 75% compared to traditional gas heating.
We were pleased that our investment in innovation was recognised with several awards in 2024:
We are delivering 176 new zero carbon ready homes for soldiers based at Imjin Barracks and their families, in partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
The partnership supports the military to provide affordable, high-quality homes for service personnel while fulfilling its sustainability commitments.
The homes integrate a range of sustainable features, including air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, PV panels, underfloor heating, smart heating controls, masonry build with enhanced walls, thermal break lintels, triple-glazed windows and external doors, wastewater heat recovery and electric vehicle charging points, ensuring a reduced carbon footprint and increased energy-efficiency. Zoned underfloor heating will allow residents the option to only heat the rooms they want to, which can further reduce energy use.
Upon completion, Whittle Gardens will also feature green open space, community orchards, wildflower meadows, play areas, sports pitches and a multi-use games area. Footpaths and cycleways will enable easy access to the surrounding areas.
“This is the first large scale net zero carbon housing development procured for the Ministry of Defence and supports the Army’s obligations under the Greening Government Commitments to reach net zero by 2050.”
Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director Army Basing & InfrastructureWater saving: All our homes in England and Wales have water meters fitted, and all have low flow taps and showers, and dual flush toilets. Our homes are designed to achieve a maximum internal water use of 120 litres per person per day and many are even more water efficient. We have installed over 2,900 water butts in customer homes since 2021, including 933 in 2024. In 2025, we are partnering with a supplier to offer all customers 20% off the purchase price of a water butt for their new home. Customers can also use the discount to buy a home composter.
Resources and recycling: We are including integrated recycling bins in more of our kitchens to help customers increase recycling. Over 1,200 completions included integrated recycling bins in 2024.
Nature on developments: We’re integrating wildlife enhancements on our sites (see Planet) and engaging customers on nature friendly gardening. We have distributed over 5,164 home welcome packs with wildflower seeds, bug hotels and other products to help customers create a more nature friendly garden since 2022. We’ve also added how-to guides to our website in partnership with Hedgehog Street and BugLife to and developed materials our business units can use to engage customers and local communities in nature-based activities. We’ve installed 27 beehives on our sites, including 12 in 2024 to encourage residents to engage with nature and some sites include features such as community orchards and allotments.
Read more about our approach to nature
Working from home: Over 3,400 homes have included a study in their floorplan since 2021 to support working from home.
Information and advice: We want to make sure customers understand and know how to use the energy efficient and low carbon features in their new homes. This will become increasingly important as we introduce more low carbon technologies. We have developed an innovative set of new visual assets to help explain the technologies used in our homes as well as features in and around the developments. Customers can access these via a QR code when visiting one of our show homes. Examples include:
We use signage in our show homes to help customers understand the energy efficiency features and benefits. Customers can also access information on the sustainability features of our homes via our website, marketing materials, signage on our developments and, once they’ve moved in, our ‘From House to Home’ manual. This includes tips on saving energy, reducing waste, maintaining good internal air quality and encouraging nature in their gardens. Details on how to use and maintain their home’s environmental features are also included in our Maintenance Guide.
Low carbon transport: See Sustainable places for more information
We are investing in research and product trials to help us improve the sustainability, standardisation and quality of the homes we build. In 2024, our R&D Director coordinated our research efforts and chaired our Functional Interface Group that tests and trials new, innovative and alternative products.
In 2024, areas we focused on included:
We are also involved in a number of working groups with the Future Homes Hub and HBF looking at areas such as water smart communities and preparing for the launch of the new Home Energy Model (HEM) software.
Read more about our approach to protecting the environment
Around 88% of our homes use off site components such as spandrel panels, smart roof panellised cassette roofs, cassette timber floors and prefabricated porches, canopies and dormers. Off site construction techniques can improve the energy performance of our homes and have a lower environmental footprint as they can be manufactured efficiently with less waste.
Timber frame has lower embodied carbon than traditional brick and block building techniques. We aim to increase timber frame usage to 30% of our production by 2030, from 16% in 2024 (2023: 16%). Our new timber frame facility started supplying our sites in 2024 and will supply up to 3,000 timber frame kits a year at full capacity.
*Figures sourced from Watt a Save, 2026, Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Octopus Energy
** Figures sourced from HBF "Wat-er Save" report update, March 2025