The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has found that new build houses use 27% less water per year on average
The HBF have published a new guide as part of New Homes Week, detailing how new-build houses are more water-efficient homes, among other benefits.
Residents of new-build homes tend to save £126 per year on water bills, on average.
Newer technology increases efficiency in homes
The reason that new-builds are more water-efficient homes is that they are built with more efficient taps, toilets, and showers alongside more efficient appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
Since the 1960s, the UK has increased water usage by 5bn litres, a number which must come down to remain sustainable due to climate change and population growth.
The Environment Agency has advised against several new housing schemes in the past due to limited water supply, including in Cambridge and Sussex.
Opposition to Cambridge housing developments has recently been dropped as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
The average UK property uses 150 litres of water per person per day (LPPPD), meaning an average household uses 130,000 litres per year. New-build houses drop this average to 110 LPPPD, meaning the average household uses 96,000.
The water savings can be scaled up to nearly 8.5bn litres of water for the 240,000 new homes built in 2024.
Water-efficient homes can drop water bills
At the moment, the average water bill for a UK property is £473 per year, but in new builds this drops to around £347.
The Future Homes Standard lays out new regulations that ensure that all new builds are built with low-carbon and high-efficiency in mind, and so the trend of water-efficient homes is hoped to continue rising.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive at HBF, said: “Reducing the amount of water we use as a country is imperative. The house building industry is committed to playing its part and billions of litres of water are being saved each year by the purchasers of new build homes.
“This not only helps the environment, it also saves new build purchasers money, another benefit of buying new.”
Nicci Russell, chief executive at Waterwise, said: “New build homes provide a practical solution to the country’s pressing water concerns—ensuring long-term benefits for both homeowners and the environment. However, nothing happens without water and even with innovative design, saving water is everyone’s responsibility. We hope this new guide, published by Waterwise and HBF, will help new homeowners to understand how they can do their part to protect this valuable resource.”
