How to Save Energy in your New Home

Every Gusto Home, is designed and built with energy efficiency in mind. But there are still plenty of small, everyday habits that can help you get the most out of your home and keep those energy bills down. 

Here’s how.  

Energy saving features in your Gusto Home

Every Gusto Home is built to a high standard, with a range of energy saving features included as standard, such as: 

• Triple glazing
  The windows are triple glazed and are thermally very efficient. 

• Air source heat pump
  Heating and hot water are by an efficient air source heat pump system with a hot water cylinder. 

• Well insulated
  The structure is traditional block and brick construction with high insulating properties due to the inclusion of wider cavities within the external walls. 

• Sustainably sourced
  Materials where possible have been sourced under the FSC/PEFC timber sustainability scheme. Timber materials have, where possible, been sourced from companies who hold an ISO14001 sustainability control system in place. 

• Low energy lighting
  Low energy light bulbs are installed throughout.  
  
  

Please refer to the specific development page for the features included in your Gusto Home.

Energy Saving Tips

Whether you're in a Gusto Home or not, there are simple habits that can make a real difference to your energy and water bills. 

• Turn down the thermostat by 1°C
  This typically saves around 10% on heating bills, or roughly £100–£150 per year in an average UK home. 

• Switch appliances off standby
  Leaving devices on standby costs the average UK household around £55–£65 per year. Turning them off at the socket eliminates this. 

• Wash clothes at 30°C instead of 60°C
  This uses around 40% less energy per cycle with no meaningful difference in cleaning for most everyday washes. 

• Install a smart or programmable thermostat
  Heating an empty house is a major source of waste; a programmable thermostat can save £75–£150 per year. 

Solar Panels

If your home has solar PV panels, it's worth making sure you're getting the most out of them. Many systems will divert any surplus solar energy to heat water in your hot water cylinder, rather than letting it go to waste. Try running energy-heavy appliances, such as your dishwasher or washing machine, during daylight hours when your panels are generating the most power. 

Any excess energy that your home doesn't use is sent back to the National Grid. 

Appliances

When buying white goods such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, opt for A rated appliances where you can. It can make a real difference to your annual energy bills. 

Simple water-saving habits

• Fit a low flushing toilet (Gusto Homes come with these as standard!)
  The low flushing toilets use half the amount of water than a standard toilet for each flush. A standard toilet uses 9 litres whereas a low flush toilet uses 4.5 litres per flush. 
  

• Install a low-flow showerhead
  This cuts shower water use by 40–50% compared to a standard head. 
  Saving: 10 litres per minute 
  

• Only run full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine
  A half-full dishwasher still uses the same 10–15 litres per cycle; washing machines use 50–60 litres per cycle regardless of load size. 
  

• Turn off the taps
  Don't leave the tap running when you brush your teeth. We could save enough water to supply 500,000 homes if the adult population of England and Wales remembered to turn the tap off each time. 
  Saving: 9 litres a day (roughly £4 to £7 a year) 
  

• Drink from a jug
  Fill a jug from the tap and put it in the fridge to chill rather than running the tap until it turns cold. 
  Saving: 10 litres a day (roughly £7 a year) 
  

• Only boil what you need
  Save water as well as energy by using the minimum amount of water required when you boil water in saucepans and kettles.  
  Saving: 10 litres a day (roughly £7 a year) 
  

• Don't rinse dishes under a running tap
  Use a bowl of water instead. The leftover water can then be used for watering house plants.  
  Saving: 20 litres a day (roughly £15 a year) 
  
  

To find out more about our low energy for sale in Newark, Collingham and the surrounding villages, visit our homes page or give us a call on 01636 894900.